| LEISURE IN COUSERANS |
| The Couserans , where is located Ayet en Bethmale, is a part of the ARIEGE county (it represent about one third of the county ) .It is bordered at south by Spain and by HAUTE GARONNE county at west .The main town is Saint Girons .The COUSERANS extends on nearly 30 km from north to south and about the same from west to east .People on vacation have a great choice of various activities .We will describe here the only ones which are within 15 km maximum from AYET EN BETHMALE . |
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One of the first activities is the discovery of the surrounding mountains. This can be done either in summer or in winter You can discover it by yourself using guide book that can be bought in several bookshops in Castillon or Saint Girons .You can also discover the mountains with the help of guides (to have more information call 06 87 84 07 69) .Some group walk lasting from half a day to more than 3 day are also organized during august by the tourism buro of St Girons (call 05 61 96 26 00 ) .If you go alone in the mountain do not forget that the weather is quickly changing and you can loose your way very easily in the fog .Nowadays thanks to GPS it is easier to find your way but be carefull ..Anyway it is a good practice to ask the weather forecast before leaving by phoning to METEOFRANCE (phone 08 92 68 02 09 ) |
| The
BETHMALE VALLEY have a very special "charme" in winter when snow
has fallen all around .It is always possible to reach the village
by car thanks to desnowing machines which start working as
soon as the snow has stopped . You can put your sky or racket and discover a quiet mountain with no tourist at all ! .You can go by car up to the lac de Bethmale at 1000 meters altitude and from there continue by skying using the various forest road wich are used from time to time to farm the surrounding forest . |
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| In
summer one can discover the mountains not only by walking but also by
riding either a bicycle or a horse .In the village of SEINTEIN , very
close to AYET you can rent horse from one hour ride up to several
days (call tel 05 61 66 63 34 ) .In the case you want to improve
your riding style you can do it in various horse farm : for
example at the Farm Cavalus at Biert tel
05 61 66 63
34 , ) also at LA Bastide de Serou
(tel 05 61 01 58 03) or at Prat (about 25
km from Ayet) the equestrian farm of CASTERA .Every
year at the beginning of august jumping races are organized
at this location |
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People who wants to have an overall view of the mountains around can rent tourism planes .There is a flying club in Antichan , about 18 km from Ayet where you can rent a plane with the pilot if you don't have a licence .You can also increase your skill by taking lessons with qualified instructors .If you want just to have a quick look of the numerous cathare castles in the surrounding no problem , several fly are organized during the holidays season , To get more information call 05 61 66 11 00 ) |
| If your are interested in mountain climbing you will find a lot of places to practice If you want just discover this sport you will find qualified guides in the village of Argein nearby Ayet .They will show you how to start this sport safely and show you to improve your skill through special circuits specially designed for beginners .To get more information call 05 61 04 71 42 .Various sport of the same kind can be also done like speleology , rafting , canoying .To know more on what can be done you can go to the old railway station of St Girons where there is an office dedicated to the aventure sports (phone 05 61 96 08 22) |  |
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Since many years parachute gliding is an activity practiced by many people .You can pratice it in the Bethmale Valley going to the Col de la Core .If you have no experience diplomed instructors can show you to become an expert in that field .10 km from Ayet , at Moulis there is a center where you can get your parachute gliding baptism or get a full formation To know the rate call 06 76 38 26 10 |
| Trout
fishing is a very popular activity in the Couserans where there
is a lot of lakes and mountain streams .In the Bethmale valley you can
fish in the lake of Bethmale (1000 meters alitude at about 4 km from the
village) .You can also fish the trout in the lake of Bordes/s/lez
at 500 meters altitude and 4 km down the village .If you
prefer to fish along mountain stream the best choice is to go along the
Balamet which flows in the Bethmale Valley .Fishing is also autorized
in several lakes between 1000 and 2000 meters altitude
.However if this is your choice you will have to reach them by walking
