Ariege department France

Travelled: 148km via Lake Bethmale, Col de La Core, Siex, Massat, Col de Port, Tarascon, Devils Bridge, Foix and Lake Montbel parking (42.9768, 1.9716)

It’s been a cloudy wet day which pushed us through some areas we may have explored more thoroughly. But in the end we have spent a lovely week in the Pyrenees area. We began the morning with a purchase of the obligatory baguette and some croissants for breakfast in Castillon en Couserans. A little further up the valley we stopped at Lake Bethmale which is a popular fishing spot run by a club that changes €14 for the day but they do stock the lake with fish. Unfortunately it was foggy and rainy so we didn’t linger.

We went over the Col de La Core, also in the fog.

 Next was Seix (2013) and we had to negotiate a narrow road through town and parked up to have a look at the small market.

There was also a market in Massat where we enjoyed some Vietnamese spring rolls for lunch. 

His family has been in St Giron since 1987. He and his father concentrate on the markets whilst his auntie and uncle run the restaurant in St Girons.

We continued on over the Col de Port, again with no view due to the low clouds. 

We made our way down to Tarascon sur Ariege and went for a stroll through the old quarter to the Place Garrigou where the square tower and the church of St.Michel is situated. 

We then went up to the 18thC Belfry tower that presides over the town. 

On our way to Foix we went to explore the Devils Bridge.

 We thought of staying in Foix but the aire and parking areas were very full so we abandoned that idea and pressed on. There were a few choices but in the end due to the weather we decided on a spot near Lake Montbel and breathed a sigh of relief as we parked up. The annoying drizzle continued so we spent the time making plans for the next few weeks..