Pierre11

A refreshing walk in the Montagne Noire from the small village of Lacombe (11310) to the Ramondens national forest (Tarn) with a picnic stop near the retaining dyke of the St-Denis basin. Return via the right bank of the Alzeau and passage at the Prise d'Alzeau, source of the Canal du Midi, before climbing back up to Lacombe. Walk checked on 18/06/23. A few details have been added by the author

This small river, which flows into the Aude after 50 km, is the focus of this circular route starting from Cantignergues, a hamlet in La Livinière, in the commune of Hérault, to its source near the village of Ferrals-les-Montagne, a village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. A picnic area (with tables and barbecue) has been set up near the stone "gatehouse" where the waters of the Cesse emerge, disappearing during periods of drought at the foot of the Cathar citadel of Minerve.

On the watershed between the Aude and Tarn rivers, we follow in the footsteps of P.P. Riquet once again, discovering other water resources that enabled this self-taught engineer to demonstrate to the experts sent by Colbert the merits of his project to supply his Canal des Deux Mers. However, the forest remains present on this easy route, and Arfons, with its slate roofs, is a picturesque little village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park.

From Lac de Laprade Basse in the commune of Cuxac-Cabardès, "Let's go for a walk in the woods to see if the wolf is there!" In fact, let's set off to explore the Loubatière National Forest, from the Dure River, which feeds the lake, to the Linon Stream, which joins it upstream from Montolieu. Beneath centuries-old trees stand the ruins of an old Carthusian monastery abandoned long before the Revolution, due, among other things, to wolves... which have since been replaced by deer.

This trail was created by the RPI (Inter-municipal Educational Group) of Saint-Jean-du-Bruel and Sauclières. It is usually walked in the opposite direction to the one suggested here, so as to tackle the route’s only difficulty (a short, stony climb to reach the realigned D7) at the start of the walk. A torch is required to cross the Bousquillous tunnel before returning to Sauclières, a small village well worth spending a little time exploring.

Facing the Pic de Nore, which saw the Tour de France pass through in 2018, the wind turbines installed on Mont Sarrat and spread across the municipalities of Pradelles-Cabardès and Cabrespine immediately catch the eye. TheGR®36, coming from Pic de Nore, winds its way at the foot of the masts before plunging towards Carcassonne via the Pas de Montsarrat, an ancient "Roman" communication route. The short length of the route offers the opportunity to extend the hike along the lake (see practical information).

A circular walk starting from Aurec-sur-Loire along the banks of the Loire and the footbridges at “Saut du Chien”, before heading uphill to reach the village of Malvalette via thePR®® “Le Pont d’Angelard”. The route passes through the Chapelle Sainte-Reine on theGR®® de Pays des Gorges de la Loire, which leads back to Aurec via the valley of the Rivoire stream.

A walk through the Avants-Monts region towards the small village of Rieussec, along the road linking Narbonne to Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, making use of a section ofthe GR® 77 starting from Vélieux and a stretch of the Grande Traversée de l’Hérault to return to this village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park

From Notre-Dame du Cros (Caunes-Minervois), a route takes you to former marble quarries, with a picnic stop at the renovated Ventajou refuge, near the ruins of the castle of the old village that has disappeared. On the way back, you pass by the Moulin de Biot, a former witness to a technique of using wind energy for sawing marble. Warning from the author of the route in the "practical information" tab (2/11/2021)

From Paulin, above Monistrol-sur-Loire, set off to discover an old Cistercian abbey on the banks of the Semène, a tributary of the Loire, via a circular route combining twoPR® trails: Les Dames de la Séauve-Bénite and Le Circuit de l'Ecureuil, developed by the Loire-Semène Tourist Office. The Semène lake, around the former abbey, is an attractive place to stop halfway with its picnic area, children's playground and landscaped banks.

This circular route combines tarmac sections with an original route to discover four chapels located around the village of Marcillac-Vallon. Two marked sections (GR® 62 andPR®) make it easier to follow thesecond part of the route, from Saint-Jean-le-Froid, the highest point of this itinerary focused on small religious heritage sites. Please note: a return variant has just been published following the deterioration of the path in the Bruéjouls ravine.

From Marcillac-Vallon, climb up to admire the Créneau valley on the right bank, with its waterfall gushing out in the middle of the village of Salles-la-Source. Then cross to the other bank to return first along a balcony path and then along a small road and shaded paths, inviting you to enjoy a bucolic walk that ends with a view of the valley from the famous Pont Rouge bridge in Marcillac-Vallon.

