Couleurs de France Ltd.
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Published in French News in February 2005
Off the Beaten Track
The Couserans is a secluded corner of Ariège offering breath-taking mountain scenery, the outdoor life, and peace and tranquillity. House buyers are attracted here by the Pyrenean peaks, skiing, other sporting activities, and a sense of returning to something authentic. It is only an hour and a half to the airport at Toulouse.
The main town is St Girons, a surprisingly cosmopolitan place, with a population of 7000. The other few towns, living under the mountains, are usually very quiet, except for the sound of cow bells and bleating sheep. St Lizier is an ancient town, and once-important bishopric, with a fine collection of historic buildings.
The Bethmale valley is known for its cheese, traditional dress and legends. A jealous young man once killed his fiancée and her lover and walked around with their hearts spiked on the ends of his pointed clogs. Today fiancées are given a pair of the clogs with a heart engraved on them. They are made in the picturesque village of Aret.
Properties in mountain villages can be reasonably priced. One of the agencies we work with has a renovated house at 1000m altitude with a living room, converted loft/bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and veranda, with garden of 200m and views onto the mountains for 113 420€. There are barns to renovate for much less. One near Massat, of 80m2, is being sold with planning permission for 41 733€. Properties in St Girons itself can also be reasonable. There is a house for sale by the attractive river Salat with 200m2 living space, 4 bedrooms, 3 toilets, 2 shower rooms and a covered terrace for 149 800€. It is entirely renovated with original features.
If you like the outdoors and everything it has to offer and are looking for a life away from it all without being isolated, consider the Couserans.
Linda Rano, Couleurs de France
Property agents Couleurs de France offer property search in the SW, support for buyers and courses on how to buy property in France.
Tel. 05 61 09 54 39
www.couleurs-de-france.com