The odyssey of water and biodiversity!
New fun and immersive space accessible to everyone to learn while having fun!
Mountaneô is a museum space dedicated to hydroelectric production, biodiversity and mountain discovery. Discover its resources and the animals that inhabit it! find interactive media to discover the Orlu National Reserve. Learn all about how hydroelectricity works with a immersive game (Hydrogame) and a visit to the Orlu hydroelectric power station. Go on a walk to discover the marmots in the National Reserve.
Let yourself be surprised in the forest of sounds by its forty poetic sound mechanics and discover many other surprises!
Great playground and rejuvenation, the Ariège Pyrenees hold many surprises... We invite you to take a new look at the mountain and let your senses guide you through a fun, immersive and interactive experience!
The mountaneô museum space
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© SESTA – E.DEMOULIN
The visit is done in several stages (to be organized freely): discover the museum space, part at the Hydrogame and visit the hydroelectric plant (visit of the plant on registration at the Mountanêo reception desk, included with your entrance ticket – offered by EDF).
First stage of your visit with the discovery of water, hydraulic energy and the industry present in the Orlu valley. To better understand the challenges and advantages of this energy, a Immersive and interactive hydrogame will get you in shape!
Continue the visit with a play area suitable for adults and children alike: a first play area for stimulate your thinking and your senses, a second area dedicated to children from 3 to 12 years old to offer them an approach simple and fun of the water cycle and biodiversity in the mountains.
Next, enter the reserve house: an immersive and lively space where a journey of discovery awaits you. Explore the different natural environments of the Orlu reserve, its fauna and flora, put your senses to the test: the experience of the mountain before discovering it, for real!
We also invite you to discover the Orlu hydroelectric power station: the only power station that can be visited in Ariège (visit of the power station by registration at the Mountanêo reception desk, included with your entrance ticket – offered by EDF).
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©SESTA – J.LANG
HYDROGAME: Sensations guaranteed!
20 minutes to manage the emergencies that arrive! In this race against time, every second counts and your success depends on your ability to work as a team and think quickly. Ready for the adventure?
The hydroelectric plant
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The hydroelectric plant
The visit to the hydroelectric power station is included in the Mountaneô visit ticket and offered by EDF. Compulsory registration at the Mountaineô reception to take part in the visit, subject to availability.
This plant is located a 10-minute walk from Mountaneô, on the banks of the Oriège river. The departure is from the reception of Mountaineô, accompanied by a guide.
The energy of this river has been used since the Middle Ages: a small hydraulic forge is already reported there in 1292. Its modern avatar is the hydroelectric power station of Orlu, the third power station of Ariège by size, in service since 1959. The hydroelectric plant uses the water accumulated in the Naguilhes lake, the capacity of which can reach up to 42 million m3. The plant has a head of 985 meters. Two other small dam lakes located on adjacent torrents also supply the plant. Like many hydroelectric plants in the Pyrenees, this one is used to produce during peak electricity consumption.
Equipped with a technical and entertaining tour, the EDF space in Orlu immerses the visitor in the heart of the operation of the hydroelectric plant, with a direct view of the engine room.
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Naguilhes dam ©EDF
MUSEOGRAPHIC AREA HOURS
| From Friday September 01 to Sunday November 05 | |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Open from 10 p.m. to 17:45 p.m. |
| Thursday | Open from 10 p.m. to 17:45 p.m. |
| Friday | Open from 10 p.m. to 17:45 p.m. |
| SATURDAY | Open from 10 p.m. to 17:45 p.m. |
| Sunday | Open from 10 p.m. to 17:45 p.m. |
Pricing
| Adult | 10,80 € |
| Kids | 8,40 € |
| Student (For under 26s) | 9,40 € |
| Large family (Valid for 2 adults and 2 children.) | 35,50 € |
PRICES INFO
> The Hydrogame is included in your Mountaneô visit ticket.
> The visit to the hydroelectric power station is included in the Mountaneô visit ticket – offered by EDF.
> With the “Ingenious Valleys” pack, come and discover our two new sites TALCANEO with a visit to the Trimouns talc quarry and its museum space and MOUNTANEO which will immerse you in the worlds of water and nature: Adult €19,40 – Child (5 to 17 years old) €11,90.
discover the marmot walk!
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A curious izard ©Pierre Guiton ![]()
A groundhog striking the pose ©Pierre Guiton
Accompanied by a guide, discover the fauna and flora of the Orlu Valley! Walk the paths and open your eyes wide, the mountain reveals its secrets to you!
We offer you a 4-hour outing (7km – 300m elevation gain): The marmot walk!
Day or 2-day hikes are only possible for groups and by reservation (schools, CE, associations, etc.).