.Fishing is allowed starting in march and ending in
septemeber .You need a permit which can be bought locally
.To have more information about fishing in Ariege county ask
federation@peche-ariege.com . |
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THE MOUNTAIN HOSTELLERIES Very close to Ayet you can go to 2 mountain hostelleries also named in the old days mountain shelters .The first one is along the Airaing lake at 1900 meters altitude and the second one , the Estagnous shelter at 2200 meters close to the MONT VALLIER . These 2 shelters are located in very scenic area and you can discovered them without having to bring with you shelter tent , food , beverages.. which are very heavy to carry in the mountain lanes .The prices are very reasonnable (dinner for 12 euros , breakfast for 5 euros , night for 12 euros ) .From the AIraing shelter you can walk in Spain , discover some bears which have been introduced in this area , climb the Crabere mountain...Starting from the Estagnous shelter you can climb the Mont Vallier , the highest mountain of the Couserans , take photographs of izard herds which are very common in this area , fish the trout in the various high altitude lakes nearby .Every friday night a party is even organized .It is a good practice to make resevation in advance : place a call to 05 61 96 73 73 for the Airaing shelter and 05 61 96 76 22 for the Estagnous shelter |
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GOLD DIGGER You can try yourself as a gold digger ..Almost all the mountain streams are carrying very small gold nuggets . To pratice this activity does not need a huge investment .You only need a plate sometimes call "chineese hat" .You put some sand in it and wash it with water so as to éeiminate the sand .If there was gold nuggets they stay at the bottom due to the heavy density of gold (almost 10 times heavier than sand ) .You can practice alone or take advantage of the knowledge of local gold digger .They organize seminars in the summer time .You can call them : Catherine Massat (05 61 66 19 58 ) or Marc Thirion (06 10 02 34 41 ) |
| THE ANCIENT INHABITANTS During the neolitic age people were living in the Bethmale Valley , several thousand years before Jesus Christ .They did not let a lot of traces due to the hard weather .The only visible one is a menhir which can be seen at about 1 km from the Ayet village taking the lane going to the Bethmale Lake .It is well indicated on most map as the MENHIR DE PIERRE QUILHADE A more recent trace of the previous inhabitants is the BRAMEVAQUE tower wich is located in the middle of the valley close to the Arrien village .It looks like a keep , 9 meters height cloes to a rampart .These are the rest of an old castle built in the 8 th century to control the valley .To visit it take the road to Arrien and then take the direction of Tournac .Go straight to the end of the road .Park the car in front of a restaurant (presently closed) .From there it is a 10 minutes walk to reach it . Another castle with more history is the MIRABAT castle which is located nearby Seix .Located at 1270 meters altitude it was built during Charlemagne ruling to control the arabs incursions .To visit it go the the Col de la Core and go down to Seix .Take the road to Oust .At the Chapelle du Puech take a forest road and go all the way till the end .From there it is a matter of 2 hours walk to reach the castle . |
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THE MINES Since roman occupation several mines were created to take advantage of various minerals like iron ,lead , zinc , manganese ,copper , silver , gold , wolfram . Nowadays no one is operating the last one being shut down is the wolfram mine of Salau (on the other side of col de la core ) .When it was closed in 1986 its production represented all the France production of wolfram . To get an idea on how people was working in these mines you can visit the Seintein mine which was producting a mixture of lead and silver .The operation started in the middle of the 19 th century to end in 1955 .The extraction of the ore was done by galleries done in the mountain .and the ore was purified in a plant located in the valley ..To make a visit take the road to Seintein and continue to Eylie till the end of the road at LE Bocard where the purification plant was located .From there continue on the forest road to reach the mine .at about 1700 meters altitude The only mine which is still in operation in the region is the one located at Luzenac between Foix and Ax les thermes .It is the biggest talc mine in Europe .It can be visited in the summer season (call the office buro at tél : 05 61 64 68 05) . If you prefer to stay in the Couserans you can visit an slate mine located at Saint Lary about 10 km from Ayet .The operation started in 1994 .The slate is extracted directly from the surface and polished to fit the local demand .To have a look contact the owner Alin Donat 09800 St Lary |
