This tour is part of a long route along the French side of the Pyrenees. It runs from East to West in four stages, of which this is the second trip. The ride starts in Font-Romeu, near Andorra, where a gigantic solar oven is located and ends in Saint-Lary, near the famous Col de Portet-d'Aspet, one of the calf biters for cyclists.

You start your tour in the fortified town of Font-Romeu, famous for its winter sports facilities and the large solar mirror. It is located in the Pyrénées-Orientales, the easternmost part of the French Pyrenees. This area is so unique because, within a few hours' drive from the Mediterranean beach, you can conquer the highest mountain peaks. No wonder that France and Spain have disputed each other for so long about the claim to this region. The origins of the fortified towns and the signal towers adorning the mountainside go back to the 13th century. But since the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, the Pyrénées-Orientales have officially been part of France. Although the deep-rooted Spanish influences are still clearly noticeable in the food, souvenirs and the still scarcely spoken Catalan. The Spanish enclave of Llivia is an exception. because the treaty only concerned villages. However, Llivia is a real town. with the remains of a rampart. This town has a beautiful museum in the town hall, which houses the oldest pharmacy in Europe. There is also a pleasantly priced petrol station here.

In this tour you will pass the mini-state of Andorra near a mighty mountain pass: the Col de Puymorens. Enthusiasts can of course visit it, but you have to take the same road back to continue your tour in La Douce France. After Andorra, the high peaks of the Pyrenees follow each other in quick succession and the landscape becomes rugged, with many hairpin bends, cols and ravines. Here you will find the somewhat larger villages in the valleys, such as Ax-les-Thermes, Terascon and Seix.

The springs of Ax-les-Thermes have been known since ancient times. The village owes its name Ax to the Roman Aquae, water. In addition to the paid baths of Teich and Couloubret, there are three baths spread throughout the village that you can use free of charge. They are not deep, by the way, they are mainly suitable for sitting in up to ankle or knee height. The oldest and largest is the Bassin des Ladres, which has been used as a paddling area since the thirteenth century. A little further on next to the basin you will find the source that feeds this bath, the Source des Canons, with seventy-seven degrees one of the warmest sources in the region. A great place for a coffee and a paddle.

A little further on lies Luzenac, where there are a few talcum powder factories, because there is a lot of talc in the ground here. The castle of Lordat towers above the village. A little further on, near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, you will find three prehistoric caves, of which the cave of Niaux is the most famous. The wall paintings that were made in this cave 12,000 years ago have been well preserved.

The old defensive castle of Seix, which has been in ruins since the 17th century, is currently being restored. The castle of Seix, also called the fortress, was built in the middle of the 16th century, dominates the village and is now a museum and exhibition centre. The village church, built in the 18th century, has a baroque altarpiece with the so-called stone of Saint Stephen and a bell tower that is typical of the architectural style of the region. Like many other churches in the area, it is influenced by the Spanish and has a pediment and a doorpost in baroque style. Love it or hate it, but you can have lunch here with a beautiful view of Mont Valier.

The last part of this route is again on fantastic roads, with similar views and similar curves. The finish line is reached at the village of Saint-Lary. Enough for today. A pleasant conclusion to this trip awaits at the local catering industry. Salut!