A brief history... The Romanesque churches in the Ariège were built at the time of the creation of most of the parishes in the XIth and XIIth centuries. Built thanks to the knowledge of builders from Italy travelling through to Catalonia, the churches match the difficult living conditions and lack of means of believers. Churches in the Ariège were built like Ariège barns, from rubble masonry held together with mortar. They were based at first on a very simple plan, which became more refined as techniques evolved, including a cradle vault or cross-springer, for example. Decoration followed. After the primitive archways came fresques and sculpted capitals. But such developments were slow to reach these remote valleys, paradoxically preserving the rustic charm of Ariège Romanesque art. Fresque at St. Lizier

St. Jean de Verges

Romanesque treasures The towers of nearly fifty chapels and churches punctuate the countryside of Volvestre, Pays d'Olmes, Couserans and Sabarthès. Here we present five examples representative of the valleys of the Hers, Salat and Ariège rivers. Rock church of Vals Access through a natural fault in the rock opening on to the primitive nave, which dates back to the Xth century. The apse offers exceptional Romanesque fresques (early XIIth century), which have kept their colours because they were hidden in the depths of the rock. Saint-Jean de Verges A former priory of Foix abbey, Saint-Jean de Verges benefited from substantial funding when it was built around 1100: elegant architecture, use of large stones, abundant sculptings. Montgauch church The seraphim belongs to the splendid set of fresques which decorate the imposing walls of this XIth century church. While the exact date of origin is unknown, the fresques are undoubtedly of Romanesque fabrication.

Saint-Paul d'Arnave chapel A half-hour walk along the hillside will bring you to the unadorned Saint-Paul chapel, probably built on a site previously used for pagan worship: a black stone is kept there which attracted pilgrims suffering from epilepsy. Axiat chapel Built in 1075, this church has two surprising features - the quality of its construction and its Burgundian-style tower. It belonged successively to the Count of Foix, Cluny abbey, then the very rich Lagrasse abbey. Axiat chapel

Saint-Paul d'Arnave chapel

		Reception and information: Comité Départemental du Tourisme d'Ariège 31 bis av. du Gl de Gaulle BP 143 09004 Foix cedex Phone: 05 61 02 30 70 Fax: 05 61 65 17 34 Website: www.ariegepyrenees.com E-mail: ariege-pyrenees.sla@wanadoo.fr Office du Tourisme de Pamiers (Vals) Boulevard Delcassé Phone: 05 61 67 52 52 E-mail: contact@pamierstourisme.com Office du Tourisme de St. Girons (Montgauch) 101, Bd Général de Gaulle Phone: 05 61 96 26 60 E-mail: otcouserans@wanadoo.fr Office du Tourisme des Vallées d'Arc (Axiat) 6, Avenue Delcassé Phone: 05 61 64 60 60 E-mail: vallees.arc@wanadoo.fr Office du Tourisme de Foix 29, Rue Delcassé Phone: 05 61 65 12 12 E-mail: foix.tourisme@wanadoo.fr

Access: Le Couserans: Take the A64 towards Tarbes then the D117 towards Saint-Girons. Haute-Ariège: Take the N20 towards Foix then follow Ax les Thermes. Vals: Take the RN20 or A620 towards Foix then follow the D119 to Pamiers