OVERVIEW

This web site – even though primarily dedicated to the «Sabarthez» area located in the highest part of Ariège department – extends its scope and provides valuable information on Ariège, Aude and more largely about the région Occitanie (administrative area). Focus is placed on the quite unknown medieval times during which Catharism roused, and with it the « paratge » (sharing) and the troubadour style.
During these remote times, Occitanie was sorely afflicted, so much so as to forget its language, its cultural identity and, even worse, its memory.

One can rejoice that – nowadays – some individuals and organizations take action so that Occitanie’s heritage – included the first christians’ spirituality – may come out of oblivion. Such commitment is of course also ours !

We hope you’ll enjoy going through these few pages. Encouraging words will be most welcomed, as well as contributions that may help us improve this web site ; updates will be made on a regular basis.

Please come & join us if you think that the high valley of Ariège deserve more than being exploited as a highway for vacationers or for alcohol/cigarettes buyers !
Thanks to this web site, numerous drivers coming from or to Toulouse will have a more exact knowledge of such sites as the Castella tower in Tarascon, the caves of Ussat or the spoulga of Bouan ; this will be our very reward !

— Les Amis du Sabarthez