Luzenac Talc Quarry
From the Ariège Evasion campsite take the RN20 towards Ax les thermes for approximately 25 km. On the road you will see the peak of Saint Barthelemy, the Cathar ruins of the castle of Lordat and you will cross the village of Luzenac known for its Talc quarries among the largest in the world. Take the opportunity to stop at Talcaneo , the Talc museum, where you will be offered excursions to the heart of the open-air Talc quarries. A few kilometers further you arrive at Ax les thermes .
Ruin of Lordat castle
The history of Ax les thermes :
The town of Ax -les-Thermes has more than sixty hot water springs whose temperatures vary between 18°C and 78°C. Knowledge and use of these waters date back to the Middle Ages, but it was their rediscovery in the middle of the 18th century which led to the construction of specific buildings and the implementation of new practices which would become the main economic activity. The city has a network of public and private thermal establishments, offering a wide range of care to the sick. The arrival of the Trans-Pyrenean railway in the second half of the 19th century opened the valley to the greatest number of people. Modernism is progressing faster than in the rest of the department, Ax is one of the first towns to have sewerage, running water and electricity. Public sulfurous water fountains allow ax to have constant hot water for their hygiene, cleaning and cooking.
The golden age of the spa town lasted until the Second World War. A leisure society is established there with the Casino, the theater, the thermal baths and parks, luxury villas and hotels and numerous cafes. The first passage of the Tour de France in 1930 followed that of the “La Coupe des Pyrénées” car race; finally, skiing took off in the 1950s.
Activities :
Strolling:
Ladres basin
Ax les thermes invites you to stroll, don't hesitate to wander into these little streets and discover its open-air pools where you can dip your feet in the warm, sulphurous waters for which the city is renowned.
The Ladres basin, located in front of the hospital, is the only built vestige attributable with certainty to the medieval period.
Aean ax Basin
The Ax éenne basin in the heart of the city, on Place St Jérôme, opposite the shopping street, the St Jérôme exhibition chapel, the cable car station and near the thermal baths.
Do not hesitate to go for a walk in the Teich Thermal Park shaded by century-old Sequoias which are most pleasant for a picnic break or a moment of rest. A route allows you to discover the different arboreal species: Spruce, Pine black …. You will discover the magnificent sculpture of Teich Park, a giant sequoia in the park which was
Teich Park
sick, part of the trunk of which was preserved in order to give it a second life, the Town Hall of Ax -les-Thermes called on Nicolas Dorange initially a lumberjack and forester who designed his Ax Totem project, a monumental work whose colors change depending on the light of the day.
Ax les thermes is also very lively on market days where you will find many products from the region. There are 2 markets per week all year round in the town: Tuesday morning and Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. From July 1 to August 31, an additional market takes place on Thursdays.
The Couloubret Baths:
The ideal place to recharge your batteries the day after a sporting day in canoeing .
The hot thermal water, natural and with particularly relaxing virtues ax flows between 33 and 38° in the different pools of the Bains du Couloubret .
On the ground floor, a large central pool of 200 m² is illuminated by a glass roof. Surrounded by colonnades, this pool is decorated with water features (geyser, swan necks, hydromassage nozzles, bubbling, etc.) and has four alcoves.
Also discover a series of baths on the Roman model:
• the frigidarium , cold water bath (15°C),
• the caldarium , hot water baths (38°C),
• the vaporarium , natural water vapor thermal.
Coloubret baths
Outside, on two levels, two pools await you:
• The Amphitheater equipped with various activities such as: counter-current swimming, geysers, massaging jets, swan necks, whirlpool baths, etc.
• The panoramic: also equipped with massaging jets, swan necks and whirlpool baths. The upper terrace is converted into a solarium with a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountain.
Couloubret outer basin
Upstairs, those over 16 will be able to discover:
– the Irish-Roman bath and its bubbling benches.
– the Nordic Space: where the dry heat of the saunas and the icy shower offer a striking contrast.
– the Oriental Space: where you can taste the rituals of the hammam, in a hot and humid atmosphere so conducive to calm.
– The Well-being Space designed to complete your sensory experience. It welcomes you 7 days a week for your massages, body treatments or facial treatments.
The casino:
A desire to tempt destiny go to the JOA casino in Ax les thermes , it is also the place of culture of Ax les thermes with the cinema and a room where many exhibitions and festivals are organized.
THE AX 3 DOMAINES STATION :
A skiers' paradise in winter with more than 80 km of slopes, it is also a paradise in summer.
Departing from Ax -les-Thermes, easily reach an altitude of 2000m thanks to its gondola and chairlift. Discover a Bike Park for downhill mountain biking, entertainment and outdoor activities (mini-golf, swimming pool, tennis, yoga, geocaching, archery, the start of more than 10 hikes and an area dedicated to beginners for the bike…).
At the top of the Saquet plateau, discover a breathtaking 360° view in the heart of the mountain range! Enough to recharge your ax as much as possible in the open air, far from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Bars and restaurants:
Local cuisine, traditional, tapas, takeaway, fast food, Ax -les-Thermes offers a wide range of offers for all desires!
Useful links :
The program of events, festivals and exhibitions:
www.facebook.com/ Ax Animation
The history of Ax les thermes and hydrotherapy:
