Ariège, Department in Occitanie region, France
Ariège is an administrative territory in the southern part of the Occitanie region, stretching from the plains near Toulouse to the high Pyrenees. The area includes three districts centered on the towns of Foix, Pamiers, and Saint-Girons, and contains several hundred municipalities of varying sizes.
The territory was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution through the merging of the former counties of Foix and Couserans. The town of Foix was designated as the administrative center and has remained the central place for the region ever since.
The inhabitants maintain traditional agricultural practices like transhumance, moving livestock between valleys and mountain pastures according to seasonal patterns.
The area is suitable for walks along marked trails leading to peaks above 3000 meters (around 9840 feet), fishing spots by trout streams, and cycling paths following former Tour de France stages. Conditions shift with the seasons: summer months offer easier access to higher elevations, while autumn and spring are more comfortable for lower valleys.
Numerous prehistoric caves and Cathar castles are located throughout the territory, which also served as an escape route through the Pyrenees during World War II. Several mountain passes were used by people trying to reach Spain, often aided by local networks.
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