Bonnac: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Bonnac lies on the left bank of the river, in a large meander of the Ariège. The river runs through the village, flowing from south to north towards Saverdun and the Toulouse plain.

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Bonnac can plan their trip around this destination.

Culture and history

Northwest of the village lie the ruins of Château du Castella on a rocky, steep slope above the left bank of the Ariège. The château occupied a strategic, elevated position above the Ariège valley. It includes a square keep with two-metre-thick walls and sides measuring twelve metres; two round-arched windows are visible on the ground floor.

North of the village, near the Ariège and on the edge of a deeply incised stream, stands the Église Saint-Pierre. Visible remains dating from the 12th century have been preserved in the bell tower and on the northern exterior wall of the present building. The parish of Bonnac is considered the oldest in the area of the Communauté de communes du Pays de Pamiers and is documented as early as 960.

Landscape and trails

The “Sentier aquatique Bonnac-Saverdun” is an approximately ten-kilometre-long interpretive trail along a section of the Ariège. It runs from the downstream side of the Bonnac bridge to the canoe and kayak base in Saverdun and is intended for canoeists, anglers, hikers and walkers along the banks of the Ariège. Along the way, it highlights the ecological diversity of this section of the Ariège and points out otters, Atlantic salmon, bats and natural habitats.

The “Autour de Bonnac B2” circular hiking trail is approximately four kilometres long and takes about an hour. It follows the banks of the Ariège and passes through the Bonnac forest. From the upper parts of the slopes, the trail offers views of the Ariège valley and the Pyrenees.

The Parc du Château de Bonnac covers eleven hectares and is completely surrounded by the Ariège. It is open exclusively as part of “Rendez-vous aux jardins” for free, self-guided visits.

Regional cuisine

Mounjetado – Ariège-style cassoulet – is prepared with Coco de Pamiers beans rather than Tarbais beans. The Coco de Pamiers bean was recreated in 1998 from seeds that had been found in a barn in Bonnac.

Other nearby destinations: Unzent, Trémoulet, Malegoude, Castelnau-Durban, Saint Lary, Les Cabannes, Bagert, Le Carlaret.

To the broader travel overview: Ariège.