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NOTRE DAME DES NEIGES PILGRIMAGE Every year on august 5 the there is the NOTRE DAME DES NEIGES pilgrimage .The NOtre Dame des Neiges chapel also called Isard Chapel is at 1350 meters altitude in a very scenic place .The pilgrimage starts in the morning from Frechendech where you can park the car .A mass is done outside the chapel .After the pilgrims eat their food and debat on whatether subject they like .Of course if you are not free on the 5 th of august you can do the pilgrimage at another date , there should be less people in the mountain |
| THE BEAR During the 19th century bears were very common int the Pyrennes mountains .In Ercé ,a small village near Ayet , several people living there, specialized as bear trainer .They were going in the various trade fair of south west france , making a show with the bear . Some slovenian bears were recently introduced in this part of pyrenees mountains at about 15 km from Ayet .Some people have seen its trace in the Bethmale valley You will have perhaps chance to meet him or her if you walk around in quiet area . Don't be afraid bears are generally very shy and clear off if they meet people |
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HYDROTHERAPY IN COUSERANS The peak activity was during the 19 th century .At this time there was plenty of places where people can drink various water to treat various deseases .Nowadays the only place still in operation is located at AULUS LES BAINS , about 30 km from Ayet . Its sulphurated waters are recommanded against urinary system diseases and also to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood . You can visit the place to taste the water or call 05 61 96 01 46 to get more information |
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DISCOVER ASTRONOMY On the hights of Sabarat (nearby Mas d'Azil ) there is a astronomical observatory where you can get astronomy intitiation .The observatory belongs to a local club who organizes every saturday night lecture and experiments on various theme whatever are the atmosphéric conditions .To know how to get there and the programs call 05.61.69.52.14 send a mail at contact@observatoire-sabarat.com |
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THE PRESENT CAVERN INHABITANTS On the road going from Ayet to Saint Girons , at Moulis , there is a reseach center dedicated to the study of cavern life .This laboratory started its operation in 1950 in a natural cavern .One of its aim is to have a clear understanding how amphibian bodies can live in cavern without any light .One of these is the PROTEE a small snake , 20 centimeters long which can live up to 100 years . This amphibian is only known in Moulis and in Slovenia .The cavern is filled up with hundreds of aquariums where various sudies are underway .From time to time it is possible to visit the laboratory .To know if possible ask at the entrance of the laboratory which is easy to find in Moulis |
| PAPER MANUFACTURING Paper manufacturing is still alive in the COuserans where there are several plants making special paper starting from wood or clothe .Most plant are not open to tourists .However to know more about the various processes followed in the past to produce paper there is a museum which is located closed to St Lizier .The visit is only possible on tuesday at 2h300 PM .The visit lasts from 1 to 2 hours depending on the questions you ask .To find the museum go to St Girons and then take the road to Toulouse .About 100 meters from the St Lizier bridge over the Salat river take the road to Pourlande .The museum is indicated . |
| BETHMALE CHEESE During your stay in Bethmale you will have chance to taste the local cheese which is shipped all over France .In the old days every village had its own cheese factory where every country man brought the milk to make cheese .At present time there are 2 cheese factories in the village of Samortein closed to Ayet .You can visit them and also taste the various cheeses they made .A cheese museum is also opened in Castillon where you will see the various technics used in the past to turn milk into cheese |
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THE CROUSTADE CAKE Another local speciality that you can tasted without refrain is the croustade cake .It is a kind of covered tart with various local fruits (only one fruit at a time ) .You can buy them in most bakery shop .We recommend the one located at the entrance of Castillon when you go down from the Bethmale valley |
| last revision december 2006 |