With an average of more than 2000 hours of sunshine a year, the Department of Ariège in the Midi-Pyrénées, is one of the regions of France where the sunshine is strongest. In the largest part of this region the temperature rises above 25°C during 60/80 days a year. Spring begins very early here. While snow is still covering the peaks of the Pyrenees, the corn already rises on the hills of Gascony and the orchards of the Tarn and Garonne begin to bloom. From early April until June the average temperature lies between 16°C and 24°C. Autumn as well is often mild and warm, even October has an average temperature of 16°C to 19°C.