Ariège

For the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique steamship, see SS Ariège.

Ariège
Department
Coat of arms
Location of Ariège in France
Coordinates: 43°00′N 1°30′E
Country	France
Region	Midi-Pyrénées
Prefecture	Foix
Subprefectures	Pamiers Saint-Girons
Government
• President of the General Council	Augustin Bonrepaux (PS)
Area
• Total	4,890 km2 (1,890 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	152,038
• Rank	96th
• Density	31/km2 (81/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Department number	09
Arrondissements	3
Cantons	22
Communes	332
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Ariège (French pronunciation: ​[aʁjɛʒ]; Occitan: Arièja) is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region of southwestern France named after the Ariège River.

Its capital is the town of Foix and the INSEE and Postal code is 09.

The inhabitants of the department are known as Ariègeois or Ariègeoises

Geography

The department is part of the current region of Midi-Pyrénées and is surrounded by the French departments of Haute-Garonne to the west and north, Aude to the east, and Pyrénées-Orientales in the south-east, as well as Spain (Lleida) and Andorra in the south.

Covering an area of 4,890 km², the department is divided into three arrondissements: Foix, Pamiers, and Saint-Girons.

It is composed of 23 cantons, 21 intercommunalities, and 332 communes. In 2009 the Regional Natural Park of the Ariège Pyrenees was created covering about 40% of the area of the department of Ariège.

Physical Geography

There are three main areas:

The Ariège plain

The north of the department consists of plains, hills and low valleys where agriculture is prevalent. Part of Lauragais covers the northeast of the department. Two major rivers, the Ariège and the Lèze traverse the plain from south to north. A landscape of grain fields dominates the scene with growing of corn and sunflowers and with prairies.

The Pyrenean foothills

This area includes the Plantaurel mountains and the Pre-Pyrenean hills below 1000m. Various geological structures are present in contrast: the Foix Valley with its granite mountain landscape and the Lavelanet region with marl and limestone.

Ariège high country

The geography is dominated by the Pyrenees mountains exceeding 1,000m above sea level which form the border between France and Spain. The Pica d'Estats (3143m), the peak of Montcalm (3077m), and Pic de Sotllo (3072m) are the highest points of the department. These peaks are clearly visible from Toulouse in the Haute Garonne.

The landscape is dominated by forests with coniferous species coexist with hardwoods such as chestnut trees, Black Locust trees, ash trees, and beech trees.

There are hundreds of kilometres of well-marked paths which allow exploration of the magnificent Pyrenees mountains. The high mountains are easily accessible via good roads, cable cars or by foot. There are a number of lodges providing high level mountain accommodation that are comfortable, warm and with good meals.

There are also a number of fresh water lakes which provide a variety of activities including, walking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, sailboarding and picnicking.

There are several downhill ski resorts, the three largest being Ax-Bonascre, Les Monts D'Olmes and Guzet-Neige. There are many cross country ski-ing resorts, one of the best being at Plateau de Beille, near Les Cabannes.

Ariège is one of the least populated and most unspoiled regions of France. The locals enjoy keeping traditions alive, especially old farming techniques. Consequently, as fewer insecticides, for example, have been used, the flora and fauna of the area continue to be rich in both diversity and numbers. Butterflies are common and birds are numerous; particularly noticeable are large birds of prey, including the magnificent Griffon vultures.

There are also many unspoiled villages and hamlets tucked away in the valleys close to the department's border with Spain – Seix, Cominac, and Aulus-les-Bains are examples – together with picturesque mountain villages, most notably Aleu which comes alive in the holiday season.

Climate

Ariège stands on the eastern limit of oceanic dominance over rainfall, but other influences are felt:

• Mediterranean – particularly visible in the vegetation of the foothills and of the valley of the Ariège river towards Tarascon, and in the Sault country

• Continental – in the Pyrenean valleys, with many storms and big differences of temperature between day and night

There is no great tendency to summer drought as the flow of air from the north-west brings rain throughout the year. Rainfall is moderate on the foothills and in some sheltered valleys, measuring 700 to 1,000 mm per year, but increases significantly in the higher valleys with levels between 1,000 mm and 1,800 mm. The slopes exposed to the north-west, such as Aulus and Orlu, are, as one would expect, the wettest, together with the frontal ridges that meet air flow from the southwest (giving rise to the Foehn effect). Snow cover is common over 1,000 metres, lasting several months above 1,500 to 2,000 metres. Some periglacial areas exist over 2,500 m but the only true glacier in Ariège is that of Mont Valier, near Castillon-en-Couserans.

