| SOME VISITS NOT TO BE MISSED |
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THE CITY OF SAINT LIZIER Founded in 70 before Jesus Christ Saint Lizier was an important city in the old days .It is still possible to visit some construction trace from this period .You can also visit the bishop castle which hosts various expositions (call 05 61 04 81 86)..A roman church which is listed in the UNESCO world patrimony can be also visited .Built in the 11th century there are a beautiful cloister and marvellous fresco .Every year in august there is a well known international music festival |
| THE CAVES Due to nature of the soil the ARIEGE county is quite rich as far as cavern and caves or concerned .The flowing water have channeled crevices which became big cavern due to the time .These caverns hosted the very first inhabitants of the region who left inside various traces of their stay .The closest from Ayet , the MAZ D'AZIL cavern (about 28 km away ) , was occupied by Magdalenien (-15000 year before J.C.) .It can be visited all year long (phone to 05 61 69 97 71 ) .A litle further the NIAUX cavern is also well known all around the world for its prehistoric painting (call 05 61 05 88 37 ) Not far from NIAUX , at TARASCON there is a prehistoric park (13 hectares wide ) around a very big cavern where various animations are put together related to the prehistroric way of life .You will be able for example to test yoursel in flint sharpening to make arrows and many other prehistoric technics .The park is open from april to october ( call 05 61 96 10 10) Another cavern to visit is the one located between Saint Girons and Foix .Its peculirity is that you can visit it in small boat as there is a river flowing inside ( call 05 61 65 04 11). . |
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THE ARIEGE CASTLES You will have to drive to Foix (about 60 km from AYet) to visit this beautiful castle which became very popular to french people after a televison movie told the story of one of its famous owner GASTON PHEBUS who lived there in the 14 th century . Placed on a rocky peak inside the town it can be visited all year long ( call 05 61 05 10 10 ) . |
Another castle to visit , even more well known , thanks to catharism is the castle of MONTSEGUR .During the Albigeois crusade it was the last castle kept by the cathars during their fight against the roman catholic church .In 1243 , after a 10 months siege , most of its defenders prefered to be burned than to renounce their faith in catharism After or before visting the castle do not forget to go to the Monsegur village down to the castle where there is a museum an also a lot of documentation about catharism (tourism buro 05 61 03 03 03 ).To go to Montsegur first go to Foix and next take the road to Lavelanet and follow the sign for Montsegur . |
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PIERRE BAYLE MUSEUM It is located in LE CARLA BAYLE village , some km away from MAZ D'AZIL between Artiguat and Le Fossat .This village which is situated in a very scenic area is the native place of Pierre Bayle a famous french philospher who was born there in 1647 . He had to leave France for Netherland to be able to publish his thinking without being put in jail . A museum has been created in its native house .Various animations and colloqiums are organized all year long phone to 05 61 68 51 32 to get more informations |