Introduction and History

The Département of Haute-Garonne covers the entire basin of the upper Garonne River in southwestern France. It was created primarily from the historic province of Languedoc and from the northeastern part of Gascony. It is bordered, to the north, by the département of Tarn-et-Garonne, to the northeast by Tarn, to the southeast by Ariège, to the south by Spain and its provinces of Lleida and Huesca, to the southwest by Hautes-Pyrénées and to the west by Gers. The extreme south of the departement is in the Pyrenees mountain range, its highest peak being Peridiguere at a height of 3,222 metres above sea level. It is crossed for nearly 200 kilometres by the Garonne River which rises in the Spanish Pyrenees at Val d’Aran and finally flows into the Gironde at Bordeaux after a journey of 575 kilometres.

It is the Garonne that provides hydroelectric power generation in the south of the departement but this hasn’t hindered the rapid growth of the tourist industry due principally to the magnificent mountain scenery. However there is very little water transport on the Garonne due to its economic activity.

It's a departement of rich contrasts.

With majestic, spectacular high mountains on the Spanish borders and deep forests to quiet valleys and green slopes covered in vines and orchards with plane trees bordering golden fields of sunflowers, cattle, cereals and market gardens. Except for the mountainous region the climate is mild, and rainfall which averages 24ins in Toulouse. It can be as much as 40ins in some parts of the mountains and the valley of the Garonne has frequent severe hailstorms.

Thick forests of oak, pine and fir grow in abundance and their timber is used for ship building. The arable land of the plains and the valleys are given over for the cultivation of grain crops and market gardening in particular chestnuts, apples and peaches.

A large area is occupied by vineyards but Haute Garonne is not noted for quality wines. Although pasture land is in abundance, deforestation has reduced its area but there are still numerous dairy farms.

Mineral springs are fairly common and can be seen at places like Encausse and Barbazon. There are deposits of zinc, lead and salt and there is even an ancient and active marbleworking industry at St. Beats.

 Haute Garonne is split into four ‘arrondisements’; Villefranche de Lauragais, Muret, St. Gaudens and the département’s capital, Toulouse, which is split by the Garonne River and the intersection of the Midi Canal.

History

Haute Garonne has no individual history.  Up until 1790 it was part of Languedoc whose territory stretched over the Cevennes into the valley of the Loire in the North, the upper Garonne in the west, the Pyrenees in the south and the hills of the Rhone in the East. Toulouse was important as early as 119BC and by the time of Julius Caesar the area was sufficiently Romanized to furnish him with men and money. The area was prosperous with schools of rhetoric and poetry, theatres, ampitheatres and splendid temples but by the fifth century it was a target for barbarians.

It was not until the 13^th century that there was any unity in the history of Languedoc. The area was dominated by the Count of Toulouse who led his people to a love of art, literature, extravagant dress and onwards to the Crusades and intercourse with Mahommedans who became both neighbours and enemies.

Even the Catholic Church could not prevail against these people and it became a hotbed for theological insurgence. The era of heresy began with the preaching of Peter de Brueys and Henry of Lausanne who emptied churches and taught contempt for clergy.

Saint Bernard  himself was unable to make headway against this rebellion. The crusade against the Cathars resulted in the union to the crown of France who bled the area dry.

By the time of the Reformation Toulouse was one of the most fanatically orthodox cities in Europe but Calvinism gained rapid ground and by 1560 the majority of the population were protestant and until 1598 with the Edict of Nantes there was intermittent civil war.

It was during the reign of Louis 14^th that the area really prospered with the building of roads and bridges and the great canal that gave a water route from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes again caused religious persecution which resulted in guerilla warfare known as the rebellion of the Camisards.

In 1790 Languedoc as it was then disappeared from the map of France and replaced with the departements that we know today but scattered throughout the region are architectural testaments to its varied and unsettled history.

http://www.abreuvoir4.com/en-us/pg_11.html is a very excellent site about the history of Languedoc with a fascinating insight into the Knights templar, Cathar Castles and Mary Magdalene.