DISCOVERY HIKING TIMETABLE
The marmot walk
Departure of the guided hikes, the marmot walk, at 10 a.m. in front of the entrance to Mountaneô, go to online ticket office to discover the proposed dates! 4-hour ride (7km – 300m elevation gain).
DISCOVERY HIKING PRICES:
The marmot walk – Reservation required
> Adult: 25 euros
> Child 5-17 years old: 20 euros
> Family (2 adults and 2 children): 72 euros (additional child: 14,80 euros)
For group bookings, contact our booking department at info@sites-touristiques-ariege.fr
WARNINGS
As the guided hike takes place in a mountain environment and at altitude, good weather conditions are necessary. In case of bad weather it can be canceled, on our initiative, until the last moment (a rainy and non-stormy weather is not a reason for cancellation).
The cancellation of the hikes being linked to the weather conditions, in the event of cancellation, everything is done to contact, as soon as possible, before the departure time, the people who have reserved.
> Provide all the necessary equipment for a mountain hike (hiking shoes, sun protection, filled water bottles, caps, picnic, warm clothes/waterproof jacket in case of bad weather, walking sticks, backpack, etc.)
> Important, do not forget to inform the guide in case of health problems.
> Reservation not cancellable or refundable (except cancellation on our part).
Rules to follow in the Orlu national reserve
No dogs, even on a leash: to avoid disturbing wildlife and domestic herds,
Stay on the trails: so as not to disturb the wild fauna and allow everyone to perhaps observe more closely a family of marmots, izards which feed, …
For your rest or your picnic, 2 zones allow you to temporarily deviate from the path, the first located halfway and the second at the end of the route (see the map on the back),
Avoid making too much noise: the more discreet you are, the more likely you are to observe wildlife in good conditions,
Do not litter: organic waste can lead to food imbalances for wildlife, and waste that takes several hundred years to decompose degrades the landscape,
No fire: to prevent any risk of fire and avoid wandering off-trail in search of fuel,
Do not pick flowers: if each hiker brings back a bouquet taken from the side of the path, there will be no flower left for the following to admire.
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The Orlu tooth © De Beaux Lents Demains ![]()
The pond of En Beys
billetterie
- On-site ticket office open from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m. (10 a.m. to 18 p.m. except July/August).
- In July-August last entry to the site at 17 p.m.
- Payments accepted: cash / checks (on presentation of an identity document) / bank cards / holiday vouchers
- Reservation is required for the hikes
- The museum space can be visited without reservation
- Online ticket office accessible 24 hours a day
Location
From Toulouse: Take direction Foix / Andorra by the RN 20 or the A66 to Ax-les-Thermes. Cross Ax-les-Thermes, direction Andorra. On leaving Ax-les-Thermes, just before the Pont d'Espagne, turn left on the RD22 towards "Orgeix / Orlu / Vallée d'Orlu". Follow the RD22 to Orlu, cross the village to the "Forges d'Orlu".
There are shuttles between Ax-les-Thermes and the Forges d'Orlu: check the timetables here.
To know
- Parking
more info
Preferential rates
Are there reduced rates?
Our Packs
Discover our different packs and visit our sites at reduced prices!
With the 'Ingenious Valleys' pack, come and discover our two new sites TALCANEO with a visit to the Trimouns talc quarry and its museum space and MOUNTANEO which will immerse you in the worlds of water and nature: Adult €19,40 – Child (5 to 17 years old) €11,90.
Families
The 'Family Pass' entitles you to 2 adult tickets + 2 child tickets at only € 35,50 (additional child: + € 6,20).
Children
Children under 5 get free, those between 5 and 17 get a reduced rate of € 8,40.
students
Students under 26 benefit from a reduced rate of € 9,40.
Disabled visitor
Anyone with a disability who has a disability card benefits from a 20% discount applicable on the base rate. The companion of a person in a wheelchair is free.
Visit
How long does the visit to the museum space last?
It takes about 2 hours to visit the museum space.
How long does the visit to the hydroelectric plant take?
It takes about 1 hour to visit the hydroelectric plant.
Parking
Parking La Forge d'Orlu, 09110 Orlu.
Where can we park for the visit and the hikes?
A car park is located at the entrance to the site.
Pets
Are animals allowed during hikes ?
Being a nature reserve, animals are not allowed, even on a leash.
Are animals allowed when you visit the museum space and the hydroelectric power station?
Animals are not allowed in the museum space and the hydroelectric power station.
Shop
Can we buy souvenirs of the visit?
A shop is present and open at the same times as the museum space. You can access it without visiting.
Accessibility
Is the museum space accessible to people with motor disabilities?The museum space is accessible to all audiences and to wheelchairs.
Is the visit to the plant accessible to people with motor disabilities?
The visit to the plant is not accessible to people with motor disabilities.
