Axat – active holidays! restaurantaxat
Axat is a picturesque village in the Departement of Aude. Perfect for your holidays! Through the village, the river ‘Aude’ runs with a lot of water sports (the latter being of international standard). Why don’t you try white water raft, kayaking, canoeing or ‘hotdog’ down it? Bring your picnic on the town’s small island just in the middle of the river.
Axat also offering an Open Air Swimming pool with waterslide and picnic areas.
The train station just beside the pool is the starting point of the tourist train ‘Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes’ witch take you through the Pyrenees along the ‘route de vin’ and the stunning views of the mountains, castles, vineyards and small beautiful villages. The train takes you all the way to Rivesaltes, 60 km from Axat.
Around Axat
All around Axat there are forest paths offering easy walking with lovely views. Opportunities for more strenuous walking abound in the surrounding hills.
Many footpaths around the village. Following the river in the directions Mijanes, you will find the spectacular valley “Gorges de St. Georges”. Doing the walk it is possible to drink fresh spring water from the local spring.
The Pyrenees allow you to discover landscapes of immense natural beauty. From lush, green valleys and rolling hills to dramatic, snowy mountains to the dry, Mediterranean, Catalan-influenced East.
The Pyrenees are also home to the famous GR10. From the Atlantic ocean through the Pyrenean chain to the
Mediterranean, the GR10 provides walking holidays that never cease to amaze. The Pyrenees has an unspoilt, wild terrain, rich in unique flora and wildlife.
Tour de France
The Tour de France started in 1903. It is the world’s biggest cycling race. It is a 23-day, 21-stage road race that cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers. The route traces a circuit around most areas of France. Sometime the Tour de France travels through Axat. It is full of pageantry and a must to see. There is usually a stage finish in the area and many vantage points to see this historic race.
You yourself will be able to climb the great mountains. Adjacent to Axat is the Col de Jau 1506m, and the dreaded Port du Pailhères 2001m described by Andy Schleck as the hardest climb of the 2010 Tour. The roads are almost empty of traffic and you will ride through vineyards and climb mountains that are both beautiful and brutal. You will see stunning scenery and enjoy the rides of your life.
The Eastern Pyrenees is the best cycling country in the world!
Two of the most played boule games are pétanque and boule lyonnaise. The aim of the game is to get large, heavy, balls as close to the small, ‘jack’. It is very popular in France where it may often be seen played in any open space in villages and towns.
Within a 3-minute walk from the Hotel is the village square where you can play boules. (next to the swimming pool) in the evenings you will find the local inhabitants playing boules. You are more than welcome to join in.
This is also the place for fetes and celebrations in the summer months.
The sites of practice of climbing around Axat have the advantage of being easily accessible. Erosion and the rivers notched “Piedmont Pyrénéen” to create true limestone cathedrals, sharp-edged peaks and monumental chaos. Here climbs are generous and imposing. The territory of climbing presents you for a lot of formidable activities.
The village has all necessary shops like two small minimarkets, boulangerie/patisserie, two boucheries, newsagent, pharmacy, bank, post office and tabac. For dinning, we welcome you in our restaurant.
You will find some major shopping centers in Quillan (11 kilometers from Axat).
There is also a weekly fish man and a micro market just opposite of the hotel.