Map of Haute-Garonne

Getting there

Cheap flights from all over the UK mean a variety of airports to choose from to suit your location. The Haute Garonne is ideally linked by an excellent network of rail and road from Toulouse, Carcassone, Pau and Perpignan airports.

Where to go/What to see

In the very heart of Midi-Pyrénées, under the bright sun, the Haute-Garonne cultivates contrasts and paradoxes, with nearly unequalled harmony.

Between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, on the edge of the Pyrénées, crossed by the Garonne river and the Canal du Midi, the Haute-Garonne is one of the few French departments to combine the advantages of a major city with remarkably varied and well-preserved territories.

Toulouse:
It is the fourth biggest city in France boasting a population of over 750,000. It founded its wealth in Violettes, a type of purple dye that was very fashionable with the ruling classes of the 17 and 18^th centuries. Due to a shortage of stone, the modern city was built in red brick giving it the name of La Ville Rose, the pink city.

Toulouse imposes its subtle singularity, as both champion of the air, space and technological industries (Airbus’s headquarters are by the airport), and major cultural and artistic centre. The "pink city" is linked to the past through its rich architectural heritage, and to the future through France's second largest university campus being home to over 100,000 students.

The magnificent basilica of St. Sernin glows warmly pink in the sunshine and its bells gaily chime the chorus to the Lourdes hymn and is in strict contrast to it’s lofty, cavernous and stark interior. Outside is surrounded by a weekly flea market with lots of bargains to be had. The Rue de Taur which is partly pedestrianised is surrounded by old beautiful churches and being close to the university means a plethora of specialist bookshops and is dotted with cultural hotspots.

It creates a link to the impressive Capitole which is the heartbeat of the city. From there the cathedral of St. Etienne is in the city’s greenest area, adjoining large parks such as the Jardin du Plants.

A stroll along the banks of the river is a must for here artists’ stalls vie with tourist boats for trade.

In Toulouse one sees the past empathetically coexisting with the modern and the success of the city lies in its combination of youth and experience.
http://worldfacts.us/France-Toulouse.htm

At the foot of the Pyrénées are some lovely ancient bastides, including:

Montréjeau which is perched on the edge of a plateau and is a small quaint market town that hosts numerous fetivals throughout the summer.
www.montrejeau-pyrenees.com

St. Bertrand-de-Comminges is about 70 miles SW of Toulouse and stands one mile from the left bank of the Garonne on the slopes of an isolated hill. Originally called Lugdunum, after the god of the moon, the fortified town of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges was founded between 350 and 250 B.C.. Since the 16th Century, many Gallo-Roman remains have been unearthed in the town and surroundings.

It is crowned by its noted cathedral of Notre Dame one of the most beautiful 12th century churches in France with its unique cloisters overlooking the Garonne valley and the mountains beyond. Its façade and square tower are Romanesque and belong to a church begun at the end of the 11^th Century by Bishop Bertrand. It is the centre of the hilltop village and is surrende by 16^th Century houses.

There are fountains in the village that are probably Roman in origin but they are mentioned in the town records in the 13^th Century as the source of village water.

‘The Name of The Rose’ with Sean Connery was filmed here and in the summer there is a mini train to take one up the hill to the village at the cost of 1Euro.

Also worth a visit is Saint-Just de Valcabrère church, an 11th-century Romanesque treasure.

Muret was coveted by the Counts of Toulouse and prospered under their rule. They formed a league with Pedro II of Spain. Pedro II succeeded his father, Alfonso II, as King of Aragon in 1196. In 1204 he married Maria of Montpellier bringing him prestige in southern France. He played a role in defeating the Moors at Las Navas del Tolosa in July 1212. The following year he he arrived at Muret with a large army in support of his brother-in-law, Raymond VI of Toulouse.

The plan was to trap Simon de Montfort who was devastating the area while on his Albigensian Crusade. Though he had fewer troops, he attacked the Spanish who were completely routed and Pedro II, along with thousands of his men, was killed.

Little is left of the strong ramparts that were built around the town of Muret in 1090, or the castle that was build later at the confluence of the Rivers Lauge and Garonne.

