The climate
Here's an overview of the department's climate. It can go from one extreme to the other in just a few kilometers. It may be fine in Mirepoix, a few drops in Pamiers, a few flakes in Foix... and you'll be putting on the chains in Lavelanet.
Average temperatures: It's a paradox, but the mildest weather lies to the north. From the Ariège plain in the north, to the snows of Spain and Andorra in the south, you can go from mild winters and hot, dry summers to a harsh, cold climate with abundant precipitation, depending on altitude and exposure. Average temperatures are as follows: annual average 14°C to 3°C, annual average minimum 8°C to -1°C, annual average maximum 19°C to 7°C, from the lower Ariège to the highest peaks.
Sunshine: Ariège lies at the crossroads of oceanic and Mediterranean climatic influences. The Pyrenees are a southern mountain where harsh, snowy winters bring plenty of sunshine. The northern part of the department, which enjoys 1,200 hours of sunshine a year, benefits from its Mediterranean neighborhood and the influence of the Aude.
Precipitation: Precipitation figures range from 750 mm/year in the north-east (the least-watered area) to 1,800 mm/year in the Aulus mountains (the most-watered area); the wettest months are April, May and October, and the driest are July and September. Snow is present for around 10 days on the plains, 30 days at 800 m and 60 days at 1,500 m. There are 20 to 25 days of thunderstorms.
Wind: The prevailing winds are north-westerly and south-easterly (the famous autan wind), although Ariège is a relatively windless department. In recent years, however, there has been an upsurge in wind, certainly linked to changing climatic conditions.
Ariège is under a dual influence: to the west, the Couserans and Volvestre landscapes are under a dominant oceanic influence, while to the east, the vegetation and climate are Mediterranean, and therefore drier. All of the department's rivers, with the exception of those in the canton of Quérigut, flow into the Garonne, the river on the oceanic side, via the Ariège, Salat, Volp and Arize.
The relief
This department of around 5,000 km2 takes its name from the main river that divides its territory in a north-south direction. It offers a highly varied landscape of valleys, caves, lakes, torrents, plains, mountains and forests.
Ariège is characterized by three main zones:
The Ariège plain
This large, fertile plain of the lower Ariège, with the Lauragais to the northeast, the Ariège valley from Foix to Toulouse and the Lèze valley, is intended to be very agricultural land, with some wine-growing. The calm landscapes contrast with the massive, chaotic mountain range visible from the road or freeway.
The Pyrenean foothills and the couserannais piedmont
The limestone ranges of the Plantaurel from east to west are a kind of stepping stone to the high mountains, ranging from gentle hills to sheer cliffs. Lavelanet, Foix, the Arize basin and Saint-Girons are at the foot of the Pyrenees.
The Ariège highlands
This high country can itself be divided into 4 major regions. Castillonais and Haut Sarlat to the south-west, Haute Ariège to the south, towards Tarascon-sur-Ariège and Ax-les-Thermes, the Pays d'Olmes to the south-east towards Lavelanet and Donezan on the border with the Aude, which we share.
The mid-range mountains lie between 1,700 and 2,300 m, with the Saint-Barthélemy, Arget-Arize and Trois Seigneurs massifs rapidly dominated by the high Pyrenean chain, towards the Spanish border, some of whose peaks approach or exceed 3,000 m, such as Montcalm (3,080 m), Pique d'Estats (3,140 m), Maubermé (2,880 m) and Mont Valier (2,839 m). There's a clear difference in landscape between the Couserans and the Haute Ariège. The latter is more enclosed, with the peaks barely visible from the valleys. You have to go to higher altitudes to enjoy the breathtaking panorama. On the Saint-Girons side, on the other hand, the great peaks open out onto vast, wide valleys or cirques, leaving an impression of grandiose majesty all around the visitor.
Over thousands of years, glaciers have worked their way into the mountains, carving out superb lakes. In the Querigut, at the foot of the Roc Blanc, the splendid Lac du Laurenti; up there, at the foot of the Soularac, the impressive Etang du Diable. The Ariège Pyrenees are dotted with a multitude of lakes, over 200 of which you can approach and admire.
Regional Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees
The Ariege Pyrenees Regional Nature Park covers around 40% of the Ariège département. Covering 2,468 km2, it encompasses 142 communes and 43,000 inhabitants. The park's perimeter includes the Ariège part of the Petites Pyrénées (Volvestre) to the north, and the western half of the Plantaurel range, bounded by the Ariège river, to the northern 2/3, in the foothills zone: séronais, Saint-Gironnais and Bas-Salat, and in the south and center, areas with a strong mountain character, structured into valleys such as the Vicdessos valley and its tributary, the Siguer, and the Saurat and Courbière valleys, the Col de Port and the Massif des Trois-Seigneurs in Tarascon-sur-Ariège and the Barguillère valley, the Col des Marrous and the Col del Bouich in Foix, the Arac valley, the Haut-Salat, the Castillonnais (Bellongue and Lez valleys, etc.)...). You'll discover a range of products and service providers bearing the "Marque Parc" label, which comply with specific specifications based on three fundamental values: the link to the region, the human dimension and respect for the environment.
