Ariège Aude Forum

1. The English Penny

  With thanks to Ann Robinson   The English Penny     EU Directive No. 456179     In order to meet the conditions for joining the Single European currency, all citizens   of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland must be made aware   that the phrase 'Spending a Penny' is not to be used after 31st December 2009 .     From this date, the correct terminology will be: 'Euronating'.     Thank you for your attention.

Friday, 18 September 2009 | 137 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

2. The question is can we afford it?

  With thanks to Ann Robinson ARE WE  TOO OLD TO DRIVE THIS CAR? Concept  car that we are probably too old to  drive!     NO JOKE! The  new Benz - Very different.... really different!   SCROLL DOWN... This  is the new  Mercedes Benz SCL600 That's  not what is different about it. That  either... .......and  now for the 'really different'  part: Here  is what is different.. No steering  wheel, you drive it with a joystick. No  pedals either. Can you drive with a  joystick?  Your kids and grandkids probably  can. The influence of video games in our  lives has really arrived, wouldn't you  say? SCARY  THOUGHT THAT NOW A 7-YEAR-OLD COULD STEAL YOUR  CAR AND  PROBABLY DRIVE IT BETTER THAN  YOU   =    

Sunday, 27 September 2009 | 149 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

3. Les Epines de Lespinet

Cacti and other similar plants to see and to buy Tarif: moins de 12 ans: 5€ - à partir de 12 ans: 7€ Make an appointment to visit LA VISITE DU JARDIN (sur rendez-vous) (2200 m² de partie rocheuse et non pas 5 ha comme il a été indiqué ailleurs par erreur) Part of the garden is rocky and you need to wear good walking shoes Les Epines de Lespinet 38, Les Hauts de Lespinet 09000 FOIX - France Tél: 05 81 05 14 92 contact@epines-lespinet.fr http://epines-lespinet.fr/index.html

Saturday, 19 September 2009 | 158 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

4. Carnaval at Limoux - Jan - March

The Limoux Carnival, Canaval in French, is one of the oldest carnivals in the world. It takes place on Saturdays and Sundays this year from 10 January until 21 March 2010 at 11h, 16 h30 et 22 h, le Mardi Gras à 11 h, 17 h et 22 h, There are several different groups who perform and they all have different costumes. They follow a band round the square in the centre of Limoux doing a dance called Fécos and entering into cafés en route. Confetti is thrown during the dancing and many performers try to put handfuls of confetti down the necks of people in the crowd. If you would like to get some idea of what it is like there are several videos on Youtube - this is one of them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v51DLrncARg&feature=related For much more information on the carnival see http://www.languedoc-france.info/articles/a_limoux.htm

Tuesday, 12 January 2010 | 784 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

5. Diary of a Vineyard

Please click on this link to read about life in the vineyard http://www.rives-blanques.com/vineyard_pictures.htm

Saturday, 20 February 2010 | 103 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

