Ornolac-Ussat-Les-Bains: A Destination for Caving Expeditions
The small, rural village of Ornolac-Ussat-Les-Bainsm, France is located in the Ariège department of the Midi-Pyrénées region in France. It has a pristine atmosphere that is yet to be discovered by mass tourism. One of its pride and joy is the massive cave system featuring a variety of large caverns and galleries and touted as among the biggest in Europe.
Best Time to Visit
Ornolac-Ussat-Les-Bains is a destination that people enjoy all year round, but it gets a bit busier than usual in April, October, and February, mostly among tourists arriving to explore the caves. Prices for Ornolac-Ussat-Les-Bains hotels do not spike up as the town has not yet become a magnet for massive tourist arrivals, so there is always room for everyone.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Most visitors to Ornolac come to town for a tour of the caves, namely Lombrives and Niaux. The former is located at the eastern edge of the Pyrénées Ariégeoises Natural Regional Park and has been declared the largest or widest cave of Europe in terms of volume. The former, Niaux Cave or la Grotte de Niaux is one of the most famous prehistoric caves in Europe and is in the northern foothills of the Pyrenees across the valley from the smaller Grotte de la Vache. These caves are near Le Manoir D'agnes, an excellent hotel in a mountainous setting. Other good options are Hotel Thermale du Parc, located at the thermal resort of Ussat-Les-Bains, which offers a range of wellness treatments and the Hotel Confort, nestled in the historic city center of Tarascon-sur-Ariège and is close to shops and restaurants.