This is a map of the different regions of the departement. The high mountains are in the southern third. The Couserans is culturally and linguistically part of Gascony rather than the Languedoc region. Until well into this century most of the valleys were quite isolated from one another and different communities maintained distinct traditions, forms of dress, occupations and dialects. Those distinctions aren't so apparent now, but people native to Ariège have very strong attachments to their particular "pays" and definite opinions about people from other parts.
