Lakes & 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 yar 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-Irazen, 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!
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| Municipal pools
St Girons
av. Aristide Bergès
05 61 66 15 01
Outdoor pool
July & Aug. open daily from 10am to 7 pm
June & Sept. open Wed. Sat. & Sun. from 1pm to 6 pm
Castillon en Couserans
Piscine des 4 vallées
Outdoor pool
route d'Audressein
05 61 96 85 51
Foix
Piscine municipale
Indoor pool
pl 59ème RI
05 61 02 88 32
Pamiers
Neptunia
Indoor & outdoor pools
05 34 01 33 01
Lavelanet
Piscine municipale
rue Jacquard
05 61 01 02 29
Le Fossat
Piscine municipale
Versailles
05 61 68 99 80
Mazères
Piscine municipale
rue Stade
05 61 69 43 94
Les Cabannes
Piscine municipale
Village centre
05 61 64 74 95
Mirepoix
Piscine municipale
av Maréchal Foch
05 61 68 11 48
Saverdun
Piscine municipale
allée Girbet
05 61 60 33 89
Thermal stations
These spa pools are for relaxing rather than swimming
Aulus-les-Bains
pool with jets, whirlpool, hammam
Ax-les-Thermes
pool with jets, whirlpool, sauna and weights room
Mountain Lakes
The lakes high in the mountains are called "etangs" and are accessible only on foot. Tourist offices can give you information on mountain lakes in the area.
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