Forest hike to the Cuxac-Cabardès wind farm, above the Dure valley, and almost complete tour of Lake Laprade Basse via the recently constructed path that avoids the D101 between the hamlet and the dam dyke (see info).

Walk along forest paths towards the Bois de la Serre Haute and the Forêt Domaniale de la Loubatière from Lacombe, stopping at the source of the Canal du Midi, the Prise d'Alzeau, before following the left bank of the Lac de la Galaube. The route is marked locally (yellow line). It is taken in the opposite direction to the description with a few modifications for greater comfort (descent at the end of the route).

The Clamoux, a small river and tributary of the Orbiel, rises on the slopes of Pic de Nore, the iconic peak of the Montagne Noire, where a Tour de France relay station stands. Following forest tracks, with climbs of varying difficulty, you arrive near the source of the Clamoux, a small stream at the start, which you follow on the right bank, off the marked trail, descending into the Soulanes de Nore National Forest to Laviale, which, along with six other hamlets, makes up the village of Castans.

You'll discover part of the Massif de Fontfroide between the Domaine de Jonquières and the Abbaye de Fontfroide (visit possible), thanks to the many DFCI trails closed to motor vehicle traffic. The demanding section of the Combe d'Enfer should be walked with care, or even avoided after rain. An alternative route, described in the practical information section, allows you to bypass this tricky section.

This hike starts from Ferrals-les-Montagnes and follows twoPR® trails among those that criss-cross the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, where the south of France becomes mountainous and the rivers flow either towards the Mediterranean or the ocean, thus determining the "watershed line". The source of the Cesse, at the end of this circular route, is a testament to this unspoilt area.

Between Aude and Hérault, this route alternates between flat and steep paths, crossing hills and plateaus between Bize-Minervois and Montouliers. On a balcony overlooking the Cesse valley, via the Travers de Verdeyre, let's set off to discover the Roc Tremblaïre before stopping at Montouliers for a break near its famous Roman fountain. The return journey, following a section ofthe GR®78combined with a Saint-Jacques slip road, allows you to overlook the Argeliers plain before arriving at Bize-Minervois.

The Pont-Canal du Répudre bridge is the highlight of this circular route starting from Paraza towards the Minervois vineyards and the Jardin de Bacchus, near the Pouzols-Minervois cooperative winery. Before that, the passage through Sainte-Valière brings a hint of Saint-Jacques with a section of the Camin Romieu. Due to its location on the route, this Languedoc village is an essential stop for pilgrims looking for an enriching break on the Voie des Piémonts.

From Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou, let's explore the ruins of a feudal castle at the confluence of the Créneau and Dourdou rivers, near the village of Nauviale with its red sandstone houses. The route is mainly on small roads with no traffic, but there is a climb up a forest track, following a section of a fitness trail and then a section along the ridge, which offers a superb view of the Duzou valley.

In hot weather, here’s a short, shaded walk in the Loubatière State Forest along paths not necessarily marked on the IGN map but very pleasant to walk along with little elevation gain. The route shares a section with the Lacombe PR°°®°° trail

Starting from Loubaresse, near an exit from the A75 motorway, this route follows the GR® de Pays circular Boucle de la Truyère and a variant that "turns" around the Truyère river to the village of Chaliers, which is well worth taking the time to explore. The route takes small local roads on both the left and right banks of this river with its wild gorges, crossing it twice via footbridges at Valadour and Terran. The actual duration of the route is 4 hours and 40 minutes (GPS watch data), including a short stop in Chaliers.

On the western slopes of the Pic de Nore lies a block of gneiss, the Roc de Nouret, isolated on this windswept moorland, where broom and thorn bushes share the space. Higher up, the Bois de Combe Escure, which overlooks the ravine of the same name – the border between the Aude and Tarn departments – marks the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. A leisurely return to the village via the Bayours forest track.

Here is a brief overview of the Avène Reservoir, starting from Ceilhes-et-Rocozels, first climbing up Mont Redon, south of the village. After the Rouvignac chapel and the holiday lodges, the route approaches the left bank of the Orb, which feeds the Bouloc lake, developed for outdoor leisure activities (water sports, camping). ⚠️ 11/05/2026:In winter and spring, and after heavy rain, when the reservoir is full, the walk may be impassable between points 8 and 10. It is possible to avoid walking along the banks by following the route shown on the IGN map between points 7 and 10.

