 
Below this you find a small selection from our library of guidebooks and maps about the region.
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What else to do in the region In the foothills of the Pyrenees at 500 meters altitude, at approximately 8 km west of Foix, you'll find "Bourg de Mat" our table and chambre d'hôtes. Tucked away in the Barguillere valley on the banks of the river Arget. |
The Barguillere is one of the most friendly valleys of the Ariège. The situation in the foothills means that we, although immediately surrounded by several high mountains, we still benifit from accessible surroundings. The whole valley is accesible by small quiet country roads and countless footpaths crisscrossing the pastures and rocky mountain tops. Literally from our doorstep several footpaths or randonnees, as the French call them, lead into the mountains. One of them, the "GR the pays du tour the la Barguillere", is a three - or a four days' hike around the valley. Connections to the nearby GR10 and the HRP can be realised from Bourg de Mat. We can transport your luggage to the end of your next stage or transfer yourself, if neccesary, to the start point of your next stage. We offer a wide range of specialised hiking maps and guidebooks (among others of the dutch author Ton Joosten) in our library. We'll be more than happy to help you to finding a suitable iternary. The region Midi Pyrenees features several medieval "Bastides" like Mirepoix with it's annual puppetfestival, La Bastide de Serou, Le Mas d'Azil and Léran. These cities were founded by the landlords in an interesting attemp to boost local economic structures. All in all our region offers endless hiking and cycling possibilities, both for recreational and more sport-loving and adventurous people. 
Once the Ariège was the stage of no less than three consecutive crusades against the cathars. Eventually the last partisans of this religion were overpowered at Montsegur in March 1244 by the crusaders after a siege of almost a year. Nowadays you have the possibility to walk the "Sentier Cathare" to experience the heritage of this extraordinairy religion. Allthough the Cathars have disappaered in history, they populated the Ariège relatively recently in comparison to the findings from prehistoric eras in the Ariège. A lot of caves in the region have provided proof of prehistoric civilisations. Amongst others: La grotte de Niaux, les grottes the Lombrives, which have officially been declared by the Guinnessbook of Records to be the largest cavesystem of Europe, Le Mas d'Azil, La Grotte de la Vache, and of course the Riviere souterraine |
the Labouïche the longest navigable underground river of Europe. For the thrillseekers amongst our guests there is the possibility to paraglide lessons over our valley.  |
