Aulus-les-Bains (; oc, Aulús) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aulusiens'' or ''Aulusiennes''.

Geography

Aulus-les-Bains is located at the head of the Garbet river valley and beneath the

Guzet-Neige Guzet-Neige is a ski resort situated in the Haute-Ariège area of the Ariège department in the French Pyrénées. The climb to the ski station has been used three times as a stage finish in the Tour de France. Location Guzet is located between ...

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.Google Maps
/ref> 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 The Oust (; br, Oud) is a river in Brittany, France, right tributary of the Vilaine. It is long. Its source is in the hills between Corlay and Quintin. It flows generally southeast, through the following ''départements'' and towns: * Côtes ...

. There are numerous streams and ponds throughout the commune which all flow to join the Garbet.

Neighbouring communes and villages

History

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. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

in January 1942, 686 foreign Jews were sent to stay in Aulus. The

Vichy government Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its terr ...

arrested 174 Polish Jews out of this group on 26 August 1942 and took them to

Vernet Vernet is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Painters * Antoine Vernet (1689-1753), French painter, father of Claude Joseph Vernet * Claude Joseph Vernet Claude-Joseph Vernet (14 August 17143 December 1789) was a French painter. ...

. A further 100 were added from elsewhere in the department then they were all taken to Drancy on the way to Auschwitz. On arrival all but 44 were killed and only 26 survived the war. A further 266 Jews were arrested by the Germans on 9 January 1943 and only 83 survived from this group.

Administration

List of mayors

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 158 inhabitants.

Economy

Aulus-les-Bains is a hydro-mineral resort whose sources, which were known to the Romans, found fame at the beginning of the 19th century. Today Aulus-les-Bains is still best known for its hot springs. With syphilis now curable, the village markets itself as the "Cholesterol Spa". The water from the springs is also used to treat ailments such as urinary problems, arthritis, and some disorders of the nervous system. The village is also the point of departure for the many hikers wishing to visit the surrounding valleys and mountains.

Sites and monuments

* The

Hot spring A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow bodies of magma (molten rock) or by c ...

s. * The Cascade d'Ars (Ars waterfall), which is 246 metres high and has three levels. There are many walks going up to and around the waterfall taking from three and a half hours to nine hours ranging from easy to very difficult. * The Parish Church contains three items that are registered as historical objects: **A Collection Plate (16th century) **A Collection Plate depicting the Annunciation (16th century) **A

Chalice A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning. R ...

with

Paten A paten or diskos is a small plate, used during the Mass. It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many Western liturgical denominations, the p ...

(19th century) The GR10 hiking trail passes through the commune from the Lac d'Izourt in the south-west to Ustou in the west.Aulus-les-Bains on Géoportail
/ref>

References

External links

Aulus-les-Bains Tourist Office

Aulus-les-Bains on the old IGN website

Aulus-les-Bains on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Aulne'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auluslesbains Communes of Ariège (department)