Temperatures are mild in the foothills, e.g. at the city of Foix (400 metres) the average is 5 °C in January and 19 °C in July. However, they decline rapidly with elevation, e.g. at l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre (1,430 m) it is 0 °C in January and 14 °C in July.

City	Sunshine	Rain	Snow	Storm	Fog
	Hrs/Yr	mm/Yr	Days/Yr	Days/Yr	Days/Yr
National Average	1973	770	14	22	40
Ariège	1972	1013	15	29	20
Paris	1630	642	15	19	13
Nice	2668	767	1	31	1
Strasbourg	1633	610	30	29	65
Brest	1492	1109	9	11	74

Weather Data for Saint-Girons

Climate data for Saint-Girons
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	9.9 (49.8)	11.1 (52)	12.9 (55.2)	15.0 (59)	18.5 (65.3)	22.0 (71.6)	25.0 (77)	24.5 (76.1)	22.9 (73.2)	18.8 (65.8)	13.5 (56.3)	10.4 (50.7)	17 (63)
Daily mean °C (°F)	5.1 (41.2)	6.1 (43)	7.7 (45.9)	10.1 (50.2)	13.3 (55.9)	16.7 (62.1)	19.4 (66.9)	19.0 (66.2)	17.0 (62.6)	13.1 (55.6)	8.3 (46.9)	5.5 (41.9)	11.8 (53.2)
Average low °C (°F)	0.3 (32.5)	1.1 (34)	2.6 (36.7)	5.1 (41.2)	8.1 (46.6)	11.5 (52.7)	13.7 (56.7)	13.6 (56.5)	11.1 (52)	7.5 (45.5)	3.1 (37.6)	0.7 (33.3)	6.5 (43.7)
Precipitation mm (inches)	92.5 (3.642)	78.3 (3.083)	92.9 (3.657)	98.3 (3.87)	108.8 (4.283)	90.0 (3.543)	62.4 (2.457)	74.0 (2.913)	73.2 (2.882)	77.5 (3.051)	77.2 (3.039)	88.3 (3.476)	1,013.4 (39.898)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)	11.4	10.6	12.2	13.0	13.2	9.5	7.6	9.1	8.4	8.9	9.8	11.0	124.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours	113.6	123.7	160.8	157	180.3	195.2	227.8	205.4	199.9	173.6	127.4	107.4	1,972
Source: Metereological data for Saint-Girons - Antichan from 1961 to 1990 July 2013

History

Ariège is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790 under the Act of 22 December 1789. It was created from the counties of Foix (Languedoc), and Couserans (Gascogne).

A request was made to the Council of State to rename the department Ariège-Pyrénées. According to the proponents of this project, the word "Pyrenees" would better position the department to promote itself throughout France. The demand was rejected.

Foix is the administrative capital of the Ariège. It is an ancient medieval town with a fortress, Chateau de Foix, perched on a hill overlooking it. The fortress has been attacked many times without being captured including an attempt by Simon de Montfort. It has also been used as a prison, and the names of English prisoners of war can still be seen on the cell walls. Another famous castle in the Ariège is Montségur, located on a rocky outcrop at a height of 1200 metres. During the Albigensian Crusade and siege in 1244 the castle was largely destroyed, with more than two hundred Cathar priests burnt at the stake as heretics. The castle was gradually rebuilt by Royalists over the next three hundred years.

The start of the seventeenth century saw the area ravaged by the Huguenot rebellions by Protestants against Catholics. In 1621 the Huguenot forces ruined the church at La Tour-du-Crieu. In 1629 Pamiers was sacked by Henry of Condé following uprisings that left several hundred dead in the city. This was also the period during which the abbeys at Foix, Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Saint-Girons, Saverdun and Le Mas-d'Azil were torched and destroyed.

