About the area
Cycling hotel Les Deux Vélos is superbly situated in the Massat valley along one of the many rivers in the Couserans. The Haut-Couserans, three times the size of Paris, is located in the heart of the Ariège department and is part of the Midi-Pyrenees. Toulouse is an hour and a half away by car and is therefore the nearest city. The canton of Massat is a mountainous area between peaks and rivers, summer huts and traditional villages. The col de Port, col de la Crouzette, col de Saraillé, Port de l’Hers and col de Portel encircle it and serve as access to the other valleys of the department. This is also one of the reasons why the natural habitat has been preserved. Naturally, we have all the information about walks, cycle paths and tours on maps and folders for you. If you have any questions about the area, please call or email Les Deux Vélos.
What to do
Besides cycling and walking, there are countless other things to do and see. Enjoy a day of shopping or a visit to the market in St. Girons or just a lovely picnic along one of the many quiet mountain roads. Day trips to Andorra, for example, or visiting the beautiful castles of Foix and St. Lizier are also a wonderful way to soak up the culture of the area. Cathars and castles: Foix – medieval castle, impressive fortress of the counts of Foix, Montségur – symbol of resistance and refuge of the Cathars, situated on a rocky ledge at an altitude of 1207 metres, Usson, Roquefixade, Miglos, Montaillou. Caves: Niaux – famous for its cave paintings, Lombrives – largest cave in Europe, Mas d’Azil – the only cave in Europe that can be driven through, Bedeilhac – typical large Pyrenean cave, La Vache – smallest of the caves open to the public, Labouiche – underground river, can be visited in small boats.
Beautiful villages/towns:
Seix – typical Ariège mountain village, Foix – medieval centre with castle towering above it, Saint-Lizier – capital of the Couserans in the Middle Ages, listed as one of France's most beautiful villages, Mirepoix – medieval bastide in Cathar country, Carla-Bayle – artists' village in former citadel.
Markets:
Saint-Girons – known for its lively Saturday morning market, the nicest market in the area, nice to combine with the nearby medieval town of Saint-Lizier, Foix – large market every Friday morning, Massat/Seix/Tarascon – all small villages have their own market days, usually twice a month.
Thermal baths:
Ax-les-Thermes – large thermal spa complex with thermal baths, sauna, hammam, etc. Aulus-les-Bains – small thermal complex, for recreation but also for cures. Ussat-les-Bains – thermal facility, mainly a spa.
