Tarascon was originally a market town going back at least to Roman times. In the 20th Century it became a manufacturing town following the construction of the hydro-electric dam further up the River Ariège. The manufacturing industry closed down at the end of the 20th Century and Tarascon is now principally a tourist centre.
The town itself is divided into two parts by the River Ariège which flows a few hundred metres from the house, The oldest part of town with the Porte d’Espagne and St Michael’s tower and the Clock Tower are up the hill on the opposite side of the river to Place Ste. Quitterie and are perhaps ten to fifteen minutes walk away.
Most of the shops and restaurants are in the lower part of the town near to Place Ste. Quitterie. There is a cinema across the square in Centre Mitterand which shows newly released films - sometimes in their original language with French sub-titles
