La Fontane can comfortably accommodate six people and is spacious for two, so you can relax with the family or go walking in the midst of nature as a couple.
It's very spacious (125M2) with a large family room with kitchen, dining, and sitting areas either around the stove or in front of the picture windows with their incomparable mountain views, dominated by the Pic of Montcalm (3000m) opposite. The kitchen area is well equipped including with a dishwasher, and there is a utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer. Above the family room there's a mezzanine where your can watch multi-channel TV or play pool. There's a stylish shower room, and three comfortable bedrooms with double bed, twin beds and twin bunks.
In the middle of the Parc Naturel Régional it faces due south, like the sunny village of Orus above. You can enjoy the view either from the terrace in front or through the picture windows of the large living room. In the evening or during bad weather you can listen to music on the hi-fi in front of the fireplace, play pool, read (novels in English and French provided), surf the net, or watch TV. A cot, high chair and toys are provided for children.
The children will love exploring the extensive wooded grounds and walking up the track to the village of Orus (5 minutes). You can get down to Vicdessos and its market on Thursdays where there is a well stocked Spar supermarket, a butcher, a good boulangerie, a pizzeria, bar-restaurant, pharmacy, post office with cash point.
In the valley there are good restaurants in Niaux (15 minutes) and Tarascon-sur-Ariège (20 minutes) where there also are supermarkets and a market twice a week
The valley is famous as a centre for mountain recreation and sports activities. These include walking - there are two beautiful marked footpaths which can be accessed directly from the house. These connect to the many well-marked trails in the valley including the GR 10 path that crosses the Pyrenees, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. In summer (July-August) there is an outdoor swimming pool in Auzat (10 minutes) surrounded by mountains. Ax les Thermes (40 minutes) offers a relaxing natural hot spa experience throughout the year.
We have rock climbing, including in Vicdessos a practice climbing wall. (5 minutes by car) We also have "via ferrata" (safe but spectacular climbing with fixed steel loops to attach to) and an "accrobranche" (adventure park with zip slides). There is trout fishing, caving, canoeing and canyoning (river rafting, abseiling and sliding down waterfalls). All of these activities are supervised by highly qualified guides who ensure your safety at all times.
For those interested in history and archeology not to be missed in the valley, the magnificent 14,000-year-old drawings of the Niaux cave, one of the few cave art sites still open to the public. This can be complemented by a visit to the Parc Pyrénéen de l'art préhistorique where the interior of the cave has been faithfully reproduced and where you and the children can learn about the life of our ancestors, for example how to throw spears and make fire the way our ancestors did.
We also have a fascinating local history. In the XIII century the region was a centre of the Cathar religion and we are not far (45 minutes) from the breathtaking castle of Montségur where the Cathars took their last stand against the forces of the King of France and the Pope.
Within living memory, the region was a centre of resistance to the occupation during World War 2. Many Allied aviators and other refugees were smuggled across the border across the mountains from here. The ancient Orus water mill was operated secretly during the night to grind corn to prevent seizures of food by the occupation troops.
We can also walk (or drive to) the village of Sem directly across the valley from La Fontane where iron was mined between Roman times until the 1930s. We can also follow the aluminium trail that commemorates a hundred years of the industry at Auzat until its demise in 2003 and whose main physical legacy are the giant mountain reservoirs now used to generate hydro-electricity.
We have cultural events as well as the popular blues festival in Vicdessos, which attracts hundreds to participate in class acts. The tourist offices of Auzat and Vicdessos offer up-to-date information about events in the area. Each village holds its fete in July or August to which visitors are welcome.
Or…relax on the patio beneath the cool of the shade sale and watch the wonderful butterflies, birds and lizards.