Luchon is a picturesque spa town in the heart of the Central Pyrénées. Set at a height of some 630metres above sea level it is at the centre of hiking and rock climbing the granite Luchon mountains. The aerial tram from Superbagneres to Luchon has the largest vertical drop in the Pyrenees. A hair-raising 1200metres.                   

Luchon is supplied by some 80 mountain springs, making it renowned worldwide for its beauty and beneficial waters. The Vaporarium is an unique natural steam bath dedicated to rheumatology treatment with relaxation and beauty booths.

The Chambert and Prince Imperial Spas have the fountains that distribute the spring waters and are dedicated to respiratory treatments.

The Allées d'Etigny is full of charm and boasts perfectly preserved Art Deco architecture in an outstanding setting of the high mountain peaks.
www.luchon.com

 Revel: The "bastide" (fortified town) of Revel was founded in 1342. Today, its ancient marketplace and old houses still stand. Through the outstanding skills of its craftsmen, Revel has justly earned its reputation as the decorative furniture capital of France. A mint liqueur, produced here since 1796, has also contributed to Luchon's fame abroad. Nearby: the forested walks surrounding Lake Saint-Ferréol, the latter designed in 1681 by Paul Riquet to supply the Canal du Midi, and the famous geyser.

Rieux Volvestre: Situated on a plateau above the Arize River, Rieux Volvestre retains its original character. The Sainte Marie de Rivus Cathedral, made entirely of brick, was built on a bend of the Arize in the 14th Century, by Bishop Jean Tissandier, whereas the tower overlooking the cathedral was rebuilt in the 17th Century. A 15th Century and 17 Century bridge over the Arize add immeasurably to this idyllic setting. Nearby: Lake Peyssies and the village of Marquefave.
www.tourisme-volvestre.com

Saint Gaudens: It is situated at the base of the Pyrenees, about 80 km south west of Toulouse and it is one of the prettiest towns in the region and is traditionally thought of as the capital of the region. It is a fortified city; the medieval enclosure is eleventh century, increased in fourteenth century and consisted of walls from 5 to 6 meters in height. The Street of the Pits and the street of the ramparts were formed with the demolition of the interior walls and now proudly boast some architectural gems from the sixteenth century onwards.

The oldest ever Gallo Roman villa was found in the area and archaeologists discovered evidence of human life going back 30000 years.

The pretty, flamboyant eleventh and twelfth century church provides a backdrop for festivals and the quaint cobbled streets lead to many varied and interesting shops. www.tourisme-stgaudens.com

Martres Tolosane: Set in a perfect circle, with its 13^th century church at the heart this picturesque village is famous for its pottery.

There are 8 faïenceries d'art (shops and workshops) around the village and the biscuit / cake making factory Vital Aîné - you’ll see the cakes and biscuits in all the local shops and supermarkets.

The Matet Pottery, 15 Rue du Matet – Tel : 05 61 98 81 30. Guided tour Mon – Fri 9am – noon, 2-6pm. Sat 10am – noon and 2-6pm. Sun 3-6pm. Admission charge. In Carlo Rocca’s workshop, you can watch pottery being made. The clay is kneaded, shaped, fired, enamelled and decorated by hand (using a brush made from the hairs from the ears of a cow). The patterns are original with names such as Ibis, Rose de Samadet, Vieux Martres. There is a shop on site as well as numerous other outlets round the town. www.mairie-martres-tolosane.fr

Haute Garonne is dotted with small gems that should be visited.

.Aurignac with its proud tower, Alan and the Bishop’s Palace, Carbonne with its unusual rooflines and pretty flowers that overspill onto the river bank and not to mention the beautiful market town of Cazeres that rises above the River Garonne. Viewing it from the bridge is spectacular. Also not to be missed is St. Martory with its private chateau, the stunning sixteenth chateau at St Elix de Chateau and the thermal spa town of Salies du Salat with its busy, thriving market overlooked by the hilltop ruined church.

