Welcome to La Lampisterie

Located in the Pamiers countryside alongside the GR 78, which runs along the foothills of the Pyrenees, the former Carlaret train station on the Pamiers-Mirepoix railway (closed in 1950) has since become a bright and spacious house, surrounded by peaceful wooded parkland. South of the house, the Pyrenees provides a matchless backdrop and a sumptuous setting for an outside meal on a balmy summer’s night.

The cultural, historical and geological treasures of the area will satisfy any walker, sightseer or fan of markets, as well as sport lovers. Whatever your plan in Ariège, Le Carlaret is a great choice for a convenient home-from-home a few kilometres from Pamiers, the main town of the region, and from the main roads and train lines towards Toulouse and Spain.

Compostela Stage and Cycle Route

In addition to the former station lamp-house (‘lampisterie’), today a small house for the use of the pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela, there are five tastefully furnished rooms. In the evening, you'll be able to have dinner with Élisabeth, along with her other guests, enjoying her cooking of some of the many recipes inspired by the many different travellers to pass through here over the years.

The house is located on the Véloroute 81 (Vélosud) linking Biarritz to Perpignan. An original route which offers a new facet of the Pyrenees cycling destination, already strongly associated with sport cycling. More athletic riders will appreciate the Grande Traversée MTB Ariège Pyrénées linking St-Lizier to Ax-les-Thermes in 12 stages over 223 km, on which the house is also located.

The gite

Adjacent to, but independent from the main habitation, is a renovated, functional, ground-floored 80m² apartment ready to welcome you for a peaceful and comfortable vacation stay. Ideally accommodating six people, it is furnished with a convertible sofa suitable for two more guests – for a total of eight people.

The apartment is comprised of a family-sized bedroom with one double bed and two single beds, one “parental” bedroom with a double bed, and a bright and spacious living-room, in which sits the convertible sofa. The kitchen is equipped with an induction hob, an oven, a refrigerator and a freezer as well as a dishwasher, a Senseo coffee-machine, a toaster and a steam cooking device. The bathroom has a shower, a washing-machine and a dryer. To complete this comfortable accommodation is a terrace with a garden lounge.

Easy parking on the front, access to some of the large, wooded garden, and the possibility of bicycle rental will make your stay comfortable while allowing you easy visits of the surroundings.

Bed sheets are not included but are available for rent for an additional fee (see below).

The rooms

The Lampisterie has five rooms for passing guests, pilgrims, travelers and all those looking for a moment of convivial rest.

The rooms are available for one or more nights, the weekend, or the week, for a single person or a small family.

Around Le Carlaret

A few kilometres from Pamiers, which sits halfway between Toulouse and the Pyrenean ski resorts, and is the main town of the area, La Lampisterie makes a wonderful home-from-home for any sort of stay in the Ariège.

The numerous sites of interest in the area cater to a wide range of trips and activities. Whether you want to climb a via ferrata or test your skills at tree climbing and ziplining in one of the dedicated parks; to seek the thrills of downhill or cross-country skiing or to walk or ride (horseback or on a bike) along the countless trails of the valley’s of the Pyrenees Ariégeoises; or to practise sports, bathing or fishing in the numerous mountain lakes and rivers, you’ll be spoilt for choice year-round, however long your stay might be.

The motorway nearby places internationally renowned spa town Ax-les-Thermes and its thermal springs within easy reach. The Couloubret baths, decorated in the style of Ancient Rome, are fed by the thermal waters that made the town famous. Nearby are the Mountain Observatory and the Wolf Park.

History left its mark on the Ariège and the area in many ways along the centuries, and there are caves, traditional villages and castles in abundance. The caves of the Mas d'Azil, Niaux, Vache or Bédeilhac will interest anyone – young or old – with an interest in prehistory and speleology, as will a visit to the Museum of Prehistory in Tarascon-sur-Ariège. The traditional towns of Mirepoix and Carla-Bayle; the rupestrian church of Vals; and the town of Foix and its superb castle, as well as the impressive remains of the famous Cathar castle of Montségur, will fascinate anyone curious about the Middle Ages and the story of the Cathars. After barely an hour’s drive, you could also find yourself strolling in the streets of the amazing and majestic city of Carcassonne, magnificent living remain of the Middle-age.

Château de MontségurWithin reach of La Lampisterie of Le Carlaret there are many other parks and museums to relax and entertain you. Among others, there are the forges at Pyrène in Foix; the bison farm and the bamboo garden – both in Lapenne, a few minutes away from the house, and many more.

On the way to Santiago

The Piémont Pyrenees path, running off the trail that runs from Arles to Santiago de Compostela, goes through Mirepoix, Pamiers, Le Mas d'Azil, Saint-Lizier, Castillon-en-Couserans and continues toward Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges in the Haute-Garonne.

Around 140 km long, it's a track running through the Ariège that can be walked in easy stages of more or less 20 km a day. Many family-, local- and parish-run accommodation options have opened their doors along this Ariégeoise part of the pilgrimage.

La Lampisterie opened its own doors to pilgrims in summer 2007. Since then, it has seen an increasing stream of visitors. In the spirit of the pilgrimage, pilgrims are of course welcomed in accordance with the principle of 'donativo': those who can donate more, donates for those who can't give much!