The nineteenth century was a time of strong industrial growth, supported in Ariège by an abundant supply of water power. The department also benefited from its significant reserves of iron ore. The growth of iron-based industries was a feature of the period with the establishment, in 1817, of a steel manufacturing plant at Pamiers which has been a principle driver of the local economy ever since. Other representative examples of the iron-based industries that developed in Ariège during the nineteenth century include the forges at Montgaillard and the blast furnaces at Tarascon-sur-Ariège.

A description of the department's industrial development during the nineteenth century should also include mention the paper industry at Saint-Girons and the textile industry in the Pays d'Olmes.

Towns of particular historical interest in the department include Pamiers which hosted a large commercial centre and three churches, Mirepoix, a medieval town, as is Saint-Lizier - situated on a hilltop with winding streets, fine views, and a church with cloisters that are noteworthy. Saint-Girons is an agricultural centre with a Saturday market.

Heraldry

The red and gold represents the County of Foix and the bell is the emblem of Couserans, countries of the former province of Gascogne. This blazon, proposed by Robert Louis, is not official. Blazon: Or, with 3 pales of gules and escutcheon of azure charged with a bell in argent.

Anthem of Ariége

The patriotic song Arièjo O moun Pais was written by Father Sabas Maury, born on 1 March 1863 in Gestiès in the valley of Siguer, who was pastor of Miglos and Varilhes. It naturally became the anthem for Ariége.

Economy

The Ariege department is a largely unknown department which is situated next to Aude in the most southern part of the Midi-Pyrenees region and shares its borders with Aude, Andorra, Haute Garonne and Pyrenees Orientales.

It is predominantly a farming area as the soil is rich and fertile but more than 50% of Ariège is mountainous, with 490,965 hectares being covered by forests.

Economic Activity

Economic Data	Value	Date
Business Creation	814	2005
No. of Businesses	19,750	15 Nov 2006
Rate of Business Creation	10.4% (Ariège) 9.3% (Midi-Pyrénées) 9.3% (France)	2003
Unemployment Rate	10.4% (Ariège) 9.1% (Midi-Pyrénées) 9% (France)	Sep 2006
Exports	€450m	2005
Imports	€368m	2005
source : Ariège expansion

In the Ax valleys, the mining of talc is the most typical activity. The processing plant for talc at Luzenac is supplied by Carrière de talc de Trimouns who is the largest producer in the region (400,000 tonnes per year).

This industry is supplemented by tourism with winter sports resorts (Ax 3 Domaines, Ascou-Pailhères, Plateau de Beille, Le Chioula, and Goulier Neige).

In the Lavelanet area the textile industry used to be the major industry but has gradually disappeared. There are only a few companies trying to survive in the face of competition from Eastern Europe and Asia.

In the Pamiers area metallurgy, aeronautics, and chemistry are the main industries. Metallurgy, in the Aubert & Duval factory, produces forgings for the aerospace and energy industries. There are several companies in the aeronautics outsourcing industry such as Recaero and Maz'Air who are partners with aircraft manufacturers. Chemistry is represented by the paint industry with the Alliance Maestria which includes several companies making paint for anything from buildings to aircraft. In the same sector there is also Etienne Lacroix in the commune of Mazères which mainly manufactures fireworks and pyrotechnics.

For the Saint-Girons area, industry is in decline and is represented mainly by the production of paper.

Hydroelectric production from Ariège is about one-fifth of Pyrenean production. The hydroelectric plant at Aston has the largest annual production capacity in the Pyrenees (392 million kWh). With Orlu and L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre, these three plants have the largest capacity in the department. The hydroelectric developments in Ariège can support a city of 600,000 inhabitants. Large industrial plants use the energy produced together with the natural gas from Lacq.

The Ariège Chamber of Commerce and Industry is situated at Foix. The department’s Economic Development Agency (ARIEGE EXPANSION) is at Verniolle. The department has established three ‘business incubators’ to support enterprise in Ariège.

