Spring ~ 'Trois Vallees' ~ South of Ganties.

Aspet in early Spring ~ towards the Pic du Cagire.

The local area has many interesting towns and villages as well as outstanding views, not only towards the Pyrenees but also towards the North across the river Garonne to the Gers. The drive South to Spain is spectacular and takes less than one hour: Good for shopping as prices in this area of Spain are less than those in France with a greater variety.

Ganties and the small town of Aspet are in the centre of the area known as the Comminges: which extends from the southern Gers through the Midi-Pyrenness to the Catalonian area of Spain. Not only is this an area of outstanding beauty with many picturesque villages and towns but there is also much history associated with the area. The abbey of Saint-Bernard de Comminges is a short drive from Ganties and one of the areas prime tourist attractions. Lourdes is a little further on, and Luchon is within an hour. Many of the ski-resorts have cable car lifts and observation areas that are also open in the summer so you may get a view of the Pyrenees from 'on-high'. If you like walking then the area is unsurpassed for the variety it has to offer and the wildlife you will come across. There are many marked trails and footpaths throughout the area. It is also easily possible to go horse riding, canoeing, mountain bike trailing, quad biking and even river rafting; all within an hour by car of Ganties. Ganties is within the 'Trois Vallees' area formed by the river valleys of the Job, Ger and Arbas rivers. The local tourist office is in Aspet and open at the usual French times. It should be one of your first ports of call on arriving in the area so as not to miss out on the wealth of activities that are on in the local and surrounding areas, particularly during late July and August. The area was well known for its 'Spas', particularly in the early part of the 20th century and although some are disused now there are still many 'Spas' in the area where you can use the facilities and take the waters if you wish. Most of the older Spa Towns now have Casinos, which was an effort by the government to revive their fortunes some years ago. Salies-du-Salat, 15mins from Ganties, is a Spa town that has undergone a good deal of restoration and has a casino which is very popular.

The weather in the Ganties area is a little cooler than Toulouse in high summer as it is at an altitude of 462m, and often warmer in the Spring and Autumn. Protected by the mountains from the cold winds that affect the lowland in winter there are occasional rain showers and sometimes thunderstorm in late summer, but these are soon over. The weather in Spring and Autumn is particularly good with many clear bright and warm days but of course cooler nights. Snow is a rarity at Ganties but from Aspet South as you climb up into the Pyrenees there is plenty with the local ski slopes less than 45mins away. At the moment we do not let the gites in the winter unless for long term lets of a month or greater.

Aspet~10 min: Local village for shopping/market.

View to the South from the main house during snowy weather Jan 2010.

Seix, in the high Pyrenees ~ 40 mins from Ganties.

Saint Lizier on the way to Saint Girons - 20 mins from the gites.