Saint Lizier Ariège Pyrénées

The medieval city of Saint Lizier :

Just 4 km from the campsite, the Bishops' Palace in Saint-Lizier and Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède Cathedral are monuments classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Great Site of Occitanie, Saint-Lizier is one of the most beautiful cities in Ariège and France, perched on a hill above Salat, very close to Saint-Girons. This ancient Gallo-Roman site with its Bishops' Palace is full of treasures and bears witness to its rich past.

Saint-Lizier, in the heart of Couserans, can be discovered through its charming cobbled streets, its secret passages and its pretty flowered squares which make it a haven of peace. Around a corner, the view is breathtaking, offering perspectives of green meadows, forests, the flowing river, and the still snow-covered Pyrenees in the distance. Here, calm brings serenity.
The visit to the Palais des Evêques includes the discovery of the departmental museum, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède cathedral and the temporary exhibition space. The Ariège departmental museum, located in the Palais des Évêques, presents the History of Couserans over 2000 years through varied collections and a modern and lively museum tour, suitable for young and old alike.

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède cathedral in Saint-Lizier is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Midi-Pyrénées. Having remained inaccessible for a long time, this place today reveals a rare testimony of painted decoration from the Renaissance. This rich pictorial ensemble made from ocher, charcoal and lime covers the vaults and walls of the building, immersing visitors in a soothing atmosphere.
Arriving in the village, we notice the beauty and richness of the architecture. Several places are steeped in history with astonishing monuments listed as UNESCO world heritage sites, as part of the Routes of Saint Jacques de Compostela. In Saint-Lizier, there is not one, but two cathedrals which have stood proudly for centuries. The Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède cathedral, in the heart of the Bishops' Palace, reveals monumental paintings in the Renaissance style. This former episcopal residence also houses a museum which offers a journey from antiquity to the present day.