From Ceilhes-et-Rocozels, in Haut-Languedoc, near the ‘border’ with Aveyron, here’s an opportunity to head for the hills, in the Monts d’Orb State Forest, towards the Rocher du Canari on the edge of the Tesserièyres Plateau. The Ruisseau de Jure will then serve as your guide back to the village, which lies on the banks of the Orb, a coastal river regulated by the Avène Reservoir.

A half-day walk in the hills of Roches Grises in Narbonne to discover the forerunner of telecommunications, with a superb view of the Étang de Bages-Sigean.

From Montchanson, with a rucksack on your back – in place of the schoolbag that children of yesteryear used to carry on their backs to get to school in one of the villages of the Arcomie Valley – let’s follow in their footsteps to discover the hamlets and local heritage. On the way, don’t forget to climb up to the Trois Croix du Bloc du Recoux for an exceptional view, before trying your hand at making the Pierre Branlante de la Roche wobble, north of Saint-Marc.

Over the centuries, the Truyère has carved out deep gorges which, with the rising water levels caused by the construction of the Grandval and Lanau dams, have given way to a natural landscape of surprising and contrasting beauty: islands and peninsulas, cirques with distant shores, mysterious meanders, narrow gorges opening onto vast expanses of water, a wooded valley… Following the PR la Mourache route, the walk offers magnificent views from the embankment supporting the Alleuze road. Walking the route in the opposite direction offers more shade, but do keep an eye out for the signposting – which, to be honest, is rather sparse.

Between Saint-Chinian and Assignan, this route follows a GR® de Pays trail to explore woods and vineyards. On the way back, the Combelongue valley offers the chance to discover a "village" of drystone shelters and a plaster mill, now used for grain, which dates from 1854 and was originally used to grind gypsum.

Starting from Creissels, there is a combination of marked trails, created on the initiative of the Millau Grands Causses Community of Communes, allowing you to discover the area by following in the footsteps of Mr Clapassou. (Symbolic iron signpost in the shape of a pile of stones) Don't miss the Creissels waterfalls, the Moulin de Tournal mill and the Cirque de St-Martin (or Cirque du Boundoulaou). At the end of the route, you can visit the lower, very pretty part of the village, right on the banks of the Tarn.

Here is a suggested route showcasing exceptional heritage, from Beauregard to Saint-Projet, where the Château de la Reine Margot awaits your visit. The circular route follows theGR® 36 and 46 trails, as well as theGR® de Pays Midi-Quercy and twoPR® trails, one of which leads to the Perte du Cros site (access to which has already been described on another route), with just a short stretch of tarmac needed to link these different sections.

Nestled between hills and vineyards, the route suggested here takes you to discover the Saint-Laurent Chapel, situated beside an ancient Roman road, following the paths and cycle routes of the “Littorale”, developed by Grand Narbonne. After the Plana viewpoint, the return to Montredon-lès-Corbières offers the added bonus of passing by the Château de Levrettes, which is barely visible from the road between Narbonne and Marcorignan – a route mostly used by cars! As there are no signposts on this route, apart from the access to the chapel from Marcorignan and the Sentier du Plana, it is advisable to have the route downloaded onto your smartphone so you can set off on the walk without worrying about getting lost.

Balade vers le Parc éolien d'Arfons-Sor, situé sur la commune d'Arfons, depuis le château de Ramondens, qui a été un temps la propriété de P.P Riquet, et siège maintenant du CCAS d'EDF qui y organise des colonies de vacances pour les enfants. Le parcours, sans balisage (ou presque), se situe entièrement dans la Forêt Domaniale de la Montagne Noire, au Nord du torrent de l'Alzeau, "frontière" naturelle entre Aude et Tarn, à deux pas de la célèbre Prise d'Alzeau. Après l'arrêt à une ancienne cabane de pisciculture, réaménagée par l'ONF, le retour s'effectue par le vallon de Bergnassonne pour retrouver le château de Ramondens.

From Ramondens Castle, follow in the footsteps of P.P. Riquet as you discover the ingenious water supply system for his “Canal des Deux Mers”, established over four centuries ago in the Montagne Noire, before reaching the Lampy Neuf Reservoir, subsequently created to provide the extra water needed for the Canal de Jonction, the link between the Canal du Midi and the Canal de la Robine in Narbonne. Please take care on a section of the route that goes off the beaten track (further details in the description)

On the rocky spur overlooking the Lot, downstream from Chanac, there are two settlements: Le Villard Vieux, the first hilltop village, and Le Villard Jeune, the second village. In the Middle Ages, Le Villard was part of the domain of the Château de Chanac, an episcopal possession of which only the famous keep remains today.The route differs from the marked route by remaining below the Causse du Villard before reaching the "fortified" village. The return to Chanac, along the Lot, allows you to see the Château de Ressouches (private) along the way and offers the opportunity to visit the village at the end of the walk.

