Comtesse Circular

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Starting from the Comtesse dovecote, this walk on the outskirts of Toulouse allows you to discover some of the heritage sites of Ramonville and Auzeville, while following paths that are captivating for their plant and botanical diversity.

Details

n°6283174
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 78 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 79 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 252 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 179 m
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Photos

Undergrowth
View of the Toulouse metropolitan area
Garden of Scents and Colours

Description of the walk

Park near the Comtesse's dovecote in Ramonville-Saint-Agne.

(S/E) Walk past the dovecote and cross the D 35 road to take the Chemin des Villas opposite ( dangerous crossing). Continue straight ahead on the grassy path and continue through the housing estate, alternating between paths and tarmac sections. Turn right into Allée du Salas-Montjoie and continue left onto Avenue de l'Aéropostale, skirting the Salasc property.

(1) At the Ramonville exit sign, turn left onto Chemin de Peyre d'Escale. Follow the red and white markings ofthe GR® 653, the Way of St James, along the hedge on the grassy edge (view of the Toulouse conurbation). Continue along the grassy track, passing below the Telecom tower, until you reach a fork just before the garden shed (view of the villages of Pechbusque and Vieille-Toulouse).

(2) Take the left-hand path that climbs up to the Jardin des Senteurs et des Couleurs, then turn left onto the wooded path, the Chemin de Découvertes, and follow it for several hundred metres.

(3) Continue on the tarmac section and leave the GR® trail. At the intersection, turn left onto Chemin du Coustélas to reach the D 35 road and cross it (dangerous crossing).

(4) Take the path opposite on the right of the stream, at the edge of the woods. Follow it, then turn left to cross the stream. Continue on the left-hand path which climbs into the woods and leads to a stony path.

(5) Continue straight ahead (view of Castel Marly and the fortified house of Saint-Paulet). At the intersection, take the tarmac road opposite, then at the stop sign, continue straight ahead, passing in front of Castel Marly (at the first road on the right, you can visit Les Frères castle and then retrace your steps). At the bend, turn left onto Chemin de Saint-Jean and at the next crossroads, continue straight ahead on Chemin de Madame, passing in front of the fortified house of Saint-Paulet, then head for the car park of the Comtesse's dovecote (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 211 m - The Countess's dovecote
  2. 1 : km 1.67 - alt. 225 m - Ramonville exit sign
  3. 2 : km 2.29 - alt. 241 m - Garden shelter
  4. 3 : km 3.1 - alt. 179 m - Intersection with wooded trail
  5. 4 : km 3.4 - alt. 184 m - D35 junction
  6. 5 : km 4.05 - alt. 223 m - Stony path
  7. S/E : km 6.04 - alt. 211 m - The Countess's dovecote

Notes

Markings:

  • between (1) and (3) White and redGR® 653,
  • before (1) and after (3) Yellow

Observations:

  • narrow pavements on Avenue de l'Aéropostale,
  • dangerous intersections with the D 35 road,
  • narrow road on Chemins du Coustelas and Saint-Jean,
  • wet and shaded passages in the undergrowth,
  • caution at crossroads with roads,
  • Recommended equipment: shoes suitable for walking in all seasons,
  • possible junctions with other circulars.

Worth a visit

Heritage:

  • Château Marly: Marly Castle is located at the top of the village on the road to Mervilla. Originally, a monastery with a chapel is said to have been built on this site in the 11th century. Located near the ancient Roman road linking Toulouse to the Mediterranean, it welcomed pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land and Compostela. The Queyratz family remained in Auzeville for nearly 200 years and some members were co-lords. Damaged by the passage of time and the Nazi occupation, the château has been restored to its 17th-century appearance.
  • Château Saint Paulet: the name of the château is linked to the name of the village of Saint-Paulet in the Aude region, which had the same lord, that of the De La Tour family. The date of construction of the château remains unknown, but it was not built before 1600 and its only defences were its thick walls, approximately two metres thick, and rectangular towers located at both ends of its main façade. It is a brick building surrounded by its park. It gives an impression of sovereign power. During the Revolution, the castle suffered extensive damage, particularly to its chapel. In the middle of the castle's main courtyard is a well, at the bottom of which it was long believed that there was the entrance to an underground passage, but there is no evidence to support this local rumour. The well was probably used to supply water to the castle's inhabitants.
  • The Countess's residence and dovecote: This dovecote does not appear on the 1718 land survey. However, the survey does show a dovecote that is identical to this one. It was therefore built after 1718, modelled on the dovecote of the Lord of Aubuisson. The dovecote was a seigneurial privilege until the Revolution. Only the seigneur of high justice with censive rights, or those who owned a lot of land, could build one. The name "dovecote of the Countess" comes from the wife of Count Pailhès. Widowed in 1763, she held the estate until the Revolution. The pigeons accessed the loft through the skylights and the lantern. The cornices served to prevent climbers from ascending. The loft on the agricultural estate, now detached from the rest of the building and owned by the municipality of Ramonville-Saint-Agne, has been protected as a Historic Monument by decree since 4 October 1932.
  • Château des frères Tailleurs: Together with Marly and Saint-Paulet, it forms the trilogy of châteaux above the village. Archival research has found no trace of its date of construction. Nevertheless, the architectural features, particularly the north-west façade, suggest that it may have been built during the 16th century. It has some of the characteristics of a high-quality 15th-century residence. The Tailleurs Brothers were a community of nuns, tailors and seamstresses who acquired the château in the mid-18th century and named it after their congregation. In addition to the château, there were two farms run by sharecroppers. One is La Bergerie, the other was located at the junction of the current RD813 and Chemin Borde Rouge. In 1976, André Turcat had parts of the château listed as historic monuments.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 27695925

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route, but as we did it on a Sunday, we encountered many people. The forest section is very poorly signposted, so I recommend following the path created by other walkers and turning left as soon as possible onto the path
Otherwise, it's very pleasant and very cute
If you're looking for a hike in nature only, this isn't it, but there is about a 30-minute walk through the "town"

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AACR
AACR

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy circular.
Walking at a leisurely pace, it took us 1 hour and 37 minutes.
There was just one tricky spot crossing the stream.

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Henrisimone
Henrisimone

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route
Very pleasant
But crossing the main road is dangerous, so be very careful, especially in a group

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emico63
emico63

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk on the outskirts of Toulouse with lovely views.
The route is varied, with a pleasant sensory garden along the way.
No particular difficulties, but the wooded section is very muddy in wet weather.
The route is used by mountain bikers and joggers, but everything runs smoothly.

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Guilhem
Guilhem

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful route. At the starting point, the first path (Chemin des Villas) is a little difficult to find. At the dovecote, it is not clear which direction to go. You have to head towards the main road nearby and cross it.
But after that, the signs are clear.

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Caracold
Caracold

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with many points of interest along the way.

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Papa aimant
Papa aimant

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route alternating between tarmac, town and pleasant woodland. The Jardin des Enteurs is a lovely place to stop for a break. Take care when crossing the stream in the undergrowth. Avoid after heavy rain...

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ACC
ACC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Numerous passages through the woods, making it a pleasant walk in hot weather.

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he-gauth
he-gauth
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short but very interesting route to get back into shape
Be careful on certain sections, which can be very slippery and muddy in wet weather!

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Pierre31
Pierre31

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Far too crowded and of average interest

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Françoise bis
Françoise bis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

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Mymi3189
Mymi3189

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty and pleasant walk with the lovely surprise of the Jardin des Senteurs et des Couleurs (Garden of Scents and Colours) , a wonderful place with a wonderful bouquet of scents at this time of year

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