Where to go swimming in
the Ariège Pyrenees

Lakes and ponds

THE SERONAIS (region of La Bastide de Sérou)
Lac de Mondeley – 50 hectars
Open year round. There is a sand beach for swimming, a snack bar, and a picnic area. A life guard is on duty in the summer. The lake is also good for fishing and bird watching.

LEZE-ARIZE VALLEY
Lac de Carla-Bayle – 12 hectars
Open year round. Swimming, sailboarding, fishing, canoeing, picnic area.

Saint-Ybars -- 7 hectar lake
Open year round. Swimming area has lifeguard in the afternoons during the summer.

FOIX
Aire nautique at Labarre – 10 hectars
Open July and August in the afternoons. Located north of the town, just behind the campground, it offers canoeing, fishing, sailing, water basketball and other activities.

TARASCON
Base nautique at Mercus-Garrabet
Offers waterskiing, pedalboats, sailboats, etc. plus a beach for bathing, snack bar. Open in July and August. The mornings are reserved for groups.

LE VOLVESTRE
Lac de Sainte-Croix – 2 hectars
Located in the heart of the village of Ste Croix, for swimming and fishing. Life guard on duty in the afternoons in July and August.

PAYS D'OLMES
Lac de Montbel, near Léran – 570 hectars
Offers canoeing, fishing, sailing, pedal boats. Swimming allowed during during July and August (lifeguard on duty).

THE COUSERANS
Bonnac-Irazein, in the Biros valley
A 1 hectar pond with a paddling pool, picnic area, boules pitch.

Swimming in rivers

Rivers are plentiful in Ariège and it’s tempting to take a dip in them during hot weather. Some precautions to observe:
- Choose a spot upriver from a village or hamlet. Many old houses don’t have septic tanks – all the waste water goes into the river.
- Check to make sure there are no cows or sheep in the fields nearby or upstream (in the summer most herds are up in the mountains so pollution from livestock is not a major problem in the valleys.
- Make sure there is no hydropower barrage on the river (ask local people about this).
- Don't swim near fishermen

You can ask local children where they go to swim—often a particular spot on the river has been used for generations. Hotel or B&B owners might not divulge this information, for fear of being held responsible in case of an accident.

Watch out, the water is cold!