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The castle of Usson is the most ancient of both strongholds of the Donezan. It was first mentioned in 1035 but its building up probably dates back to the end of the 10 th Century. It was occupied without interruption until 1794 and it bears, still most visible, the marks of this long occupation. It was in turn property of the So and Alion families, of the Catalan Counts of Foix, of the Kings of France, or even of the Usson de Bonnac family, last holder of this antic stronghold. The marquis de Bonnac, Jean-Louis d'Usson, turned the medieval dwelling place through many restorations under his control, together with Victor Canas' architectural project, into a residential house according to the fashion of the 18 th Century.
The Revolution of 1789 tolled the knell for a lot of castles belonging to the nobility and that of Usson knew its own demolition stone after stone, finally becoming a quarry for the inhabitants of the next villages. One has to wait till 1990 to see this legendary site as a witness of actions aimed at saving it from falling into total ruin. The low wall serves now as a shelter for the Patrimony House which was fixed up in the former stables, built in the 18 th Century.../span> |
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The Chateau d'Usson is one of the so-called Cathar castles in what is now southwestern France. It is located in the commune of Rouze, in the Ariege departement. It is sited upstream from Axat, along the Aude River gorge, carved out of the foothills of the Pyrenees.
It is situated at 920 m in altitude and dominates the valley of the Aude River. The Chateau de Puilaurens is 30 km away, Chateau de Puivert 49 km and Chateau de Queribus 60 km. Chateau d'Usson is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
The castle dates from the 11th century (perhaps earlier) and during the Cathar period marked the eastern boundary of the territories of the Counts of Foix. In the 12th century this was the capital of the Donezan region. Before the defile was cut through the mountains to link Quillan to Axat, this was an inaccessible outpost providing succour for faidits and other persecuted Cathars. The Cathar bishop of Toulouse Guilhabert de Castres is known to have taken refuge here.
Towards the end of the wars against the Cathars this was one of their last sanctuaries, providing support for Montsegur. The seigneurs of Usson, Bernard d'Alion, lord of the Chateau de Montaillou, and his brother Arnaud d'Usson sent arms and supplies to their besieged comrades there. On March 15, 1244, the day before 225 Cathar parfaits were burned alive at Montsegur, four other parfaits left the castle there for Usson, where the Cathar treasure had been evacuated a few months earlier. This mystery has fed a number of theories about the equally mysterious treasure supposedly found at Rennes-le-Chateau in the 19th century.
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Opening Château d'Usson:
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April 1 to April 17 and from April 29 to May 1.
- 6 to 8 May and 25 to 28 May and from 3 to 6 June.
- September 1 to September 17 and October 1 and 2 from 14:00 to 18:00
- July 14 to August 31 from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00
Equipments and Services:
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* Individual guided tours
* Group guided tours
* Unguided group visits |
* Parking
* Groups Accepted |
Grotte de l'Aguzou
Mijanès-Donezan
Château de Quérigut
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Come and discover in the middle of the forest, an animal park entirely dedicated to the wolf. In a preserved natural environment, you will observe the wolf varieties of Europe, North America and the Arctic. Daily feeding of the packs commented. Come and pet M. Seguin's goats and don't miss the 3 little pigs, lambs, donkeys... A botanical trail to discover the Pyrenean species, as well as a discovery trail of traces of animals from our mountains. An ornithological trail and a discovery trail "barefoot". Today, the park La Maison des Loups, with an area of 7 hectares, allows you to discover wolves from a new perspective. It welcomes more than 40,000 visitors annually. The park is completely private and independent and does not receive any subsidy for its operation. It is thanks to your loyalty that the park has been able to evolve since its inception...
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Les Angles -
Le Village Station |
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Les Angles - Le Village Station – Les Angles is a real ski village that has developed at the foot of the slopes while retaining its authentic character while meeting the requirements of a modern ski resort. The unique location in the Pyrenees, where the ski slopes open in the heart of the village, ensures an animated day and an always lively nightlife. In a remarkable place, in the heart of the Capcir Valley overlooking the Lac de Matemale, Les Angles is a station with character that has kept its charm while at the same time installing modern amenities (chairlifts for 6 and 4 people, snow cannons , etc,). Les Angles: skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, you will find all the freedom you are looking for here...
