Saint-Lizier: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The former Saint-Lizier Cathedral, together with its cloister, is part of the World Heritage site “The Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in France”. Renting a holiday apartment is also an option for a stay in Saint-Lizier.

Culture

Saint-Lizier Cathedral is a Romanesque church building whose construction spanned the 11th, 14th and 15th centuries. The Romanesque frescoes inside date from between 1060 and 1080.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède features painted walls and ceilings as well as richly decorated woodwork. The cathedral is often referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of Ariège” and illustrates the splendour of the site and the power of the bishops during the Renaissance.

The history of the Hôtel-Dieu includes its former chapel: it is a remarkably well-preserved example of a 19th-century Italian-influenced “bel composto”, designed by the Pedoya siblings.

The Hôtel-Dieu pharmacy preserves a fully curved cherry-wood cabinet with numerous drawers, two complete faience collections, mouth-blown bottles and a set of surgical instruments.

The Jardin de l’Hôtel-Dieu is a medicinal plant garden connected to the 18th-century pharmacy, where visitors can learn about the effects of the plants.

An admission ticket to the Palais des Évêques includes free admission to the departmental museum and Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède Cathedral. The cloister of Saint-Lizier can be visited free of charge; during school holidays, the tourist office offers guided tours.

History

The Gallo-Roman fortification walls of Saint-Lizier are 750 metres long and are among the best-preserved fortifications north of the Pyrenees.

Experiences

Prairie des contes combines legends, characteristic plants, a garden and a small open-air theatre in an area dedicated to children and biodiversity.

Au Pays des Traces is a three-hectare theme park in Saint-Lizier dedicated to teaching ichnology, that is, the interpretation of traces, as well as promoting local resources.

Nature and Trails

The terraces of the Bishop’s Palace offer a remarkable panoramic view of the cathedral and the village.

Saint-Lizier is connected to the Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen and the route designated as GR®78.

Other places: Aulus-Les-Bains, Sainte-Foi, Bédeilhac-Et-Aynat, Surba, L'aiguillon, Saint-Girons, Montgaillard, Durban-sur-Arize

For the higher-level travel overview: Ariège.