Transport

A train arriving in Pamiers station.

Mostly mountainous and rural, the department of Ariège is far from the main transport routes serving the main valleys and coastlines. The railway arrived in the department in 1861 with the Toulouse to Puigcerda line which is the only line that remains open to this day in the department. Besides the trains of the TER Midi-Pyrénées, this route is still served by Intercity trains from Paris-Austerlitz.

Since 2002 Ariège has been connected to the national motorway network via the A66 autoroute which joins the A61 autoroute at Villefranche-de-Lauragais and continues south of Pamiers by the National Route NR20 as a dual carriageway as far as Tarascon-sur-Ariege. The upgrading to autoroute standards on the Pamiers to Tarascon and setting up a dual carriageway to Andorra are dreams for the future.

Demographics

The department has 151,477 inhabitants, or 146,289 without double counting.

The populations of the arrondissements (double-counting) are :

• Foix – 53,595
• Pamiers – 69,664
• Saint Girons – 28,218

The populations of the principal towns (double-counting) are :

• Pamiers – 15,702
• Foix – 10,119
• Lavelanet – 7,068
• Saint Girons – 7,019

Communes with more than 2,000 inhabitants (and trend of the population as at 2006)

1. Pamiers (15,574 hab.)
2. Foix (9,658 hab.)
3. Lavelanet (6,727 hab.)
4. Saint-Girons (6,552 hab.)
5. Saverdun (4,376 hab.)
6. Tarascon-sur-Ariège (3,493 hab.)
7. Mazères (3,287 hab.)
8. Mirepoix (3,107 hab.)
9. Varilhes (2,848 hab.)
10. Laroque-d'Olmes (2,705 hab.)
11. Saint-Jean-du-Falga (2,591 hab.)
12. La Tour-du-Crieu (2,333 hab.)
13. Lézat-sur-Lèze (2,253 hab.)
14. Verniolle (2,215 hab.)

NB : The communes in italics are part of the agglomeration of Pamiers.

The department has 2 Urban Areas: Foix (17,000 inhabitants) and Pamiers (23,876 inhabitants).

Housing

According to the general census of the population of 8 March 1999, 26.5% of available housing in the department consists of second homes.

The following table indicates the main communes of Ariège in which the number of second homes amounts to more than 10% of total dwellings.

Year	Town	Population without double-counting	Number of dwellings	Second homes	% of dwellings being second homes
2007	Suc-et-Sentenac	0 0 0 060	0 0 0258	0 0 0225	87.21%
2004	Ustou (Guzet-neige)	0 0 0355	0 01,267	0 01,027	81.06%
2004	Couflens	0 0 0 080	0 0 0275	0 0 0221	80.36%
2006	Boussenac	0 0 0187	0 0 0469	0 0 0363	77.40%
2005	Quérigut	0 0 0137	0 0 0322	0 0 0243	75.47%
2007	Ascou	0 0 0127	0 0 0221	0 0 0163	73.76%
2004	Ax-les-Thermes	0 01,498	0 02,966	0 02,179	73.47%
1999	Aulus-les-Bains	0 0 0189	0 0 0369	0 0 0269	72.90%
2007	Saint-Lary	0 0 0153	0 0 0345	0 0 0246	71.30%
2007	Sentein	0 0 0144	0 0 0363	0 0 0257	70.80%
1999	Biert	0 0 0284	0 0 0456	0 0 0301	66.01%
2005	Montferrier	0 0 0649	0 0 0922	0 0 0604	65.51%
2007	Soulan	0 0 0340	0 0 0453	0 0 0279	61.59%
2004	Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs	0 0 0279	0 0 0385	0 0 0237	61.56%
2007	Seix	0 0 0806	0 0 0961	0 0 0560	58.27%
2005	Massat	0 0 0685	0 0 0864	0 0 0502	58.10%
2004	Ercé	0 0 0537	0 0 0581	0 0 0335	57.66%
1999	Saurat	0 0 0592	0 0 0844	0 0 0482	57.11%
1999	Auzat	0 0 0593	0 0 0676	0 0 0381	56.36%
2005	Soueix-Rogalle	0 0 0359	0 0 0424	0 0 0235	55.42%
2004	Les Cabannes	0 0 0344	0 0 0344	0 0 0173	50.29%
2006	Castillon-en-Couserans	0 0 0399	0 0 0403	0 0 0192	47.64%
2005	Savignac-les-Ormeaux	0 0 0396	0 0 0394	0 0 0181	45.94%
1999	Oust	0 0 0515	0 0 0479	0 0 0219	45.72%
2004	Vicdessos	0 0 0444	0 0 0441	0 0 0200	45.35%
2007	Serres-sur-Arget	0 0 0778	0 0 0593	0 0 0248	41.82%
2006	Daumazan-sur-Arize	0 0 0697	0 0 0542	0 0 0200	36.90%
2006	Moulis	0 0 0796	0 0 0572	0 0 0172	30.07%
2007	Bélesta	0 01,105	0 0 0825	0 0 0217	26.30%

