Aulus-les-Bains
| Aulus-les-Bains | |
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Aulus-les-Bains village
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 Aulus-les-Bains
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Location within Occitanie region
Aulus-les-Bains
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| Coordinates: 42°47′30″N 1°20′19″E / 42.7917°N 1.3386°ECoordinates: 42°47′30″N 1°20′19″E / 42.7917°N 1.3386°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Occitanie |
| Department | Ariège |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Girons |
| Canton | Oust |
| Intercommunality | Canton d'Oust |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2020) | Michel Veyssière |
| Area1 | 52.24 km2 (20.17 sq mi) |
| Population (2010)2 | 237 |
| • Density | 4.5/km2 (12/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 09029 / 09140 |
| Elevation | 719–2,698 m (2,359–8,852 ft) (avg. 750 m or 2,460 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Aulus-les-Bains is a French commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aulusiens or Aulusiennes.
Aulus-les-Bains is located at the head of the Garbet river valley and beneath the Guzet-Neige ski resort some 35 km south-east of Saint-Girons and 25 km south-west of Tarascon-sur-Ariège at an altitude of 750 metres. Access to the commune is by the D8F road which branches from the D3 west of the commune and follows a tortuous route to the village before continuing by an even more tortuous route to join the D18 in the east. The D32 road comes from Ercé in the north to the village. The commune is mountainous and heavily forested with large areas in the south above the snow line.
The village is best known for its thermal springs and spa complex. There are several Belle Époque buildings with some still offering hotel accommodation. The village is very popular in winter for skiing and in the summer for walking and cycling. The local beauty spot and waterfall, the Cascade d'Ars, is a one-hour walk from the village. Cyclists can climb the Col de Latrappe or the Col d'Agnes directly from the village.
There are two holiday cottages: the Presbytère and the Goulue. Other local amenities include a bar/café, a pizzeria/health food restaurant, a tobacconist, a mini supermarket, a post office, and a butcher shop.
The Garbet river rises in the commune and gathers a very large number of tributaries in the commune as it flows north-west through the village to join the Salat north of Oust. There are numerous streams and ponds throughout the commune which all flow to join the Garbet.
From the early 19th century, Aulus expanded as a health spa, frequented by "invalids of love" or "young people with shameful illnesses". This came about after a syphilitic army lieutenant had found some relief in its waters, probably because they counteracted the effects of the mercury then used to treat syphilis patients. The lieutenant's regiment spread the word: by 1849 Aulus had three hotels, a new bridge and an avenue of acacia trees to attract visitors.
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Wikipedia