At the foot of the Pyrenees, in the Pays de Sault, lies the Camping Les Sapins. The view from here across the valley to the villages of Camurac, Comus and Montaillou is magnificent. At the southern end of the valley, …between the hills, the high peaks of the Pyrenees are visible. Some of these are covered with snow all year round. Nature here is spectacular and unspoiled, and – thanks to the many "sapins" (fir trees) – the air is exceptionally pure. Craggy limestone formations dominate the broad upland landscape with its many caves and ravines. They include the spectacular Gorges de la Frau, which lead to Montségur. A stone's throw away from Les Sapins, this was the last bastion of the mysterious Cathars whose fascinating history and culture dominate the region. With its superb location and great views, the Camping Les Sapins makes an ideal base for discovering the area's rugged beauty and interesting culture. Tranquillity, space, nature and culture are our watchwords. Les Sapins has everything you need for a relaxed stay. The property is Dutch-owned and managed. The area is a paradise for birds and bird-watchers alike. Bearded vultures, griffon vultures, golden eagles, kites, buzzards, goshawks and sparrowhawks can all be seen. There are also many different kinds of amphibian. The clouds of butterflies which swarm in the Gorges de la Frau in July and August are a truly marvellous sight: they include swallowtails, southern scarce swallowtails, apollos, scarce coppers and many different varieties of blue. In spring and autumn you can spot the incredibly agile chamois leaping and climbing on the steep cliffs. Orchids, wild gentians, wild foxgloves, willowherbs and autumn joy are just some of the 3300 varieties of plant found in the Pyrenees. Over millions of years, water seeping through the limestone mountains has created many magnificent caves. The best known is the Grotte de Niaux, where you see drawings of horses and bison dating from almost 11,000 years ago. The footprints of some of the artists are also visible. The Grotte de la Vache, the Grotte de Bédeilhac en the Grotte de Lombrives are well worth a visit, too. The superb Parc pyrénéen de l’Art préhistorique near Lacombe is entirely devoted to cave art. The region has a mountain climate. The long summers can be very warm, but the elevation means that the heat is never oppressive. The evenings are usually pleasantly cool. Between November and February it can snow heavily. The history of the Cathars, also known as the Albigensians, has left an indelible mark on this region since the 12th century. The ideas of this religious sect clashed with those of the Roman Catholic church. Papal attempts to convert the Cathars failed, resulting in bloody crusades and an inquisition against them during the 13th century. The massacre at Montségur in 1244, when 225 Cathars were burnt at the stake, marked the beginning of the end. Only in and around Montaillou did the Cathars hold their faith, until the Inquisition finally destroyed them in 1320. The inquisitors kept very detailed records of their interrogations of the people of Montaillou and its environs. So detailed, in fact, that in the 1970s they formed the basis for a fascinating and widely translated reconstruction of daily village life at the time (Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village, 1294-1324). Les Sapins offers an enchanting view of Montaillou. The remains of the ancient bastion are illuminated at night, as is the restored chapel by the old churchyard. As the names on the tombstones reveal, many of the current residents are descended from the Cathars…
Recommended road with a caravan: from Toulouse direction Andorra: A61 and later A66 and N20. A few kilometers after the tunnel of Foix: direction Lavelanet: follow the D117 till your in Bélesta, then a small part of the D5, then …D16, then D29 which joins the D613; go right in the direction of Ax-les-Thermes. You'll pass Belcaire and after that Camurac. In Camurac you'll see the signs indicating Les Sapins.
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