Market Days

There are some 84 markets throughout Haute-Garonne on various days. A superb list of when and where markets can be found at http://www.francemag.com/frmag/content/filoFrance/?id=73

What to Do

The activities and sights of interest are varied in the Haute-Garonne.

Museums
Historically, most small towns have archaeological museums but there are also museums to suit most tastes from a furniture museum of note in Revel to a chocolate museum in Luchon. www.tourisme-haute-garonne.com has descriptions, addresses and telephone numbers of all museums in the various arrondisements of Haute Garonne.

Chateaux
If sightseeing is more your scene there are numerous chateaux in the area many of which have guided tours on certain days.

Aurignac, Hôpital Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Alan. Tel : 05 61 98 98 84. At the early part of the 18^th century, Hôpital Notre-Dame-de-Lorette was founded in 1735 by the bishops of Comminges, on the site of a chapel dating from the 11^th century.

Aurignac, Ancien Palais des Evêques de Comminges, Alan. Tel: 05 61 98 90 72. 13^th to 18^th century. It is here that the Bishops of Toulouse built their residence in 1270.

Baziège, Château de Lastours, chemin de Lastours. Tel : 05 61 81 81 25. Started in the 14^th century and finished at the end of the 18^th century. Exhibitions of antiques (on appointment).

Bellegarde-Sainte-Marie, Abbaye Cistercienne. Tel : 05 61 13 45 45. This neogothic style built church constructed in 1860 by the architect Delort is open to the publicModern window designs by Marc Soulier.

Caumant, Château, Casaux-Savès Tél : 05 62 07 94 20. A simply breathtaking sight, built in the middle of the 16th century on the site of a previous château. Open July and Aug 3pm - 6pm, and in May, June, Sept and October weekends only 3pm - 6pm.

Fourquevaux, Château. Tel : 05 62 71 71 03. On the road to Revel, inhabited since the middle of the 14^th century by the Ysalguier and their descendants. www.chateau-fourquevaux.fr ???

Lara, Château. Tel : 05 61 82 52 61. 18^th century, impressive château built for the President a Mortier de Tournier de Vaillac, still inhabited by his descendants. The architecture is by Guillaume Cammas.

Laréole, Château. Tel : 05 61 06 33 58. Constructed in 1579 by Pierre de Cheverry. Undergone major reconstruction work over the last ten years by the Conseil Général de la Haute Garonne.

Launac, Château. Tel : 05 61 85 43 98. The Château of Launac was built in 1210 and remodelled in 1420.

Loubens, Château. Tel : 05 61 83 12 08. 30km east of Toulouse. Visit includes underground offices, 15 furnished rooms, the museum of Jules de Gounon-Loubens and the park. www.chateaudeloubens.com.

Mauran, Château. Tel : 05 61 98 60 60. 5km from Cazères and 3km from Martres-Tolosane built in 1885.

Merville, Château. Tel : 05 61 85 67 46. Constructed between 1743 and 1759 by the Marquis of Chalvet de Rochemonteix, with amazing grounds. www.chateau-merville.com

Montgeard, Château. Tel : 05 61 81 52 75. 16^th century Renaissance château.

Montréjeau, Château de Valmirande, route de Tarbes. Tel : 05 61 95 80 11. Guided tours 3pm from 1 July - 15 August or on written request throughout the year. Built in 1892 for the Baron de Lassus. Picturesque park of over 40 hectares, designed by Eugène Bühler. To say the exterior façade is breathtaking is probably an understatement !

Saint-Béat, Château Féodol. Tel : 05 61 79 77 07. From the Middle Ages, the Château has protected the valley from invasion.

St Elix le Château 05 61 87 94 40. Exit 25 of A64 (halfway between St. Gaudens and Toulouse). Magnificent 16^th century Château (which the village is named after) with a troubled history which has been beautifully restored conforming to the original plans. It is open from 15 June to 31 October – every Sunday. July and August – 3 days per week, guided tour starts at 3pm (tickets from Tourist Info centre next door to the chateau). Excellent English spoken.

Saint-Félix-Lauragais, Maison Déodat-de-Séverac, place du village. Tel : 05 61 83 01 83. This Chateau has been from 17^th to the mid 19^th century, a traditional maison de maitre.

