Dry stone

The southern part of the canton of Mas d'Azil, straddling the Plantaurel range, enjoys an exceptional exposure, sheltered by the mountains that border it to the west. In order to make their land cultivable, the peasants cleared the stones from the ground and recovered them to erect huts and low walls. Until the beginning of the 2000th century, vines, fruits and vegetables were cultivated. These cultivation areas were far from farms or dwellings, the huts thus served as temporary shelter for animals, tools or men. This vernacular architecture has contributed to the conservation of the floristic heritage. In the towns of Mas d'Azil and Camarade, it has made it possible to protect dry lawns, rich in orchids and other Mediterranean-type plants. This area is also classified Natura XNUMX and accessible via a hiking trail. This heritage is the result of know-how and a large workforce, built without mortar, only with locally extracted stones. These buildings have been renovated in recent years. Today, there are several low walls and dry stone huts accessible by hiking trails: Fouychet, Castagnès, Baudet, Ticoulet, Souribet, Les Bades. Easy walks allow you to discover this heritage, in particular the terraces of Souribet and the Chemin de Pierre at Mas d'Azil.