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The Patrimony House of Donezan has been fit out in the building of the ancient stables of the castle of Usson. It is the natural showcase of the whole heritage of the land of Donezan . It offers to the visitors the most complete and possible panorama of the diversity of the historical richness that this little Pyrenean territory treasures up. Access : you can find a parking lot at the foot of the castle, on the left of the D 16 at the river side. A rest and picnic area has been equipped, the access to the keep is possible only on foot, plan about 15 minutes walk...
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Parc Animalier
Les Angles |
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Located at the foot of the slopes of Pla Del Mir, in Capcir in the Catalan Pyrenees, Parc Animalier Les Angles is a 37 hectare mountain forest area, located between 1700 m and 1800 m above sea level, where you live in peace, in freedom, Pyrenean animals. In order to respect as much as possible the natural environment of the species, the enclosures were built in a manner that is almost identical to their original environment. Parc Animalier Les Angles: is more than a park, an oasis of peace for animals in the Catalan country!
Two routes immerse you in the life of animals (one from 1500 meters, the other from 3500 meters). You can walk at your own pace, have a picnic in the landscaped areas, observe the animals and discover the typical Pyrenean flora...
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Montaillou is a small village in the remote Sabarthès area
where Catharism was revived in the fouteenth century. In 1318 the whole village
was arrested on the orders of the bishop of Pamiers, Jacques Fournier, who had
been the Cistercian Abbot of Fontfroide and who now felt a vocation as an
Inquisitor. Exceptionally, he was interested in the truth about Catharism, and
he kept records of the interrogations. Even more exceptionally, years later he
was elected Pope (Benedict XII) so his records were preserved in the Vatican
archives. These records form the basis of a book about the village by Emmanuel
Le Roy Ladurie. The centuries-old church of the Notre Dame of Carnesses, an
intimate, warm spot, is idyllically located in the open landscape. The names on
the graves at the churchyard show that the people are apparently all descendants
of the Cathars. The fontcanal, the most important spring of medieval Montaillou,
still works. Today there is almost nothing left of the medieval village, except
for the foundations and a few walls. You get the best view of modern Montaillou
from the fontcanal that lies very close to the ruins...
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Located at the entrance of the village of Roquefort in
Sault (direct access from Axat), Camping "Madres Pyrenees", open during the
summer, offers vacationers an enabling environment for rest and quiet. Located
just outside the stream Clarianelle, with a petanque, a barbecue and of course
all the comforts required health, it is the perfect setting for a holiday with
family or friends...
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Auberge du Donezan -
Les 4 Saisons |
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The Auberge du Donezan is family run since 2005. The hotel has nine rooms, a restaurant with 30 seats and a summer terrace. A room for bicycles is available as well as skis.
The restaurant new decor, we offer a traditional cuisine with local seasonal dishes and a map of Pizzas (25) over a wood fire. In summer, salads of dandelions (spring), grilled, sauteed mushrooms, are the delight of gourmets.
Cheese specialties such as fondue Volume soared to the country (cheese Monastery "Our Lady of Donezan"), the Pyrenees tartiflette cheese and charcuterie the country, the Supreme trout fillet au gratin are part of our map all seasons. We prefer French poultry and meats: veal, beef and lamb in the country...
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Twenty kilometres southeast of Tarascon, and still on the
river, the spa town of AX-LES-THERMES is completely walled in by mountains and
its principal value is as a base for exploring the surrounding peaks and as a
staging post on the way to Andorra or on down the N20 to Font-Romeu and,
ultimately, Perpignan and the Mediterranean. The town itself is small and
agreeable enough, but there's little to see once you've wandered a couple of
streets in the quarter to the right of the N20, which forms the main street,
avenue Delcassé. Rue de l'École and rue de la Boucarie retain a few medieval
buildings, and above place du Breilh, the church of St-Vincent is of
architectural interest for its Romanesque tower. Just across the road you can
dangle your feet for free in the Bassin des Ladres, a pool of hot sulphurous
water which is all that remains of the hospital founded in 1260 by St Louis for
soldiers wounded in the Crusades...
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