Discover 5 exceptional places: the longest navigable underground river in Europe, the largest cave in Europe, the largest talc quarry in the world, one of the widest nave in Europe and a cave that can be crossed by car!
Location
Foix Ariège Pyrenees
In the very heart of Ariège, at the foot of the Pyrenees, the Foix Ariège Pyrenees destination immediately catches the traveller's attention, with the three [...]
Your program
1 - Underground river of Labouiche
Day 1:
We meet you at the Hotel du Lac *** in Foix.
Ideally located for traveling the roads of the department, your hotel is located near the underground river of Labouiche, which you will visit to begin with. Go on a boat cruise, 60 m underground to discover waterfalls, gours and a multitude of concretions.
Installation in the rooms, dinner at the restaurant overlooking the lake. Overnight.
Ideally located for traveling the roads of the department, your hotel is located near the underground river of Labouiche, which you will visit to begin with. Go on a boat cruise, 60 m underground to discover waterfalls, gours and a multitude of concretions.
Installation in the rooms, dinner at the restaurant overlooking the lake. Overnight.
2 - Lombrives cave
Day 2:
Breakfast and departure on the old RN 20, for a guided tour of the Lombrives cave, the entrance to which is by little train. More than 20 million years old, didn't this cave welcome a future king of France? Was it not the place of refuge and burial of men in the Bronze Age? Was it not the place of exploitation of counterfeit coin acceptors? Anyway, it conceals a geological and natural heritage unique in the world.
3 - Lunch at the foot of the Beille plateau
Lunch at the restaurant La Maison Lacube in Les Cabannes. At the foot of the Plateau de Beille, the breeder's restaurant is an essential address for Ariège gastronomy, based on local products.
4 - Luzenac talc quarry
Take the corniche road, on the mountainside, dotted with small Romanesque chapels to join the access road to the largest open-air talc quarry in the world.
At an altitude of 1800 m, facing the Pyrenees, on giant steps, men work. With huge machines, they discover, extract, sort and transport talc, the softest and softest rock on our earth.
Before returning, stop off in Tarascon sur Ariège for a tasting of Hypocras, a medieval aperitif so much appreciated by Gaston Fébus, Count of Foix-Béarn.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
At an altitude of 1800 m, facing the Pyrenees, on giant steps, men work. With huge machines, they discover, extract, sort and transport talc, the softest and softest rock on our earth.
Before returning, stop off in Tarascon sur Ariège for a tasting of Hypocras, a medieval aperitif so much appreciated by Gaston Fébus, Count of Foix-Béarn.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
5 - Cave of Mas d'Azil
Day 3:
After breakfast, a unique experience awaits you: Take the porch of the Mas d'Azil cave by car! This exceptional site crossed by a river and a road with an impressive 65 m high arch is known for its prehistoric remains.
Continue your road towards Tourtouse. Do not miss the chapel of Notre Dame de La Goutte in Montardit, a chapel to say the least unusual! For the lunch break, you will be welcomed at the Sentenac restaurant to savor South-West cuisine in a family atmosphere.
Continue your road towards Tourtouse. Do not miss the chapel of Notre Dame de La Goutte in Montardit, a chapel to say the least unusual! For the lunch break, you will be welcomed at the Sentenac restaurant to savor South-West cuisine in a family atmosphere.
6 - Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame du Pesquié
Continue your discovery walk in the direction of Saint-Martin de Caralp to visit the Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame du Pesquié. Well hidden on the heights of Foix, in its green setting, this abbey offers many products made by the nuns (cheeses, honey, jams, gingerbread, binding, paintings, liturgical ornaments, etc.).
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
7 - Cave church of Vals
4 Day:
Breakfast and departure for a guided tour of the semi-rupestrian church of Vals. A church partly built in the rock… here is an astonishing troglodyte church! Inside, you will see several naves, one of which reveals frescoes from the XNUMXth century.
8 - Mirepoix, medieval bastide
Continue towards Mirepoix, a medieval bastide, located halfway between Carcassonne and Foix. On the main square, you can still admire the half-timbered houses on wooden galleries. St-Maurice Cathedral has a single nave 48 m long, 24 m high, 22 m wide: the second largest in Europe after that of Girona in Spain. Do not miss its Gothic portal and its bell tower with its elegant 2 m high spire.
Gourmet break at Les Minotiers restaurant in Mirepoix and end of services.
Gourmet break at Les Minotiers restaurant in Mirepoix and end of services.
Prices / Validity
Adult: 460 €
| Price | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
|
Adult (from 28/11/2022 to 30/11/2024) |
Min. 460€ |
Based on 20 people.
Payment method
- Bank / credit card
- Cheque
- Classic Holiday Vouchers
- Cash
- Bank transfer
The price does not include
Transportation, personal expenses, optional travel / cancellation insurance.
The price includes
3 nights in a *** hotel with closed parking, double room basis, meals from lunch on the 1st day, dinner to lunch on the last day with wine and coffee, guided tours and entrances to the sites mentioned in the program, guarding of the car parks of the town of Mas d'Azil, Ussat les Bains and Labouiche, the road book, the tourist tax.
Stay
Accommodation
- Hotel
- 3 stars