Saint-Geniès-Bellevue, Château. Tel : 05 61 74 26 45. From 16^th to 18^th century, the château was built by Nicolas Bachelier, as a fine example of the Renaissance.

Vaux, Château. Tel : 05 62 18 94 00. Renaissance château with tower dating from the 14^th and 15^th centuries.

Motor Racing

For any Formula 1 enthusiast a visit to the old Grand Prix race track in St. Gaudens is an absolute must.

In 1925 Eugene Azemar persuaded the Automobile Club du Midi to arrange a Grand Prix race on a road track between St. Gaudens and Montrejeau. By 1933 there were severe problems in marshalling such a long course and so it was shortened to 11 km on the north side of the river and the wooden grandstands were replaced by a more modern construction which can still be seen today. www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm

Horse Riding

Boulogne-sur-Gesse - Poney Club d’Escanecrabe, Tel : 05 61 88 68 24 www.lesfarfadets.online.fr

Cazeres (Fabas) - La Fitte, Fabas. Tel : 05 61 96 41 32. Open all year. Pony trekking
Cazeres - Perruchet Isabelle, St Vincent 05 61 97 26 15
Martres Tolosane - Centre Equestre MartraisMétairie des Pauvres Montoulies d'En Haut Tel : 05 61 98 80 07 St Gaudens - Etrier du Comminges, Sède 05 61 89 76 04
St Gaudens - Les Ecuries de Saint Anne, Ste Anne 05 61 95 01 66
Luchon - Centre Equestre et Poney Club de Luchon. Tel : 05 61 95 55 34 Open every day. Lessons, pony trekking..
Luchon (Mayregne) - Rando An’Oueil,Mayregne Tel : 05 61 79 20 14. Donkey trekking – all ages, especially young.

Fishing and Water Sports

Auzas – Lac d’Auzac. Tel : 05 61 90 34 17. Fishing, picnic area.
Barbazan – Lac de Barbazan. Tel : 05 61 89 16 91. Fishing, leisure area, picnic area, nautical and sporting activities.
Blagnac – Lac du Ritouret, avenue du Parc. Tel : 05 61 71 75 15. Sporting activities, fishing.
Blagnac – Lac des Quinze-Sols, Zone des loisirs des Quinze-Sols. Tel : 05 61 71 72 00. Fishing, sporting activities.
Boulogne-sur-Gesse – Lac Boulogne-sur-Gesse, Route de Blajan. Tel : 05 61 88 20 38. Fishing, sporting and nautical activites.
Boulogne-sur-Gesse - Lac de la Gimone. Tel : 05 62 66 18 12. Fishing, nautical activities, leisure area, supervised swimming.
Boulogne-sur-Gesse - Lac Centre Nautique. Boating, sailing.
Caraman - Lac de Saint-Semin and Lac de L’Orme Blanc. Tel : 05 62 18 81 60 / 05 62 18 96 64. Fishing, sporting activities, picnic area.