Politics

The department has two parliamentary constituencies and 22 cantons. In general it can be said that: "With a republican and secular tradition since the Third Republic, Ariege is firmly held by the Socialist Party (PS) even though in recent years the right has managed to sink a few corners of the fortress".

This results in a parliamentary representation that is exclusively PS and a General Council where 19 of the 22 members are PS or close to this party - the political orientation of the department is therefore clearly identified. In 2007 it was the department with the most votes for Ségolène Royal (59.56%). In 2012 it had the third most voters for Francois Hollande in France with 64.69% after Corrèze and Seine Saint-Denis.

Although male/female parity is well respected by MPs (Mrs. Frédérique Massat and Mr. Alain Fauré), all 22 councillors were men until 2011 when two women were elected.

The President of the General Council is Augustin Bonrepaux of the Socialist Party.

Party		seats
•	Socialist Party	18
	Union for a Popular Movement	2
	Miscellaneous Right	1
•	Miscellaneous Left	1

Culture

The region was originally part of Aquitaine and has retained many hallmarks of the Gascon culture and Gascon language.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Ariège is based on the cooking of Pyrenean regional food, such as cheese or charcuterie from the mountain country. Azinat is the local and typical dish of Ariège. The department is also well advanced in the field of organic farming.

Films

• 1975: Le Passe-Montagne (The Mountain Pass), author Christian Bernadac, director Jean Vernier, Television Film
• 1980: L'Orsalhèr by Jean Fléchet
• 1982: Le Retour de Martin Guerre, by Daniel Vigne
• 2009: No pasarán, film by Éric Martin and Emmanuel Caussé filmed in the Vicdessos Valley (Miglos Lapège) near Saint-Girons in the Couserans at Foix and at Tarascon-sur-Ariège

Literature

• Several novels by Louis Henry Destel are set in Ariège.
• The detective story by Pascal Dessaint Les Pis rennais (The Octopus) is set in the Couserans. It has been reprinted in comics.
• Most of the novels by George-Patrick Gleize published by the Parisian publisher Albin Michel feature Ariege or the Pyrenees such as Le Temps en héritage (Foix country), Un brin d'espérance (A strand of hope) (Olmes country), Rue des Hortensias Rouge (Ax-les-Thermes country), Le Forgeron de la liberté (Mirepoix country), Le Sentier des pastelliers (Mazéres region), La Vie en plus (Couserans), Le Destin de Marthe Rivière (Le Quérigut), Le Chemin de Peyreblanque or L'Auberge des myrtilles (Tarascon country), Une nuit en juin (Cerdagne and Pamiers region).

Music

• Mirepoix Musique promotes concerts of classical music in and around Mirepoix.
• Making Music at Malegoude
• Vocal Festival of La Bellongaise at Orgibet
• Jazz at Foix
• Garosnow at Ax-les-Thermes
• Art Show, contemporary music room (Holy Cross volvestre)

Theatre

• MiMa is an annual festival of the art of the marionette which takes place in August in Mirepoix.

