<description>&lt;p&gt;Embark on a captivating journey to the heart of the French Pyrenees with this episode of Join Us in France, dedicated to the enchanting region of Ariège. Between serene plains and majestic mountains, the Ariège emerges as a hidden gem, rich in history, natural beauty, and culinary delights. Discover the stories etched into its landscape, from abandoned villages whispering tales of past migrations to iconic landmarks like the Foix Castle and the charming streets of Mirepoix. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Annie and Elyse guide you through Ariège's diverse attractions, offering something for every traveler. For the adventurous, the rugged outdoors beckons with endless opportunities for hiking and exploring prehistoric caves. Meanwhile, food lovers will rejoice in the region's gastronomic offerings, from local cheeses to traditional dishes that capture the essence of Pyrenean cuisine.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;But Ariège's allure doesn't stop at its tangible treasures. Engaging narratives about places like Massat and the evolving story of Lavelanet's textile industry add layers of intrigue to this picturesque locale. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of outdoor adventures, the warmth of rural hospitality, or the allure of living history, Ariège promises an immersive travel experience. Join us as we unveil the secrets and splendors of one of France's most captivating yet overlooked departments.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Table of Contents for this Episode&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;nav&gt; &lt;ul class="ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1"&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1" title="Intro" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Intro"&gt;Intro&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2" title="Today on the podcast" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Today_on_the_podcast"&gt;Today on the podcast&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3" title="Podcast supporters" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Podcast_supporters"&gt;Podcast supporters&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4" title="The Magazine segment" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#The_Magazine_segment"&gt;The Magazine segment&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5" title= "Exploring the Ariège Department: A Hidden Gem in France" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Exploring_the_Ariege_Department_A_Hidden_Gem_in_France"&gt; Exploring the Ariège Department: A Hidden Gem in France&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6" title= "The Rich History and Culture of Ariège" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#The_Rich_History_and_Culture_of_Ariege"&gt; The Rich History and Culture of Ariège&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7" title= "Reviving Abandoned Villages and the Textile Industry" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Reviving_Abandoned_Villages_and_the_Textile_Industry"&gt; Reviving Abandoned Villages and the Textile Industry&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8" title="A wonderful place for hikes" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#A_wonderful_place_for_hikes"&gt; A wonderful place for hikes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9" title= "Discovering the Charm of Ariège’s Castles and Towns" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Discovering_the_Charm_of_Arieges_Castles_and_Towns"&gt; Discovering the Charm of Ariège’s Castles and Towns&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10" title= "Pamiers, Ariege’s biggest city" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Pamiers_Arieges_biggest_city"&gt; Pamiers, Ariege’s biggest city&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11" title="Foix" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Foix"&gt;Foix&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12" title="Château de Montségur" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Chateau_de_Montsegur"&gt;Château de Montségur&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13" title="Château de Roquefixade" href="https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Chateau_de_Roquefixade"&gt; Château de Roquefixade&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14" title="Mirepoix" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Mirepoix"&gt;Mirepoix&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15" title="Camon" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Camon"&gt;Camon&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16" title="Vals" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Vals"&gt;Vals&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17" title="Saint-Lizier" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Saint-Lizier"&gt;Saint-Lizier&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18" title="Saint-Girons" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Saint-Girons"&gt;Saint-Girons&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19" title= "Lavelanet and the Museum of History of Textiles" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Lavelanet_and_the_Museum_of_History_of_Textiles"&gt; Lavelanet and the Museum of History of Textiles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20" title="Ariège’s Fascinating Caves" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Arieges_Fascinating_Caves"&gt; Ariège’s Fascinating Caves&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21" title="La Grotte de Niaux" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#La_Grotte_de_Niaux"&gt;La Grotte de Niaux&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22" title="Parc de la  Préhistoire" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Parc_de_la_%E2%80%8APrehistoire"&gt; Parc de la  Préhistoire&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23" title= "Mas d’Azil and Its Surroundings" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Mas_dAzil_and_Its_Surroundings"&gt; Mas d’Azil and Its Surroundings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24" title= "Adventures in Ariège: Caves, Rivers, and Crafts" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Adventures_in_Ariege_Caves_Rivers_and_Crafts"&gt; Adventures in Ariège: Caves, Rivers, and Crafts&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25" title="Grotte de Bédeilhac" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Grotte_de_Bedeilhac"&gt;Grotte de Bédeilhac&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26" title="Les Forges de Pyrène" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Les_Forges_de_Pyrene"&gt;Les Forges de Pyrène&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27" title= "Les Forges de Pyrène: Great for Families" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Les_Forges_de_Pyrene_Great_for_Families"&gt; Les Forges de Pyrène: Great for Families&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28" title= "Embracing Nature and History in Ariège" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Embracing_Nature_and_History_in_Ariege"&gt; Embracing Nature and History in Ariège&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29" title="La Maison des Loups" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#La_Maison_des_Loups"&gt;La Maison des Loups&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30" title= "Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Ariégeoises" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Parc_Naturel_Regional_des_Pyrenees_Ariegeoises"&gt; Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Ariégeoises&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31" title="Short season for skiing" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Short_season_for_skiing"&gt; Short season for skiing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32" title= "Culinary Delights and Leisure in Ariège" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Culinary_Delights_and_Leisure_in_Ariege"&gt; Culinary Delights and Leisure in Ariège&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33" title="Thank you Patrons" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Thank_you_Patrons"&gt;Thank you Patrons&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34" title="New patrons" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#New_patrons"&gt;New patrons&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35" title="How to Support Elyse" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#How_to_Support_Elyse"&gt;How to Support Elyse&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36" title= "Reviews for the Latin Quarter Tour" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Reviews_for_the_Latin_Quarter_Tour"&gt; Reviews for the Latin Quarter Tour&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37" title="Night at the Museum" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Night_at_the_Museum"&gt;Night at the Museum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38" title="Next week on the podcast" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Next_week_on_the_podcast"&gt; Next week on the podcast&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2"&gt;&lt;a class= "ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39" title="Copyright" href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/488/#Copyright"&gt;Copyright&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h5&gt;&lt;a href= "https://joinusinfrance.com/category/interests/off-the-beaten-track-in-france/"&gt; More episodes about going off the beaten track in France&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h5&gt; &lt;/nav&gt;</description>

Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Annie Sargent

Hidden Treasures of the Ariège Department, Episode 488

APR 7, 202463 MIN
Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Hidden Treasures of the Ariège Department, Episode 488

APR 7, 202463 MIN

Description

Embark on a captivating journey to the heart of the French Pyrenees with this episode of Join Us in France, dedicated to the enchanting region of Ariège. Between serene plains and majestic mountains, the Ariège emerges as a hidden gem, rich in history, natural beauty, and culinary delights. Discover the stories etched into its landscape, from abandoned villages whispering tales of past migrations to iconic landmarks like the Foix Castle and the charming streets of Mirepoix. 

Annie and Elyse guide you through Ariège's diverse attractions, offering something for every traveler. For the adventurous, the rugged outdoors beckons with endless opportunities for hiking and exploring prehistoric caves. Meanwhile, food lovers will rejoice in the region's gastronomic offerings, from local cheeses to traditional dishes that capture the essence of Pyrenean cuisine.

But Ariège's allure doesn't stop at its tangible treasures. Engaging narratives about places like Massat and the evolving story of Lavelanet's textile industry add layers of intrigue to this picturesque locale. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of outdoor adventures, the warmth of rural hospitality, or the allure of living history, Ariège promises an immersive travel experience. Join us as we unveil the secrets and splendors of one of France's most captivating yet overlooked departments.

Table of Contents for this Episode

More episodes about going off the beaten track in France