The Bélesta forest is made up of pectinated fir trees. For many centuries, the inhabitants of Bélesta, Fougax and l'Aiguillon have enjoyed this precious privilege of obtaining wood for their various uses: heating, construction, etc.

The magnificent fir forest, covering more than 1,000 hectares, stretches as far as the Sault plateau. Made up of coniferous trees, it is one of the most beautiful in Ariège. Its wood was used very early on, in the 17th century for building ships in the Mediterranean. Under Colbert (1619-1683), it was used to build ship masts in the Toulon shipyards. Wood was transported by water from Quillan on the Aude.