Tourism

• 

  The castle of Foix

• 

  Cathedral of Saint-Antonin at Pamiers

• 

  Cathedral de Saint-Lizier

• 

  Covered shopfronts at Mirepoix

• 

  Mont Valier seen from the road to Port d'Aula in the Haut Couserans

• 

  The Château de Lagarde

• 

  A Mérens horse

• 

  The cloister in the Saint-Lizier Cathedral

• 

  The Massif of Tabe

Notable People linked to the Department

Arts

• Aycart del Fossat (fl.1250-68) was a troubadour from Le Fossat.
• Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), composer born in Pamiers.
• René Gaston-Lagorre (1913-2004) was a painter who had his workshop in Couserans and lived in Seix.
• Pierre Daboval (1918-) is an artist living in Mirepoix.
• Mady de La Giraudière (1922-) is a painter born in Lavelanet.
• Terence Macartney-Filgate (1924-) is a British-Canadian film director living in Mirepoix. He has directed, written, produced or shot more than 100 films in a career spanning more than 50 years.
• Christian d'Orgeix (1927-) is a surrealist painter born in Foix.
• Marie Laforêt (1939-) Singer and Actress. She defined herself as "Ariégeoise". Granddaughter of Louis Doumenach, founder of Lavelanet, a textile company.
• Christian Ton Ton Salut (1953-) is a Jazz musician. He lived in Pamiers from 1958 to 1977 and began his musical career with Marc Feinder's orchestra in 1970.

Literature

• Marie de Calages (1630-1661), born in Mirepoix, was a poet, crowned many times by l’Académie des Jeux Floraux.
• Pierre Bayle (1647-1706), philosopher and writer born at Carla-Bayle (then called Carla-le-Comte; the commune was renamed in his honour)
• Frédéric Soulié (1800-1847), novelist born in Foix
• Napoléon Peyrat, born in 1809 at Les Bordes-sur-Arize, died in 1881, pastor, historian od the Cathars and a poet
• Marie-Louise (born 1876 in Mirepoix) and Raymond Escholier (born 1882 in Paris), co-authors of "regionalist" novels such as Cantegril which won the Fémina Prize in 1922
• Isabelle Sandy (1884-1975), writer born in Saint-Pierre-de-Rivière
• Louis-Henry Destel (1885-1962), novelist born in Lézat-sur-Lèze, died at Saint-Girons.
• Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974), the novelist, playwright and filmmaker, taught at the École Supérieure in Mirepoix.
• Raymond Abellio (Georges Soulès) (1907-1986) philosopher, novelist. His paternal family came from Ax-les-Thermes and his maternal family was from Seix in Haut-Couserans
• Gaston Massat (1909-1966), surrealist poet and resistance fighter born in Saint-Girons
• Michel-Aimé Baudouy (1909-1999), scholar, novelist, and playwright born in Vernet d'Ariège
• Max Leclerc (1923-), writer and television director, lived in the commune of Durfort (Maloureille) from 1974 to 1988
• Christian Bernadac (1937-2003), journalist and writer born in Tarascon-sur-Ariège
• Georges-Patrick Gleize (1952-), novelist and historian
• Patrick Cintas (1954-), writer, painter, sculptor, and composer

