This motorhome roadtrip through the Pyrenees and Ariège, highlights the most beautiful sites to visit in the South West: from Carcassonne to Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, two great sites Occitanie South of France, the beautiful winding roads of our valleys await you. For a discovery of Ariège in complete freedom, take advantage of our motorhome areas specially designed to welcome you. Near a lake, in town or even in the middle of the mountains, explore the Ariège destination in a motorhome while taking advantage of the parking areas, services and campsites available to you. They will be useful to you throughout your journey!

Your roadtrip

7 days
? Driving time: 4 p.m.
? 253km (go)
? Departure Arrival : Carcassonne / Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

Day 1

Carcassonne

In Cathar country, Carcassonne is the essential place to visit. This is where your roadtrip begins. Passing through the gates of the city of Carcassonne is to live a unique experience, a journey through time in the heart of the largest fortress in Europe, listed in the Unesco World Heritage.



Carcassonne ➡️ Mirepoix route
? Journey time: 47 minutes
? 47 kilometers

Day 2

Mirepoix

Mirepoix, beautiful medieval country house made of wood and cob, gives itself to those who know how to take the time to approach it and go into its history ... Warm and welcoming, it will seduce you in all seasons. The city was rebuilt according to the regular plans of the bastides after a vast flood in 1289. The square has retained its original and medieval structure. You will be able to observe the magnificent XNUMXth century covered place with its half-timbered houses. Discover a remarkable city!

Day 3

Mirepoix ➡️ Montségur route (via Belesta)
? Journey time: 51 minutes
? 40 kilometers

Stop n ° 1: Fontaine de Fonterstorbes

An extremely rare and truly extraordinary phenomenon, during low water periods (July to October), the Fontestorbes fountain suddenly becomes intermittent. The complete cycle takes about 60-90 min. There are less than thirty intermittent phenomena recorded in the world!

Stop n ° 2: Montségur

Standing at an altitude of 1207m, on the highest part of a rocky outcrop called "Pog", the castle of Montségur is cited in texts from the end of the 1232th century. However, the first evidence of human occupation on this mountain dates back to around four thousand years BC. At the start of the 40th century, the Cathars, followers of a dualistic religion declared heretical by the Pope, settled in these places. In 1243, the castle became the seat of the Cathar church and the refuge of the “Faidits”, local lords dispossessed of their property by the crusade. While Languedoc will be set on fire and blood, Montségur will live in relative peace for more than 11 years. Finally, the Pope and the King of France, decide in 16 to end with Montségur. At the end of a terrible 1244-month siege on March 200, XNUMX, the Cathars were taken to the stake. More than XNUMX of them were burned alive. Catharism will never recover from the loss of Montségur and will disappear completely at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.

Day 4

Montségur ➡️ Tarascon-sur-Ariège route
? Journey time: 39 minutes
? 35 kilometers

Stop n ° 1: Prehistoric park

Both a park and a museum, the prehistoric park is the essential place to discover, whether you are young or old, the life of Cro-Magnon while having fun. For a day, during our activity workshops, you will learn to hunt, to paint on the walls, to cut flint, to light a fire like 14.000 years ago to excavate like an archaeologist or to paint on the walls of a cave larger than life!

Stop n ° 2: Cave of Niaux

By the light of a lamp, walking in the footsteps of the Cro-Magnons, you will experience much more than a guided visit to the Cave of Niaux ! You have an appointment with a part of your History: the visit will allow you to admire, like nowhere else, the authentic paintings of our ancestors: emotion guaranteed! In the Salon Noir, there are superb paintings of animals, associated with enigmatic signs, which will transport you to distant times!

Day 5

Tarascon-sur-Ariège ➡️ Foix route
? Journey time: 18 minutes
? 17 kilometers

Stop n ° 1: CHÂTEAU de Foix

The Counts of Foix welcome you to their home, Foix castle ! Breathtaking medieval settings, war machines, participatory workshops and a new interactive museum, certainly a visit not to be missed!

STOP n ° 2: town of Foix

Sweetness of life, warm atmosphere, small cobbled streets, detours, secret passages, half-timbered house ... Foix is a city with a harmonious mix of essential elements of the heritage of the medieval period. You will love to walk to the old bridge and see the Ariège flowing slowly at its feet, you will be surprised in the streets of the grand dukes and its houses with pontils ... Take the time to stroll, to soak up the atmosphere that reigns in these places, closely watched by the Foix castle, who, from the top of his rock, stands guard.

Day 6

Route Foix ➡️ Saint-Lizier
? Journey time: 43 minutes
? 45 kilometers

St. Lizier

Ancient Gallo-Roman city then seat of the Bishop's Palace, Saint-Lizier gives you little by little all the testimonies of its rich past.

Day 7

Saint-Lizier ➡️ Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
? Travel time: 1 hour
? 69 kilometers

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges

Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is a major stage of the Ways of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle (way of Piedmont). Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is above all an exceptional and impressive place, nestled in the arms of the Pyrenean foothills. By taking the D26, you drive in front of the huge Saint-Marie cathedral, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there you feel very small. The ideal is to stroll through the cobbled streets of the city, and admire the mansions. At the foot of Saint-Bertrand we also discover the ancient city « Lugdunum-Convenae " and Saint-Just-de-Valcabrere, one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Occitania.

Saint-Just-de-Valcabrère in the foreground and Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the second © Wikicommons - Hubert Fleury

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