The department of Ariège lies in the Pyrénées, it is less than an hour drive from the popular city of Toulouse, and it is one of the most unspoilt regions of France.

Ariège is full of natural beauty, history and medieval villages. It boasts some of Europe’s most mesmerising subterranean rivers and cave systems. With stunning landscapes, a fierce sense of tradition, perfect weather and tasty local cuisine it’s a department you’ll not want to miss out on.

Ariège hails traditional styles of properties, they are simple and built with locally sourced materials such as stones for the walls and wood for the roof beams. Some other features that typical Ariège properties would have are colour-painted shutters, balconies and some have spacious gardens and courtyards.

There are several airports that provide convenient access to Gascony, including Toulouse, a little further afield to the south at Pau and Carcassonne, Bordeaux to the northwest and Bergerac a couple of hours north.