The Eastern-Pyrenees, as Pyrénées-Orientales is referred to is the department located in the south of France, enclosed by the Spanish border and Mediterranean sea. The department is also known as Northern-Catalonia and has been in fact part of Spain in recent History. After the French Revolution of 1790, the modern department was created. The geographical landscape consists of three major river valleys which spring from the Pyrenees Mountains. As the Pyrenees gain altitude to the western border of the department, most of the landscape is dominated by the Mediterranean Sea. A Mediterranean climate becomes dominant the more you travel to the east. The rolling hills fade into the plains near the ocean. These plains are the hottest and driest of the department and enjoy an average annual temperature of 16°C. As a matter of fact, the region is known for its abundance of sun even in winter. Although it sounds like an adventure riders paradise, be aware! The mountains are unpredictable and can spoil a nice sunny day quite fast.

Ariège is named after the Ariège River which crosses its landscape. The department is predominantly known for its rural landscape and can be divided into three main areas. The northern part consists of glowing plains and light hills. Agriculture dominates the landscape and you’ll find yourself riding between the corn and grain fields. From the north further down south you find yourself among the foothills of the Pyrenees. These Pre-Pyrenean hills will lure you further into the mountains. The landscape starts to change and the granite mountains start to appear. Especially the highest peaks of the department Pica d’Estats (3142m), Montcalm (3077), and Pic de Sotllo (3072m) are visible from quite a distance. The southern area of the department consists of the high mountains. This is also the most tourist-focus area, as the landscape is dotted with ski-resorts, mountain huts, and holiday accommodations. Although this area knows many trails, most of them are off-limits for motorized traffic. As most of the GLRs in the region are at moderate altitude, I recommend to keep an eye out for the weather forecasts. The north face of the mountains are most of the time the coldest and wettest, and in the Pyrenees, this is no exception. Precipitation is evenly distributed, with April and May as the wettest months. Snow may occur as early as October!