Chateau Local Area

Click here for images of the chateau's local area

The Chateau is in the Ariege, the least populated department in France, and the area is renowned for great outdoor pursuits, and glorious scenery.

La Bastide De Serou, a lively village with shops including a chemist, post office, baker, butcher, medical centre, dental surgery, a bar and restaurants, is just five minutes from the Chateau. It is surrounded by streams and forests, and a nearby lake, all with views of the Pyrenees mountains in the distance. In the village of La Bastide De Serou is a tourist information office with English speaking staff, where leaflets of the many local attractions can be found.

Foix, the nearest town with a beautiful mediaeval Chateau, is just twenty minutes away, and offers canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and fishing, in the nearby mountain rivers. St. Girons, which has a fantastic Saturday Market, is 20 minutes away. A dedicated cycle track of almost 50 kms is being constructed from St. Girons to Foix, which passes just 500 metres from the Chateau.

The Centre National du Cheval du Merens is just ten minutes away, offering horse-riding lessons and guided trail rides.


Explore the famous grotto, (caves) of Grotte du Mas D’Azil, or  journey through the larger Lombrives caves. Perhaps explore the underground river at Labouiche, or make the climb to Chateau Montsegur, the last stronghold of the Cathars.

The renowned Le Golf de L’Ariege, in the rolling foothills, a challenging 18 hole golf course for serious golfers, is less than ten minutes away.

There are ski resorts within one hours drive, or continue on to Andorra...and on to Spain.