Politics

• Marc Guillaume Alexis Vadier (1736-1828), politician, member of the National Convention, creator of the department of Ariège
• Joseph Lakanal (1762-1845), born in Serres-sur-Arget, member of the National Convention
• Alfred de Jancigny (1824-1892), préfect of Ariège in 1864
• Léon Galy-Gasparrou (1850-1921), MP for Ariège
• Alpinien Pabot-Chatelard, préfect of Ariège from 1892 to 1898
• Théophile Delcassé (1852-1923), politician, several times Minister of Foreign Affairs, in particular during the conclusion of the Entente cordiale with Great Britain, born in Pamiers
• Paul Caujolle (1891-1955), Mayor of Siguer, General Counsel of Ariège and President of the National Assocuiation of Accountants
• Pierre Dumas (1891-1967), born and died at Saint-Martin-d'Oydes (where an avenue is named after him), writer and journalist, great resistance fighter known as "Saint Jean", politician, MP for Haute-Garonne
• François Camel (1893-1941)
• Georges Galy-Gasparrou (1896-1977), MP, Secretary of State for Information, Mayor of Massat
• Roger Fauroux (1926-), former Minister, former Mayor of Saint-Girons
• Augustin Bonrepaux (1936-), politician, former MP for Ariège and President of the General Council of Ariège, former president of the Finance Commission for the National Assembly. Participated in the opening of the road to Ariège particularly the Puymorens Tunnel
• Jean-Pierre Bel (1951-), senator, President of the Senate since 1 October 2011
• André Trigano (1925-) Officer of the Legion of Honour. He was Mayor of Mazères for 24 years, General Councillor for the Canton of Saverdun and MP for the 2nd electoral district of Ariège from 1993 to 1997. Mayor of Pamiers, he is also the brother of Gilbert Trigano, the co-founder of Club Med
• Paul Vaillant-Couturier (Paris 1892-1937) originally from Sainte-Croix-Volvestre
• Frédérique Massat (1964-), MP for Ariège since 2007

Religion

• Jacques Fournier (1285-1342), Bishop of Pamiers then of Mirepoix, Pope under the name of Benedict XII from 1336 to 1342 (Avignon), born in Canté near Saverdun
• François de Caulet (1610-1680), Bishop of Pamiers
• Jean-François Boyer (1675-1755), Bishop of Mirepoix from 1730-1736, tutor to the Dauphin, Louis XV's son.
• Sabas Maury, Pastor of Miglos from 1890 to 1906 and creator of Arièjo ô moun Païs the well-known hymn for Ariége
• Philippe Mousset, Bishop of Pamiers, Couserans, Mirepoix. Appointed on 8 January 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI

Sport

• Louis-Henry Destel (1885-1962), rugby writer, born in Lézat-sur-Lèze
• Jacques Dupont (born in 1928), cyclist, Olympic record holder, born in Lézat-sur-Lèze
• Claude Piquemal (born in 1939), athlete, French sprinter, Olympic medallist, born in Siguer
• Aldo Quaglio (born in 1932), French international rugby player, born and trained in Lavelanet
• Jacques Crampagne (born 1944), French international rugby player, born in Foix
• Patrick Estève (born 1959), French international rugby player, born and trained in Lavelanet
• Sylvain Dispagne (born 1968), French international rugby player, born in Saint-Girons
• Jean-Louis Jordana (born 1968), French international rugby player, born and trained in Lavelanet
• Michel Marfaing (born 1970), French international rugby player, born and trained in Pamiers
• Fabien Barthez (born 1971), French international football player, born in Lavelanet
• Éric Carrière (born 1973), French international footballer, born in Foix
• Fabien Pelous (born 1973), French international rugby player, born in Toulouse and trained in Saverdun
• Benoît Baby (born 1983), French international rugby player, born in Lavelanet and trained in Toulouse
• Yoann Huget (born 1987), French international rugby player, born in Pamiers and trained in Toulouse
• Jean-Marc Doussain (born 1991), French international rugby player, born and trained in Toulouse, originally from Sainte-Croix-Volvestre
• Laurent Bonzon, vice champion of Europe for Judo Jujitsu born in 1969
• Mylène Guirault, vice world champion for jujitsu born in 1985
• Jocelyn Degeihl, CN3 judo, vice champion of France University, National trainer of leaders, elected 1st President of France en 1998, 1st Black Belt in the city of Foix born in 1959

See also

• Cantons of the Ariège department
• Communes of the Ariège department
• Arrondissements of the Ariège department

External links

• (French) General Council website
• (French) Prefecture website
• (French) Ariege website
• (French) Trekking in Ariege Pyrenees website
• (French) Ariege Photography Panoramics 360° website
• (French) Pyrenees Photography Panoramics 360° website 2
• (French) Department of Arriège: Accounts for Communes and Groupings: - Individual data Budget principle only - Consolidated data "Principle Budget and annexes" (French)
• Ariège Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Ariége economic portal (French)