Mas-d'Azil

Le Mas-d'Azil, a canton capital, 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 from 8000 BC.C. is called the Azilien era.*

Le Mas-d'Azil is a small museum rich. The museum is mainly decorated with the many pieces from prehistoric times. The most famous museum piece is known and the name le faon aux oiseaux (roe deer with birds). But there is more, such as a complete hunting equipment with arrowheads, spears and harpoons, with which the hunters of the magdalénien culture went out. Opposite the museum is the church behind the old hall. L'Eglise Saint-Etienne was restored in the eighteenth century. The onion-shaped roof of the tower is architecturally very unusual for this area. Centrally located in 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 recreation area. Here you can clearly see that the river was partially diverted there in order to be able to control a water mill**. As a logical consequence, a factory was later built on the site of the water mill. Hydropower was more often the basis for establishing industry, which later, due to technical progress, could do without this hydropower again.

The presence of dolmen seems to be quite unique in this department. Viewing dolmen as the final destination of a trip is unspectacular 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 the route departementale (D-119) runs; this road through the cave has a length of +/- 420 m. One will have to search far to find a second naturally formed car tunnel.

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

And nice short walk with a considerable height difference to bridge: coming from Mas d'Azil the path starts at the entrance of the cave on the left. One can walk over the entrance of the cave. Around le Mas-d'Azil there are several attractive hiking trails, highly recommended. Several old houses, bridges, churches and for the region characteristic things, also make strolling through le Mas-d'Azil itself worthwhile.

The glass industry has been of great importance to le Mas-d'Azil for a long time. One can therefore 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 (large) market. The most important manifestation of le Mas-d'Azil is the local festival, which is celebrated on the first Sunday in September.