Mas-d'Azil

The Mas-d'Azil, capital of the canton, is famous for its cave. The finds and drawings in this cave have given such a great insight into the life of prehistoric man that the name of the period in question is derived from Mas d'Azil. A period of 8000 BC.C. is called the Azilian era

In Mas-d'Azil is a small, rich museum. The museum is mainly decorated with the many pieces of prehistory. The most famous museum piece is known and the name the fawn to the birds. But there is more, such as complete hunting equipment with arrowheads, spears and harpoons, with which the hunters of the Magdalenian culture went out. In front of the museum is the church behind the old room. The Church of Saint-Etienne was restored in the

Eighteenth century. The onion-shaped roof of the tower is architecturally very unusual for this area. Ideally located in the Mas d'Azil, on the edge of a square with beautiful old plane trees, (Place du Bout de la Ville) are bridges over the river, which lead to a leisure area. Here you can clearly see that the river has been partially diverted in order to be able to control a water mill**. As a logical consequence, a factory was then built on the site of the water mill. Hydroelectricity was more often the basis for the creation of an industry that, later, due to technical progress, could do without this hydroelectricity again.

The presence of dolmen seems to be quite unique in this department. Considering the dolmen as the final destination of a trip is not spectacular and very unsatisfactory, especially if you have already seen so many other dolmens. It is wiser to include the dolmen as part of a walking tour.

Through the cave flows the Arize, along which passes the departemental road (D-119); this road through the cave has a length of +/- 420 m. You will have to look far to find a second naturally formed car tunnel.

In addition to the part of the cave through which the highway and the river pass, there is a complex of caves where everything has happened over many centuries. Prehistoric man lived and was expelled there, the Cathars and Huguenots also found safe shelter there. This part of the cave can be visited almost all year round.

A beautiful little walk with a considerable difference in altitude compared to the bridge: coming from the Mas d'Azil the path begins at the entrance of the cave on the left. One can walk on the entrance of the cave. Around the Mas-d'Azil there are several attractive hiking trails, highly recommended. Several old houses, bridges, churches and for the area of characteristic things, also make the walk in the Mas-d'Azil itself interesting.

The glass industry has been of great importance to Mas-d'Azil for a long time. So you can still find a glassblower on one side of the cave and a little further, on the other side, a glass exhibition space. 

The local (farmers') market is every Saturday morning and every second and fourth Wednesday of the month there is a (large) market. The most important event of mas-d'Azil is the local festival, which is celebrated on the first Sunday of September.