Carbonne – Plan d’Eau Sur La Garonne. Route de Cazères. Tel : 05 61 87 80 49. Kayaking, sailing, fishing, nautical activities, picnic area.
Cazères – Plan d’Eau Sur La Garonne, Base nautique, chemin Tembourets. Tel : 05 61 97 00 64. Most water sports/activities, picnic area.
Flourens – Lac de Flourens. Tel : 05 61 83 60 19. Fishing, nautical and sporting activities.
Gagnac-sur-Garonne – Lac de Raby, rue de la Voie-Romaine. Tel : 05 61 71 72 00. Fishing, nautical and sporting activities.
Luchon – Lac de Badech. Tel : 05 61 79 21 21. Fishing, picnic area.
Martres-Tolosane – Lac de Saint-Vidian. Tel : 05 61 98 80 02. Fishing, picnic area, leisure area.
Merville – Les Lacs du Port-Haut. 05 61 82 54 46 / 06 13 17 71 08. Fishing, picnic area
Montgeard – Lac de la Thésauque. Tel : 05 61 81 30 20. Fishing, nautical and sporting activities, leisure area.
Montréjeau – Lac de Montréjeau, avenue Salvador-Allende Tel : 05 61 95 69 11 / 05 61 95 80 22.Nautical and sporting activities.
Muret – Plan d’Eau du Four de Louge, chemin des lacs. Tel : 05 61 51 95 95. Fishing, nautical activites, picnic area.
Rieux-Volvestre – Base de Loisirs de Garonne. Tel : 05 61 87 63 33. Canoeing, sailing, fishing, nautical and sporting activities, leisure/picnic area
Saint-Béat - Le Lac de Géry. Tel : 05 61 79 48 56. Trout fishing in this 3ha lake. Bar restaurant, Pedalos, mini golf, pony trekking, picnic area.
Saint-Félix-Lauragais – Lac de l’Enclas. Tel : 05 61 83 01 71. Fishing, picnic area.
Saint-Ferréol, Revel – Lac de Saint-Ferréol. Tel : 05 34 66 67 68 or 05 62 18 71 46. Canoeing, kayaking, dinghy, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, sporting and nautical activities, leisure area, picnic area, caving, gliding, flying and supervised swimming area.
Saint-Gaudens – Lac de Sède, Boulevard Etancelin. Fishing and sporting activities.
Salies-du-Salat – Lac des Isles. Tel : 05 61 90 53 93. Fishing, picnic area.
Toulouse – Lac de Sesquières, Zone de Sesquières, 22 chemin Pont-de-Rupé. Tel : 05 61 22 22 08 or 05 61 70 58 05. Nautical centre, fishing, picnic area, leisure centre.
Toulouse / Tournefeuille – La Ramée. Tel : 05 61 86 27 44. Kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, sporting activities, leisure centre, fishing, picnic area.
Verfeil – Lac du Laragou et Lac de la Balerme. 05 61 35 88 84. Fishing, nautical and sporting centre, picnic area.
Villefranche-de-Lauragais – Lac de Nailloux. Tel : 05 61 27 20 94. Fishing, leisure area, picnic area.

