Ax-Les-Thermes: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

In Ax-les-Thermes, the thermal waters emerge naturally hot, at temperatures of up to 77 °C. In the centre, there are open-air thermal pools for relaxation after hikes or days of skiing. In addition, Ax 3 Domaines offers 38 ski runs with a total length of 80 km at altitudes between 1,400 m and 2,400 m.

Perhaps you would like to rent a holiday apartment in Ax-les-Thermes.

Thermal water

The Bassin de l’Axéenne continues the Axéenne tradition of bathing one’s feet in thermal water. It is located in the town centre on Place Saint-Jérôme and is fed by diverted thermal water. Les Bains du Couloubret has naturally hot water pools with water jets, massages, whirlpool areas and steam.

Until around the middle of the 18th century, Ax’s thermal centre, also known as “Barry des Bains”, was concentrated around the Bassin des Ladres. This is connected to Ax Hospital, founded in 1260 at the instigation of Saint Louis by Count Roger IV de Foix, which, among others, took in soldiers who had returned from the Crusades with leprosy.

Winter and hiking

A gondola lift connects the centre of Ax-les-Thermes with Ax 3 Domaines. There are three freely accessible snowshoe trails starting from the Plateau de Bonascre and another from the Plateau du Saquet. The Natural Forest Park snow park has various lines with rails, boxes and jumps for all levels.

The marked La Porteille d'Orgeix circular hiking trail begins in Ax-les-Thermes, is 8 km long and has an elevation gain of 370 metres. It leads through several valleys up to the Rocher de la Vierge, from where Ax-les-Thermes can be viewed and which offers panoramic views of Ax-les-Thermes and the surrounding villages. Beneath the Rocher de la Vierge is a small chapel with a small altar; the rock can be reached via a footpath behind the pond’s thermal facility.

Culture

The Chapelle Saint-Jérôme was built in 1607 within nine months following a public collection for the Brotherhood of the Blue Penitents. It has a 17th-century gilded wooden altarpiece in the Pyrenean style and now serves as an exhibition hall. The Saint Vincent church was rebuilt in the 17th century in the Catalan-Languedoc style.

The Ax-les-Thermes town trail comprises 16 information panels, is approximately 1.7 km long and takes about one hour. It leads to notable buildings, thermal pools and hot-water fountains.

Market and agriculture

A regular market is held year-round in Ax-les-Thermes on Place Saint-Jérôme every Tuesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. La boutique de La Ferme offers tastings of local products with explanations of the history of agriculture in Ariège. La boutique de La Ferme and Laurent offer guided visits, picnics, gastronomic walks and farm tours.

Other places: Durfort, Villeneuve-D'olmes, Fabas, Unzent, Siguer, Camon, Aucazein, Surba.

To the higher-level travel overview: Ariège.