Activities and Places of Interest
Castillon-en-Couserans is fifteen minutes down the valley, its tall, old houses climbing the hill on which the chapel of St Pierre is the only surviving remnant of a castle destroyed on the orders of Richelieu; there are a number of shops, a swimming pool, a rugby pitch and a cheese museum! Within half an hour is the attractive town of St Girons; its wonderful Saturday market spreads through the old town beside the river, and should not be missed. Gallo-Roman St Lizier boasts a beautiful 12th Century cathedral, with a frescoed apse and superb cloister, and there is a scattering of other fine Romanesque churches in these valleys. A little further afield, to the west, St Bertrand de Comminges is one of France’s most beautiful villages, dominated by its magnificent cathedral; to the east there is the historic town of Foix, with a spectacular hill-top castle, a tangle of medieval streets, and nearby a number of caves, including Niaux, with some of the most famous cave-paintings in Europe. In some seasons bicycles can be hired in St Girons, and we have documented a variety of two-wheeled outings – following the route of the Tour de France over high passes is strictly optional! Excursions on horse-back can often be arranged with advance warning, and for those of an adventurous inclination there are opportunities to experience paragliding, rock-climbing, caving and a via ferrata near St Girons.
