The Midi-Pyrenees is the fourth region in France for balneology. The mountains, which separate France and Spain, have an abundance of sulphur rich springs dotted over them. The springs attract many visitors in the summer time and are well known for their healing properties. Like I mentioned, they are sulphur so you have to get used to the slight egg odour but that didn’t stop me loving it.
I noticed candle wax on the rocks - obviously someone had a romantic evening here.
How to get there
Fly into Toulouse:
From London Heathrow Airport with bmi baby, British Airways
From London Gatwick with Easyjet.
From Leeds, Newscastle, Edinburgh and Belfast with Jet2
Driving from Toulouse to Ariège
From the airport or outskirts of the city, follow signs for TOULOUSE until you see signs for FOIX-TARBES or TARBES-LOURDES. (Because the first Foix-Tarbes sign you see is placed immediately after a turn-off you may think you've just gone past the exit. Ignore the minor surge of panic and carry on.) From centre city, head south toward TOUTES DIRECTIONS until you see signs for FOIX-TARBES. Follow FOIX to go to Pamiers, Foix, Tarascon, Ax via the N20.
The A66 motorway, completed in 2002, has shortened the journey from Toulouse to Pamiers and Foix. Take the A61 toward Narbonne. The A66 is the first exit after toll (péage), direction Andorre and rejoins the N20 at Pamiers. The toll for the A66 is 3.90 euros.
Follow TARBES to go to St Girons via the motorway (A64). Take exit 20 onto the N117 which will lead you straight there
It’s easy to find these wonderful little spots in Ariege. There are cable cars, roads, cycling routes and walking paths up into the mountains, which dominate the landscape.
Find more info at France Guide