This two- to three-hour walk takes you to the Gailhousty site, where you can discover a number of structures of great architectural quality. Their function is linked to the danger of flooding from the River Aude, which has always been a threat. This part of the Canal de Jonction was built in the river's floodplain. The floods of 1999 prompted decision-makers to build the dykes that are part of the scenery along this route.

360 years ago, Pierre Paul Riquet had the trial trench for the Canal du Midi dug. The official purpose of this small diversion canal was to prove that large quantities of water could be brought from the Montagne Noire to the Naurouze threshold, where the planned navigation canal would have its "dividing point", its highest watercourse. However, for Riquet, the stakes were much higher: he also wanted to prove that he was fully capable of managing a project as large as the gigantic structure he had planned. To convince Colbert and the commission responsible for examining the feasibility of the project, he offered to finance the test canal himself and only be reimbursed if the objectives were achieved... Theoutcome proved this stubborn man right! This walk takes you on a journey of discovery to find traces of this "Rigole d'Essai" in the Alzeau valley, starting from the village of Lacombe. Parking is available opposite the town hall.

While the GR®34 or "Sentier des Douaniers" is one of the best-known walks in the region, impressive with its piles of pink granite, some of which reach 20 metres in height, the Vallée des Traouïéros is more secret but remains a magical world with the Maison des Korrigans, the Auge du Lépreux, the Trou de l'Enfer and its caves. The route proposed here takes you "from pink to green" as close to nature as possible, with a touch of grey from the slate roofs of Breton houses. This is definitely a hike that will show you all the colours of the rainbow!

Roz-sur-Couesnon consists, as its name suggests, of an upper part (roz = hill in Breton) where the village is located, and a lower part made up of former marshes, polders and salt marshes, where the Couesnon river once flowed. This unique feature gives the town an exceptional view of the bay and Mont Saint-Michel, as well as a wide variety of landscapes, which the route proposed here seeks to highlight.

Nestled between Lake Galaube and Lake Laprade Basse, the Loubatière State Forest covers 450 hectares. It is located in the western part of the vast forest that covers the southern slope of the Montagne Noire in the Aude department. A single, completely wooded area, this forest, which ranges in altitude from 660 to 885 metres, forms the headwaters of the Linon stream. In autumn, it offers a dream setting for hikers in search of mushrooms and chestnuts, with the golden colours of oak, beech, birch and chestnut leaves carpeting the ground. This is the ideal playground for an easy walk starting from the hamlet of Cals Haut, part of the commune of Lacombe, between Saissac and Les Martys.

Between 55 and 45 million years ago, a warm, shallow sea flooded the older terrain forming the Montagne Noire, covering it with limestone rich in foraminifera (microscopic organisms encased in a calcareous shell). This limestone forms the Causses du Minervois. Rivers flowing down from the Montagne Noire cross these plateaus and carve out narrow valleys: the canyons. This network of canyons is home to numerous karstic caves and caves harbouring ancient traces of human presence and rare animal species. Bats, which inhabit the Grotte de l’Aldène in the Cesse Gorges, the peregrine falcon, the Montagu’s harrier and the red-backed shrike all contribute to the biodiversity of this site. This walk remains on the limestone plateau, amongst vineyards and valleys, and offers an exceptional view of the Brahunal Gorges, a stream that joins the Cessière. See warning in the practical information tab

Bonnieux stands on the northern slope of the Petit Luberon, facing the village of Lacoste. The village is situated on the northern side of the Combe de Lourmarin, which was – and still is – the only road crossing the Luberon. This hilltop village boasts an exceptional panorama stretching from the Petit Luberon to Mont Ventoux, via the Monts du Vaucluse. The village, dominated by its old church flanked by centuries-old cedar trees, offers visitors a wide variety of natural and historical sites. As you wander through its steep, winding alleyways, remarkable mansions, the remains of ramparts, fountains and wash houses come into view.The Tourist Office has set up a heritage route featuring fifteen information panels that trace the history of the village. The route suggested here does not follow it exactly, and the GPS signal was disrupted by the village’s unique layout.