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Saint-Lary

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Ariège

Saint-Lary is a town in the Ariège, Occitanie region, 35 km south-east of Saint-Gaudens, on the edge of the Haute-Garonne and near the Spanish border.

The communal area is average or even high mountain: if the village itself is staged between 700 and 1000 m above sea level, the highest point of Saint-Lary culminates at more than 2200 m.

Culturally and historically attached to the small province of Couserans, which covered the "western" part of the current department of Ariège under the Ancien Régime, the commune has long lived from the exploitation of its forests (to produce coal in particular) and, at one time, iron mines and slate quarries.

These activities declined from the nineteenth century and caused a massive rural exodus: Saint-Lary which had 1400 inhabitants in 1900 now lists ten times less.

In addition to the preservation of farms practicing the summer pastures and some craftsmen of art, it is the tourism which constitutes at the present time the economic asset of the locality, which puts forward its environment and its exceptional landscapes. Saint-Lary is a small paradise for lovers of hiking, oxygen and authenticity.

Geographical information

MunicipalitySaint-Lary
Postcode09800
Latitude42.9309210 (N 42° 55’ 51”)
Longitude0.8937150 (E 0° 53’ 37”)
AltitudeFrom 654m to 2209m
Surface area33.91 km²
Population127 inhabitants
Density3 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureFoix (69 km, 1:11)
Insee code09267
IntercommunalityCC Couserans-Pyrénées
DepartmentAriège
TerritoriesMidi-Pyrénées, Pyrenees
RegionOccitanie

Nearest cities & towns

Galey2.9 km (8 min)
Augirein3 km (5 min)
Portet-d'Aspet3.2 km (5 min)
Orgibet4.5 km (6 min)
Saint-Jean-du-Castillonnais4.9 km (9 min)
Illartein7.2 km (10 min)
Aucazein8 km (11 min)
Buzan8.5 km (13 min)
Villeneuve9 km (14 min)
Argein9.6 km (12 min)
Audressein12.5 km (16 min)
Castillon-en-Couserans13.8 km (18 min)
Sor14.5 km (18 min)
Razecueillé15.4 km (21 min)

Things to see and do

A visit to the village can begin with the discovery of the church Saint-Hilaire, with a Romanesque-style bell tower, which was built and remodeled with local materials, which contributes to its typical appearance. Its interior is astonishing because of the flamboyant character of its baroque decoration: ornaments and colored frescoes, moldings and columns of crafted invoice. As a result, the church is a small jewel of heritage that is the subject of careful restorations regularly implemented by volunteers.

For the rest, the habitat, on the village as in hamlets or isolated farms and barns become second homes, is based on noble materials (wood, stone, sandstone) in the tradition of this region of the Pyrenees. Only slates have now replaced stubble on double pitched roofs that are steeply inclined as they should be in the mountains.

Walks and hikes then make it possible to discover a mountain landscape shared between forests and grazing areas where the summer pastures are still practiced from spring to autumn (with transhumance of sheep or cattle herds). At the discretion of the territory, cheese production units can be visited, such as the cheese dairy of Pic de la Calabash, a local specialty based on raw cow milk. Information on +33 5 61 96 70 32.

For hiking enthusiasts, three trails are traced on the town of Saint-Lary.

They allow you to enjoy magnificent views and observe a rich and varied fauna and flora: raptors (vultures, bearded vultures, capercaillie), wild orchids, pastures where horses, cows, ewes and goats coexist.

The first route is dedicated to the discovery of the Upper Bellongue, the second leads to the Piejau pass and crosses in particular the Couhos beech forest, a migratory bird crossing place and the third part of which is partly an old Saint-Jacques road. Attention, some passages present difficulties related to relief. Other routes include incursions on the border pass road or other summits and villages. Documentation and information on +33 5 61 96 72 64.

Note that in winter, snowshoeing can be considered.

For the fishermen, rich in trout, the Bouigane which crosses the commune proves an ideal ground of exercise. Regulatory information on +33 5 61 60 07 00.

Finally, it is always useful to contact the house of the Regional Natural Park of Ariège Pyrenees, of which Saint-Lary is part, which multiplies animations and workshops centered on the environment and the inheritance (information on +33 5 61 02 71 69).

Events and festivities

May 1st, spring fair with craft market and local products.

July 14, on the occasion of the national day, "garden party" with friendly meal and musical entertainment.

The third weekend of August, communal festival with gourmet entertainment, dance, fireworks.

Weather

Friday 29 march
Min. 7°C - Max. 18°C
Day
Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 3°C - Max. 13°C
Day
Night
Sunday 31 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 14°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

City of St. Lizier.

Lake Bethmale.

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Canyoning in the Louron Valley
Sports sensations35 € to 60 € Bagnères-de-Luchon (29 km)
Carriage ride with cart horses
Nature and the great outdoors75 € to 576 € Camarade (36 km)
Snowshoeing or walking in Pays des Nestes
Nature and the great outdoors29 € to 65 € Arreau (44 km)
N'co Park treetop adventure park
Sports sensations15 € to 25 € Lannemezan (45 km)
Maiden flight in a two-seat paraglider
Sports sensations90 € to 360 € Saint-Lary-Soulan (47 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Gr 78
Village visitEasy4:00Galey (1.8 km)
Tour of the Peak Pinçon
HikeIntermediate3:00Bize (36 km)
The aspin pass by the baronies
Cycling itineraryAthletic5:45Arreau (44 km)
The Greenway
HikeEasy4:00La Bastide-de-Sérou (44 km)
The plo del naou
HikeEasy2:15Aspin-Aure (46 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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