Ariege is easily accessible by air, a car is essential for exploring the region as public transport is minimal.
GOING BY CAR FROM TOULOUSE AIRPORT TO THE HOUSE:
(120 Km and 1.30 hour drive)
From the airport follow the signs Toulouse until you reach the ring road then follow the signs Narbonne-Tarbes. Keep on the ring road until you reach the exit N° 25 and see the sign Tarbes. Head toward Tarbes and stay on motorway A64 about 60 Km until you reach exit N° 20. (There is a radar between exit 21 and exit 20 - speed limit is 130 Km/hour). Take exist 20 off the A 64 and follow signs for St Girons (28 Kms). (Be particularly vigilant at your speed from the exit 20 to St Girons as there are many villages with police stations having not much work to do localy and spending their time hunting after drivers). From St Girons follow signs for Station de Guzet and Seix-Oust. Once you arrive at Oust follow signs for Erce. (It is about 24 kms from St Girons to Erce). Once you enter the village of Erce you will see a small Casino supermarket on your right shortly afterwards on the left is a sign marked Hameau de Cominac turn left here until you come to the foot of the Church. Follow the road up the mountain past 2 hairpin bends. After about 1 km by two large square dustbins (on the left) take a right hand turn marked "Gite Rural, Le Pelioou and La Souleilo". Then go up the road and follow it for 1 km until you see a small chalet on the left with a balcony (La Souleilo). Keep driving upward for another 1 Km inside the forest. At the end of the forest you will see Cambouich on your left hand. This is at the end of the concrete road.
There is a gate with 2 black pivoting rods that prevent animals from passing. Go ahead and push rods with your car.
GOING FROM CARCASSONNE AIRPORT TO THE HOUSE:
You can go 2 ways: the fastest way is passing Toulouse by motorway and the shortest and most scenic way is to go through Mirepoix and Mas-d’Azil.
The airport of Carcassonne is already on D119. You just have to take the direction of Mirepoix (opposite of Carcassonne). Mirepoix is a very nice old city with protective walls and a nice market place. Make a small detour via downtown.
Then go to Mas-d’Azil. This is a little complicate way and you better to get a map. Just after the city of Mas-d’Azil the road going to Saint-Girons will pass inside a cave. It really worth a visit. You also have good restaurants in the area. Once in Saint-Girons follow the road as mentioned above. The total distance from Carcassonne to the house is 155 Kms. It will take about 1.40 hour drive.
CAR HIRE:
Having a car is a must as there is no train or direct buses going to Erce.
You get cars at all airports from 130 to 200 € per week. You can book through your airline or with
auto-europe.co. You can also book with all the major car rental agencies such as Herz and Europcar.
YOUR MAP AND ITINERARY:
Mappy.com or your GPS help you find the best route between any two localities in Europe. Your arrival point should be: Place = ERCE - Postal code = 09140 - Country = FRANCE. We are at: N 42.51.051 - E 001.17.855
AIRLINES:
- Air France and British Airways are national carriers. They have many flights to Toulouse. Their prices are usualy high and service is low.
- Ryan Air operate regular flights From: Bournemouth, Brussels, Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, East Midlands, Liverpool, London STN, Shannon - To: Carcassonne. The tiny Carcasonne airport has few facilities but the fares are much lower than on the London-Toulouse route. Hertz car hire has a special rate for Ryan Air passengers on the French end. (Beside transport Carcasonne worth visiting as one of the most interesting place in Midi Pyrenees).
You can also flight from London Stansted to the small airport of Pau at a similar price.
- EasyJet has flights From: London Gatwick, Paris Orly, Bristol Madrid To: Toulouse. You can get very attractive prices according to when and how you place your booking.
- Flybe From: Birmingham, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow To: Toulouse
FOR CROSSING THE CHANNEL:
Brittany Ferries - They offer package holidays to France and other European countries
P&O Ferries
IF YOU GET LOST:
Call Christian at: +33 (0)625897084 or call Lionel aT: +33 619072059