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We first visited the area in 2006 and, on each subsequent visit, the place has intrigued us
more and more: the benign climate, the superb scenery, the friendly locals and, of course,
the mountains and the climbing.
The area described in this book is around the Ariège river that cuts its way through the
foothills of the Pyrenees, flowing first west and then north. The Ariège region extends further
west, to beyond St Girons but, in this guide, we are just covering the core area which is
roughly centred on Tarascon-sur-Ariège.
Relative to other Rockfax France books, the area we cover in this one is remarkably small in
extent, being not much more than 60km east-to-west and 40km north-to-south. Despite its
small compass, the area is extremely varied and this is reflected in the climbing available.
There is limestone, granite and gneiss to go at, from roadside caves, to high mountain crags
and all stops in between. The proximity of all the crags to each other also means that you
can easily sample any of the crags in the book without having to spend hours in the car, and
can also visit multiple venues in the same day. Foix to Ax-les-Thermes is roughly 40 minutes
drive and that will take you close to most of the climbing covered.
The equable climate, a long climbing season and a broad range of other activities on offer
make this an attractive region for serious rock-jocks after an intense week of sport but also
for families looking for an occasional day's climbing as part of a holiday. With mountain and
valley walks, cross country and downhill skiing in the season, road and mountain biking, a
variety of water-sports, caves to explore, spas to relax in and ancient castles to visit, there
is plenty here to occupy your time. The Other Activities section on page 22 gives you a few
pointers.
Perhaps the most surprising fact about the area is the way that it has remained under the
radar for so long. Over the past couple of years I have frequently been asked what I am
working on, and the answer, "A new guide to the Ariège", almost always drew a blank look.
Well not any more; the cat is out of the bag and there is a new venue on the circuit!
Chris Craggs, October 2012
Moun t a i n Wa l k s
Ax - l e s -Th e rme s A r e a
S i n s a t A r e a
Au z a t A r e a
N i a u x A r e a
Ca l amè s A r e a
Th e P l a n t a u r e l
5
Introduction
Ariège