The vast region of France formerly known as the Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon was renamed nearly a year ago and is now Occitanie.  It takes in 8 départements of the former Midi region and 5 départements of Languedoc-Roussillon.  We would like to focus this edition of our newsletter on three of the four départements that border the Pyrénées mountain range:  Ariège [09], Haute-Garonne [31] and Hautes-Pyrénées [65].  With winter approaching soon, travelers to France may find this area, with its resorts and winter sports, an appealing destination, although it is well worth visiting at any time of year.

The capital of the new Occitanie is Toulouse in the Haute-Garonne.  This bustling city has a fine airport and rail station making your arrival to the region quite easy.  Airbus Industrie's main civil airplane business is based in Blagnac, France, a suburb of Toulouse, with production and manufacturing in five locations, but final assembly in Toulouse.  Tours of the facility are possible.

The Pyrénées

This rugged mountain range separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe extending 305 miles from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean.  The highest point is 3404 meters (11,168 feet) at Aneto in Aragon, Spain.  Located in the mountain range between France and Spain is tiny Andorra, a principality (also known as a diarchy) headed by the President of France and the Catholic Bishop of Urgell, Spain.  The official language is Catalan.

Andorra has an interesting history; we visited the capital, Andorra la Vella, several years ago, and we found a tax-free town filled with shoppers from Spain and France.  At that time it was truly a tax haven, but the European Union has since pressured Andorra to institute some taxes.  However, it has never been a business tax haven, and that hasn't changed.  It had no income, capital gains, sales, gift or inheritance tax, and becoming a resident was a simple process.  There is now a VAT of 4.5% and a residency requirement of an investment of not less than €400,000.  A capital gains tax was added in 2016 that taxes profit from the sale of real estate at a maximum rate of 15%.  Most other investment income is still tax free.  The income tax implemented in 2016 is 10% for anyone earning over €40,000 per year if taxes were not paid elsewhere.

Returning to its history, following the fall of the Roman Empire Andorra came under the influence of the Visigoths from the Diocese of Urgell who remained in the valley for two hundred years.  Christianity spread during that time, but when the Muslim Empire conquered the Iberian peninsula, they replaced the ruling Visigoths.  Andorra was spared from this invasion by the Franks.  Tradition has it that Charlemagne (Charles the Great) granted a charter to the Andorran people for a contingent of 5,000 soldiers in return for fighting against the Moors. 

Ariège

The Ariège département can seem rather remote.  Its dramatic terrain leads south the the jagged Pyrénées at its southern border.  Its rugged landscape mirrors its history ~ one of conflict, religious persecution and turmoil.  Today, it is an area of tiny villages, dedicated sheep herders and peace.  It is important as a natural museum of paintings depicting the spirit of prehistoric man ~ the canvases are the cave walls and the art work is beyond value.

Cathars (also known as Albigenisans) left their mark on Ariège and Languedoc as well: physically in their fortresses perched precariously on the summits of craggy outcroppings, and historically for their willingness to oppose the Church, the Pope and the King to practice their religion of sexual abstinence, vegetarianism and nonviolence.  Considered heretics for believing in the duality of good and evil, nonviolence did not protect them.  More than 20,000 were massacred in Languedoc and 225 died in defense of Monségur in the Ariège in 1244.

This, however, does not fairly portray the region.  The Ariège, geographically, is stunning.  Once called the 'Comte de Foix', the Ariège has frontiers with Andorra and Spain beyond the Pyrénées, and it is situated  between the former Languedoc and the area to the west of greater Gascony.  It is not a land for the faint of heart, but probably well suited to those who thrive on outdoor life and are seeking a place for hiking, exploring and studying prehistoric sites.

Known, as we noted earlier, for its plethora of caves, the Ariège will not disappoint those who are fascinated by early man and his artistic endeavors.  Aside from the wonders of the Upper Paleolithic Niaux, the caves around Tarascon-sur-Ariège are worth one's attention.  Also famous in the Áriège are the mérens horses, a hearty breed of black horses reaching back to Magdalenian times ~ horses that today are available to take you on mountain treks.  Lesser known, but nearly as interesting, is the meek mole called the desman, which is web-footed, aquatic and lives in the rivers of the département ~  rivers found to be quite unique in that they are the last in France where one can pan for gold!

                                                                                                                                                                           continued on page three