Cultural classes in Ariège: from prehistory to Cathar castles

Objective of the stay

• Discover the daily life of the Magdalenian peoples who lived in Ariège 13,000 years ago.
• Understanding their art (cave paintings, furniture)
• Observe the bones of animals hunted in this period

Workshops & Activities

• Grease lamp manufacture
• Propulsion shooting
• Making ornaments from leather and natural elements
• Fire lighting techniques
• Outing to the Parc de la Préhistoire in Tarascon Sur Ariège
• Visit the Niaux, La Vache or Bédeilhac caves
• The grease lamp, the fire
• The hunt
• Cave art
• Nomadic life

Evenings

• Documentary on prehistoric man
• Tales and legends from the Pyrenees
• Night out
• Party

Restitution

To keep a written record of the trip, feedback sheets will be completed with the children for each theme covered during the workshops.

Objective of the stay

• Discover feudal society and its riches, castles and their architecture
• Learn about coats of arms and their meanings, as well as period weapons.
• Discover Catharism, a religion developed in the 11th century

Workshops & Activities

• Sword and shield making
• Coat-of-arms
• Medieval dances
• Calligraphy
• Visit to Château de Foix or Montségur
• Heraldry
• Hunting and weapons
• Banquets
• Writing
• Fortified castles
• The Cathars

Evenings

• Medieval tales and legends
• Documentary “Les Châteaux forts
• Catharism” slide show
• Medieval banquet and festival

Restitution

To keep a written record of the trip, feedback sheets will be completed with the children for each theme covered during the workshops.