Airport Tours

Toulouse Aerospatiale
Avenue Jean-Monnet Tel: 05 61 15 44 00. 3.5 miles (6km) W of Toulouse city centre. Guided tour daily except Sunday by appointment. ID compulsory. Admission charge. It is impossible to ignore the impressive sight of the Aerospatiale (121 acres / 300ha). A bus takes you on a tour of the vast site to see where the Airbus A340 is made. The final stop is at a lookout post above a gigantic assembly hall, so large that everyone passes through it by bicycle!

Toulouse - Behind the Scenes at the Airport
How a big airport is run. Go behind the scenes at Toulouse-Blagnac airport. Discover how sniffer dogs work tracking down suitcases containing suspicious substances and see the baggage handling machines at work. Watch the technicians who regulate all the stages of take-off and landing, and experience what it is like to pilot a plane by taking the controls of a real Boeing. Tel : 05 61 71 62 11 – Must be booked at least two weeks in advance as the airport has to do a security check on you !

Flying Clubs

Luchon - Aéro-Club de Luchon. Tel : 05 61 79 00 48. Open Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat and Sun from 9 – 12 and 1.30 – 5pm.. Gliding – 30mins approx 55 Euros. Flying – 30mins approx 50 Euros one person, 70 Euros for 2 people.
Auterive - Aéro-Club Auterive Esperce, 7 rue Ferdinand-Buisson. Tel : 05 61 50 54 08.
Balma - Aéro-Club Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees, 34 rue Jean-Rene-Lagasse, Aérodrome de Toulouse-Labordes. Tel : 05 62 47 91 60.
Boulogne-sur-Gesse - Passion’Aile. Base de loisirs de la Gimone. Tel : 05 62 66 18 06.
Bourg-Saint-Bernard - AVAT Aérodrome. Tel : 05 61 83 77 72. Gliding.
Cazères - Aéroclubs de Cazères-Palaminy. Tel : 05 61 90 12 45.
Gensac-sur-Garonne - Stade de l’Air, Mairie. Tel : 05 61 97 23 25.
Lourdes - Les Hommes Oiseaux, Serre. Tel : 05 61 79 67 62.
Luchon - Aéro-Club de Luchon, Aérodrome. Tel : 05 61 79 00 48. Gliding.
Luchon - Soaring, 14 rue Sylvie. Tel : 05 61 51 00 60. Gliding, bi-planes.
Muret - Aéro-Club Jean-Mermoz, Aérodrome Muret-Lherm. Tel : 05 61 51 03 85.
Muret - CALM, Club des Ailes Légères Muretaines, avenue de l’Aérodrome. Tel : 05 61 55 98 29.
Muret - Hélocop Air, Aérodrome de Muret. Tel : 05 61 51 03 34. Helicopters.
Razecueillé - Surf’air, Tel : 05 61 88 81 66.
Renneville - Héli Loc, Tel : 05 61 27 79 83. Helicopters.
Revel Saint-Ferréol - Centre de vol a voile, La Montagne Noire. Tel : 05 61 27 65 64. Gliding.
St Gaudens (Clarac) - Association Vélicole Commingeoise, Aérodrome de Saint Gaudens. Tel : 05 61 95 37 87.

Wild Life

There is an abundance of trees in the Haute Garonne with the slopes of the Pyrenees being a natural habitat for the beech, silver fir, mountain pine, scots pine, sylvestris, Norway spruce and the larch.

Cardeilhac Arboretum
This stunning 33 acre (13 ha) Arboretum offers free admission all year round. It was created in 1913 in order to study the behaviour of certain trees and is now open to the public for walks. There are streams, signposted paths, interpretation paths, running tracks, and bridleways through the Japanese spruce, American oak, sequoias and pine trees. There are even two adventure trails for children and adults. Large shaded picnic area next to entrance. Arboretum Office Tel : 05 61 88 90 69. Free admission.

Montmaurin: Gorges de la Save
The Save torrent, carving a deep channel through the limestone folds of the Lesser Pyrenees, has hollowed out a number of caves or shelters beneath the rock. La Hillière – on the way out of the gorge, below the level of the road, archaeological digs have revealed a sanctuary including temples, baths, fountain and market built during the 4^th century on the spot where the River Save resurfaces. (15 mins from here)

St Bertrand de Comminges - The Caves of Gargas.
Tel : 05 62 39 72 39. Open daily 2-6pm (also 10-11.30am July – Aug). Guided tour every 45 mins. Admission charge.

There are 231 prehistoric handprints on the walls of these caves that are painted mostly in red, yellow, black or white, the hands appear to be mutilated as some have fingers missing. Theories abound but the ghoulish mystery remains. There are also some lovely engravings of animals.

Haute Garonne is an ornithologists dream with a wide variety of birds easily seen like the Capercaillie, Red Kites, Honey Buzzards and of course the Golden Eagle.

The royal eagle's habitat extends from the maquis and garrigues of the Mediterranean level to the forests and grasslands high up in the Pyrenees (up to 2,350 m). Couples occupy territories of 40 to 120 square kilometres depending on the topography and quantity of prey. Eagle eyries are huge, solid affairs built with branches usually on rock faces but very occasionally in trees. This territorial, non-migrant bird of prey is found in most of the Pyrenees. The French Pyrenees and foothills host 52 to 54 couples, 34 to 36 of these being found in the Haute-Garonne and Ariège departments.

Red squirrels are common and one might quite easily spot a family of wild boar nonchalantly crossing the road to their feeding ground. Unfortunately, however, the French are keen on hunting and at least twice weekly one can hear a barrage of gunfire as unsuspecting deer, rabbits and boar are tracked relentlessly and butchered.

The flora is varied and the air is scented with a mixture of flowers and herbs. Peppermint, and orchids can be found along with Pyrenean Turk’s cap lily, bittercress, moss campion. Pyrenean poppy, saxifrage and of course the ubiquitous sunflower.

Further Tourist Information

Tourist offices:

Weather in Haute-Garonne