Guidebook to La Fontane and its environs

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Guidebook to La Fontane and its environs

Sightseeing

Awe inspiring 14000 year old cave paintings. One of the few such caves open to the public in Europe. Tours in English and French.
97 locals recommend
Niaux cave
Grotte de Niaux
97 locals recommend
Awe inspiring 14000 year old cave paintings. One of the few such caves open to the public in Europe. Tours in English and French.
Where the Cathar "heretics" took their last stand against the forces of the French King and the Pope in 1244. Amazing views over the surrounding countryside.
143 locals recommend
Chateau de Montsegur
143 locals recommend
Where the Cathar "heretics" took their last stand against the forces of the French King and the Pope in 1244. Amazing views over the surrounding countryside.

Leisure experiences and activities

The area offers lots of sporting and leisure activities. It is a major centre for walking, and the Mediterranean coast to Atlantic coast Pyrenean path , the Grande Randonnée 10 (GR10) passes through the valley. Many gentler walks are also available.
Enjoy a luxurious warm spa experience indoors and outdoors, surrounded by mountains at Ax-les-Thermes (40 minutes by car)
69 locals recommend
Les Bains du Couloubret
Promenade Paul Salette
69 locals recommend
Enjoy a luxurious warm spa experience indoors and outdoors, surrounded by mountains at Ax-les-Thermes (40 minutes by car)
Montcalm Aventure provides a range of activities in the Valley. These include Accrobranche, Canyoning, Pot holing, and Rock Climbing Accrobranche provides safe fun for all the family with rope and tree-walks, zip slides over rivers for all ages and abilities. There's also the Via Ferrata, an exhilarating safe climbing experience (where you are always attached to steel loops driven into the rock face. There are two trails for different ages and abilities. All activities are supervised by well trained professionals.
7 locals recommend
Montcalm Aventure
7 locals recommend
Montcalm Aventure provides a range of activities in the Valley. These include Accrobranche, Canyoning, Pot holing, and Rock Climbing Accrobranche provides safe fun for all the family with rope and tree-walks, zip slides over rivers for all ages and abilities. There's also the Via Ferrata, an exhilarating safe climbing experience (where you are always attached to steel loops driven into the rock face. There are two trails for different ages and abilities. All activities are supervised by well trained professionals.
See a pack of wolves in complete safety, and listen to the fascinating explanation of their relationships with other animals and birds and within the pack.
30 locals recommend
The House of Wolves
La Forge
30 locals recommend
See a pack of wolves in complete safety, and listen to the fascinating explanation of their relationships with other animals and birds and within the pack.
This is a well conceived park which provides demonstrations explaining the Magdalénian civilisation of 14,000 years ago, including a full size reproduction of the nearby Cave of Niaux and provides children and young people with space to throw spears, make cave paintings watch fire being created, and to generally run around in safety. A great half day out.
83 locals recommend
Prehistoric Park
Route de Surba À Banat
83 locals recommend
This is a well conceived park which provides demonstrations explaining the Magdalénian civilisation of 14,000 years ago, including a full size reproduction of the nearby Cave of Niaux and provides children and young people with space to throw spears, make cave paintings watch fire being created, and to generally run around in safety. A great half day out.

Where to eat

The Ariege is not a major centre for gastronomie but there are some good restaurants in the area.
Restaurants Saveurs Du Manoir is recommended in the Michelin Guide Rouge 22€-64€ per head. Others reliable good value restaurants include Le Vieux Carré, Le Bellevue next to the rushing waters of the Ariege river.
19 locals recommend
Tarascon-sur-Ariège
19 locals recommend
Restaurants Saveurs Du Manoir is recommended in the Michelin Guide Rouge 22€-64€ per head. Others reliable good value restaurants include Le Vieux Carré, Le Bellevue next to the rushing waters of the Ariege river.
Good value restaurant within the valley recommended by the famous Gault and Millau food guide. 22€-38€
La petite auberge de niaux
41 Route du Montcalm
Good value restaurant within the valley recommended by the famous Gault and Millau food guide. 22€-38€

Local shops

Well provisioned Spar supermarket in the village. Across the road Le P'tit Marché is an excellent butcher and greengrocer. The Romanian former rugby playing proprietor usually also hosts a restaurant there in the summer. The boulangerie hidden within the backstreets (28 r Chapelle) bakes excellent artisanal bread.
Vicdessos
Well provisioned Spar supermarket in the village. Across the road Le P'tit Marché is an excellent butcher and greengrocer. The Romanian former rugby playing proprietor usually also hosts a restaurant there in the summer. The boulangerie hidden within the backstreets (28 r Chapelle) bakes excellent artisanal bread.