6. Montségur

Situated in magnificent surrounding countryside and immortalised in Kate Mosse's book "Labyrinth"the chateau of Montségur looks down from its "pog" from a altitude of 3000 feet or 1207 metres. Although it is listed among the Cathar castles of this area, unfortunately the present building is not the original one which was inhabited by the Cathars   (a religious sect considered heretical by the Catholic Church and known locally as "The Weavers").   The current building, now largely in ruin, is known by archeologists as  "Montségur III"   The castle the Cathars inhabited was "Montségur II" which is believed to have been built by Raymond de Péreille around 1210.   An archeological study reported that "there remains no trace within the current ruin of the first fortress which was abandoned before the 13th century ( Montségur I)".   It seems too that there is no longer any trace of the castle the Cathars used.   The Crusaders completely destroyed it after their successful seige.   The present ruins are of a castle which was rebuilt and upgraded by royal forces over the three centuries following the Cathar period.    The current fort is described as being " typical of post-medieval royal French defensive architecture of the 1600s".   It takes about half an hour, for those who are reasonably fit, to walk from the monument at the foot of the pog to the ruins and back.   The path is rough and steep so good walking shoes are recommended.   The site has become something of a shrine because, in  March 1244, 220 Cathars were burned at the foot of the pog when they refused to renounce their faith.     Legend has it that they threw themselves into the flames.   This was reputedly the last major stronghold of the Cathars    In 1243–44, the Cathars  were besieged at Montségur by 10,000 French troops at the end of the Albigensian Crusade.     It is widely believed that a "treasure" which had been kept in the castle was successfully spirited away before the crusaders arrived.   Many think that this treasure was in fact the "Holy grail".   The Nazis learned of the myths surrounding Montségur from a man named Otto Rahn.  Rahn wrote two bestseller Grail novels linking Montségur and Cathars with the Holy Grail.    Some sources report that in 1944, on the 700th anniversary of the fall of Montségur, German aircraft were seen in the area directly above Montségur flying in strange formations, either Celtic crosses or swastikas, depending on the source of the reports   We have some more photos by Tony of Montségur and the area surrounding it in our photogallery, just click on the photos tab and take a look at the Montségur gallery in Tony's section. For opening hours, prices and location see http://www.montsegur.fr/  

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 | 326 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

7. Boat Hire on Canal du Midi

There are many places along the Canal du Midi in our region where you can hire a boat for a week or more.   No boating licence is needed http://www.bateaux-sans-permis.com/visite_base.asp?pays=1®ion_base=&duree_code=®ion_data=3

Saturday, 05 September 2009 | 90 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

8. Musée des Automates

Museum of Automatons Open from the 10 January to 10 October each year Based in a former 20th century industrial building in Limoux Le musée est situé 4, rue Anne-Marie Javouhay, dans une ancienne usine de cartonnages, à proximité du centre ville, à côté de l'église de la Miséricorde. Il est ouvert de 10 heures à 19 heures durant tout l'été. Adulte : 5€. Enfants : 3, 5€. Telephone 06 70 39 01 74 for more information

Saturday, 05 September 2009 | 72 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

9. Piano Museum

This piano museum is housed in a church in Limoux It shows how pianos have been made between 1822 and the present day There are many pianos on display which are unique in the world. Open 1st October to 14 June on request Open 15 June to 30 September except Tuesdays 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00 Adults 2.40€ children 10-16 yrs 1.40€ under 10 free. Groups of 10+ 1.90€ per person For more information phone 04.68.31.85.03. This blog also gives a lot of information about the museum http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Forum/1/topic/024088/Number/0/site_id/1#import   Eglise St JACQUES - Musée du Piano Place du 22 Septembre 11300 Limoux

Saturday, 05 September 2009 | 160 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report

10. Jardin aux Plantes Parfumées

In Limoux, in the High Valley of Aude, is hidden a garden of thousand and one scentences Perfumed Rose garden, dry Garden, medieval garden with plants from the Cathar century. An enchanting place at 25 minutes from the city of Carcassonne. 2 hectares, 2500 items of plants, waterpond, donkeys... rare plants for sale, shop, salon de the, icecreams with fruits of the garden... At 1 h from Toulouse, from Narbonne and from Perpignan 2010 Opening hours: From 1. May to 3. October from 1 pm to 6 pm from 4 july to 15 august from 10 am to 6 pm Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays Entrance fee: 6,50 euro per adult 3,80 euros per child 5,50 euros per person for groups of 20 people and more Free for little visitors under 1 meter high Domaine de Flassian (near Leclerc supermarket) Limoux By Car: N : 43°4'10" / E : 2°13'17" Coming by Motorway A 61 take exit "Carcassonne West -Limoux", at the roundabout turn right, 2nd roundabout turn right again following Limoux by D118. Approaching Limoux, at the first roundabout take the direction for the LECLERC- Superstore (under the bridge), then at the second roundabout, take right, follow the turns and take the first left after the Garden Center: La Bouichère is just at the end of this street http://www.labouichere.com/e/thematic/thematic.htm

Saturday, 05 September 2009 | 123 hits | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Report