Biros

The Biros is a small valley of the the Pyrenees Centrales located in the area of the Couserans, in the west of the department of the Ariège. Being next to the Spanish border and the Valley of Aran, this primarily pastoral zone, then mining from the XIXe century until the medium of XXe, benefits today from the beauty of its natural sites to direct itself towards tourism of mountain.

Geography and natural heritage

In the south-west of Castillon-in-Couserans, Biros rises since the altitude of 700 meters, along the high valley of Lez towards the south, towards the west according to that of Isard, a torrent which takes its source with the foot of the peak of Crabère in the Lake Araing. More the high summit of Biros, the peak of Maubermé, culminates with 2880 meters.

From the five villages of Biros, two more important, Sentein and Bonac-Irazein are placed on banks of Lez. The three others, Antras, Balacet and Uchentein are posed on the “soulanes”.

The deep valleys and the narrow peaks which form the border with Spain are bored pits, like the cave of Cigalère or the Gouffre Martel (- 303 meters), which were explored both by Norbert Casteret.

Since 2003, the Valley of Isard, with the Email of Bulard, the peaks of Maubermé, High Greenhouse and Crabère were classified Site Natura 2000 (special protection zone) because of the presence of animal species being the subject of conservation measures (such as the Golden eagle, the Hibou large-duke, the Desman of the Pyrenees and various bats) or of protected natural habitats.

The valley of Biros will be included in next the Regional natural park of Ariège.

History

As Biros touches with the Val of Aran (the “Gascogne Spanish”), its history was marked by the pastoral and commercial movements with its neighbor (just as the towns of Castillon and Saint-Bosoms).

Prehistory and antiquity

Badly known, the prehistory and the ancient history of the valley of Biros are probably not distinguished from that of Haut-Couserans. One found few vestiges, some bronze bracelets dating from the final Bronze Age (in Bonac-Irazein), of the Âge of Iron in Uchentein; a Gallo-Roman grinding stone incorporated in the church of Sentein.

The Middle Ages

With the the Middle Ages, Biros concerned the châtellenie of Castillon. The Romance period (end XIe, 12th century) is announced by a wave of construction of churches in the whole of Couserans (churches of Sentein, Bonac and Balacet in Biros).

The fortifications of the church of Sentein date from XIIIe but they were still reinforced during the Guerre of Hundred-Years to protect itself from the English troops. One finds other work of defensive fortifications to the castle of Malède with Bonac-Irazein.

Contemporary time

At the beginning of the XIXe century, Biros takes part in the Guerre of the Young ladies

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