Ax-les-Thermes (; oc, Ax or ) 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 In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

of south-western

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Axéens'' or ''Axéennes''. The commune has been awarded one flower by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.

Geography

Ax-les-Thermes is situated in the

Pyrénées The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...

, close to

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

, and stands on the confluence of the Oriège, Ariège and Lauze rivers. some 75 km west of

Perpignan Perpignan (, , ; ca, Perpinyà ; es, Perpiñán ; it, Perpignano ) is the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the ...

and 35 km north-east of

Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella french: Andorre-la-Vieille is the capital of the Principality of Andorra. It is located high in the east Pyrenees, between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital. , the city has a popu ...

. Access to the commune is by

Route nationale A ''route nationale'', or simply ''nationale'', is a class of trunk road in France. They are important roads of national significance which cross broad portions of the French territory, in contrast to departmental or communal roads which serve ...

N20 from Garanou in the north-west which passes through the village then south through the commune to

Mérens-les-Vals Mérens-les-Vals (Languedocien: ''Merens las Vals'') is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France. Geography Mérens-les-Vals, as its name implies, has several valleys. The village is at the confluence of three valleys: Ari ...

. The D613 goes north from the village to Sorgeat and the D25 branches from this to go east to

Ascou Ascou (; oc, Ascon) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Ascounais''. Geography Ascou is an alpine commune located some 40 km south-east o ...

and Mijanès. The railway line from

Foix Foix (; oc, Fois ; ca, Foix ) is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. It is the capital of the department of Ariège as it is the seat of the Préfecture of that department. Foix is located in the Occitanie region of southw ...

passes through the commune with

Ax-les-Thermes station Ax-les-Thermes station ( French: ''Gare d'Ax-les-Thermes'') is a railway station in Ax-les-Thermes, Occitanie, France. The station is on the Portet-Saint-Simon–Puigcerdà railway. The station is served by TER (local) and Intercités de Nuit (n ...

just north-west of the village. The line continues south to Merens-les-Vals. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Premiere Bazerque, Deuxieme Bazerque, Troisieme Bazerque, Petches, and Ax-Bonascre to the south. The

Ax 3 Domaines Ax 3 Domaines is a winter sports resort situated in the commune of Ax-les-Thermes Ax-les-Thermes (; oc, Ax or ) is a commune in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France. The inhabitants of the commune are k ...

Ski resort is located at Ax-Bonascre south-west of the village and is accessed by the D82 road from the village. The commune is alpine in nature with extensive forests and rugged terrain.Google Maps
/ref> The Ariège river flows through the commune from south to north at the start of its journey to join the

Garonne The Garonne (, also , ; Occitan, Catalan, Basque, and es, Garona, ; la, Garumna or ) is a river of southwest France and northern Spain. It flows from the central Spanish Pyrenees to the Gironde estuary at the French port of Bordeaux – ...

Portet-sur-Garonne Portet-sur-Garonne (, literally ''Portet on Garonne''; Languedocien: ''Portèth de Garona'') is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France. Portet-Saint-Simon station has rail connections to Foix, Tarbes, and Toulouse, whi ...

. The ''Ruisseau des Estagnols'' rises in the south of the commune and flows north to join the Ariège in the south of the commune. The ''Ruisseau de Risl'' and the ''Ruisseau de Font Frède'' both rise in the east of the commune and flow west to join the Ariège. The ''Oriège'' flows from the east to join the Ariège in the village and the ''Lauze'' flows from the east to join the Ariège just north of the confluence of the Oriège.

The Spa

Ax (from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

''Aquae'' – water;

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

''Thermes'' – hot springs), situated at an elevation of , is well known for its sulphurous hot springs (). The waters, which were used by the

Romans Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

, were historically claimed to treat

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including ar ...

, skin diseases, and other maladies. The springs were developed in the medieval period on the orders of Saint Louis to treat soldiers returning from the

Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were ...

afflicted with

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria '' Mycobacterium leprae'' or '' Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve d ...

. From the 19th century, a spa tourism industry developed. The ''Bassin des Ladres'' (Lepers' Pond), in the centre of the commune, is fed by hot springs supplying water from the ground at a temperature of 77 °C. The best known fountain is the "fountain of cannons". A hospital is situated only one metre from the basin. The pond was built by

Roger IV, Count of Foix Roger IV (died 24 February 1265), son and successor of Roger-Bernard II the Great, was the eighth count of Foix from 1241 to his death. His reign began with the south again at war with the north in France and, though he was reluctant to join his ...

, during the reign of Saint Louis in 1260. Every year on St John's Day the people of Ax-les-Thermes, having been daubed with ashes, bathe in the Lepers' Pond for fun.

History

Ax-les-Thermes, vue panoramique (Ariège)

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors Ax-les-Thermes banner

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 1,267 inhabitants. Ax-les-Thermes Passerelle

Economy

Local economic activity is based mainly on livestock (cattle and sheep),

Hydrotherapy Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy and also called water cure, is a branch of alternative medicine (particularly naturopathy), occupational therapy, and physiotherapy, that involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment. The term ...

(there are 60 sources at temperatures ranging from 18 to 78 °C, feeding three spas: Couloubret, Modèle, and Teich. The waters treat especially sciatica, rheumatism and certain respiratory diseases),

winter sports Winter sports or winter activities are competitive sports or non-competitive recreational activities which are played on snow or ice. Most are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally, such games were only played in cold a ...

, and tourism in general. Its proximity to

enables cross-border shopping. The

winter sports resort is situated in the commune and served as the finish line fo
stage 14
of the 2010

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has two sites that are registered as historical monuments: *The Bassin des Ladres (Leper's Pond) (13th century) is fed by hot spring water at a temperature of 77 °C. *The Teich Park Ornamental Garden (1838) ;Picture Gallery File:Demoiselles de Castelet, Ax-les-Thermes.jpg, The ''Demoiselles de Castelet'' in the 19th century File:En marche dans le wagon terrasse Ax-les-Thermes (2567822188).jpg, Railway tunnel at Ax-les-Thermes 1906 File:Thermes du Teich, Ax-les-Thermes, 26 août 1905 (5811355152).jpg, The Baths of Teich 1905 File:Gorges de Berduquet, Ax-les-Thermes.jpg, The Berduquety Gorge (19th century) File:Ax-les-Thermes Rue.jpg, A street in the town File:Ax-les-Thermes centre.jpg, The Village Centre File:Ax-les-Thermes Carrière2.jpg, The Quarry File:LauzeRiver.JPG, The Lauze in Ax-les-Thermes File:Ax les Thermes Z4143.jpg, A train at Ax-les-Thermes in 1981

Religious heritage

*The Church of Saint-Jerome (formerly the Chapel of the Blue Penitents) contains several items that are registered as historical objects: **An Altar Painting: Christ on the Cross (1841) **The Choir Enclosure (18th century) **The Front of the

Altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in pagan ...

(18th century) **A

Tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle ( he, מִשְׁכַּן, mīškān, residence, dwelling place), also known as the Tent of the Congregation ( he, link=no, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ’ōhel mō‘ēḏ, also Tent of Meeting, etc.), ...

and 6 statuettes (18th century) **The

Retable A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate structure ...

, 2 statues, Painting: Saint Jerome, Saint Madeleine, Christ on the Cross (18th century) *The Church of Saint-Vincent contains several items that are registered as historical objects: **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 ...

(16th century) **A Crucifix from the Blue Penitents (1650) **A

(16th century) **A Painting: Saint Vincent in Ecstasy (18th century) **A Bronze Bell (1512) **A Painting: The mystical marriage of Saint Catherine (17th century) **A Painting: Christ on the Cross with Saint Madeleine and the Virgin at his feet (1875)

Notable people linked to the commune

*Saint Udaut (405-452), priest and martyr *

Peire Autier Peire Autier, Peire Authié or Pierre Authié (French: ''Peire Authié'') was a Cathar Good Man (leader) in the Languedoc region of southern France. Originally a notary from Ax-les-Thermes, he travelled to Lombardy and Piedmont it, Piemonte ...

, Albigensian leader *Louis Gareau (1769-1813), General of the Armies of the Republic and the Empire *Gatien Marcailhou (1807-1855), composer and "inventor" of the waltz. He was the first teacher of

Gabriel Fauré Gabriel Urbain Fauré (; 12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers ...

. His most famous composition, ''Indiana'', inspired

Camille Claudel Camille Rosalie Claudel (; 8 December 1864 19 October 1943) was a French sculptor known for her figurative works in bronze and marble. She died in relative obscurity, but later gained recognition for the originality and quality of her work. The ...

in his group ''La Valse''. *Pierre Bertrand de Mérignon * Pierre Roussel (1742-1802), writer and doctor, born in Ax-les-Thermes.François Xavier de Feller, ''Historical Dictionary…'', 1823, p. 403

References

External links

Ax-les-Thermes official website

Vallées d'Ax Tourism website

Tourist Information website for Ax les Thermes

Ax 3 Domaines ski resort official website

Ax-les-Thermes ''Green Station'' website

Ax-les-Thermes school website

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Axlesthermes Communes of Ariège (department) Spa towns in France