Circular route from Puivert to Nébias

This circular route takes you past the foot of the Cathar castle at Puivert after passing through the Labyrinthe Vert, a striking geological formation.
This walk follows almost exclusively dirt tracks and presents no technical difficulties, apart from muddy sections and the need to wade across the stream during periods of heavy rain.
A user reports:

the signposting between (13) and (14) no longer exists. At (13), return to theGR®7AandGR®367.

I tried to find the old route but the path is blocked by a fence.

Details

4709306
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 207 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 201 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 664 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 474 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Lac de Puivert car park on the outskirts of the village of Puivert.

(S/E) Take the Cathar Trail (GR® 367) and follow the lake to the stream, which you must cross by wading across non-slip blocks.

(1) At the first junction after crossing the stream, leave the Cathar Trail, which heads off to the right, and continue along the dirt track opposite for about 1.5 km.

(2) At the junction, continue straight on towards Campserdou (signposted) for 250 m. Then leave the Campserdou route and take the dirt track slightly to the left.

(3) Ignore the two paths on the right and continue straight on until you reach the junction with a small tarmac road at the sewage treatment plant.

(4) Turn left at a 90° angle onto the small tarmac road and continue until you reach the main road.

(5) Cross the main road with care, walk 10 or 15 m to the right and take the first path on the left which goes through a small wood. Further on, the path turns right at a clearing and then continues straight on to join the Cathar Trail after about 800 m.

(6) Continue to the right along the Cathar Trail until you reach the entrance to Nébias, a little over 1 km away. Pass in front of the Sainte-Claire Chapel and arrive at a crossroads with a stone bench.

(7) Leave theGR® 367, ignore the signs for the Sentier Nature and the Labyrinthe Vert, and turn left onto the Chemin de la Garène, until you reach thefirst fork less than 200 m away. Go straight on. After just over 100 m, turn right and climb up to the old mill (viewpoint).

(8) Head back down and take the small path on the right. Continue straight on for about 700 m to reach the Green Labyrinth area.

(9) Take a sharp left-hand bend and continue through the Labyrinthe Vert, following the yellow markings for about 400 m.

(10) Follow the “Sentier Nature” signs to the right (do not head towards the Labyrinthe Vert) until you reach a wide dirt track.

(11) Turn right. Ignore the paths branching off to the right and, after about 400 m, you will reach a small clearing where several paths converge.

(12) Cross the clearing, take the path opposite for about thirty metres and turn left to leave the Labyrinthe Vert. Continue along this path, which turns left after 200 m to reach the Pas de la Bessègne junction.

(13) See warning in the introduction => Head left (south-west) along the track to rejoin theGR®7AandGR®367, then follow them to the right to reach the (14) further on.
Head straight on, ignoring the various paths to the right or left, until you reach the Cathar Trail coming from the left.

(14) Continue straight on. Turn left onto theGR®7A-GR®367(Sentier Cathare) as far as Puivert Castle. Then veer left to walk along the bottom of the castle without going inside.

(15) After the castle, take the path opposite which descends towards the village of Puivert. Cross the D117 and follow the road opposite. Walk past the town hall, cross the small car park and head for the Lac de Puivert car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 478 m - Lac de Puivert car park
  2. 1 : km 0.54 - alt. 475 m - Crossroads, opposite
  3. 2 : km 1.77 - alt. 494 m - Crossroads, go straight on towards Campserdou
  4. 3 : km 3.38 - alt. 524 m - Junction, straight ahead
  5. 4 : km 4.56 - alt. 533 m - Wastewater treatment plant, on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.05 - alt. 538 m - Crossroads with the county road
  7. 6 : km 6.15 - alt. 573 m - Junction with the Cathar trail, on the right
  8. 7 : km 7.4 - alt. 575 m - Chemin de la Garene
  9. 8 : km 7.78 - alt. 610 m - Old mill, viewpoint
  10. 9 : km 8.5 - alt. 613 m - Start of the Green Labyrinth
  11. 10 : km 8.84 - alt. 607 m - Nature Trail on the right
  12. 11 : km 9.42 - alt. 594 m - Dirt track, on the right
  13. 12 : km 9.76 - alt. 586 m - Clearing
  14. 13 : km 10.99 - alt. 603 m - Pas de la Bessègne
  15. 14 : km 13.18 - alt. 646 m - Cathar Trail, straight ahead
  16. 15 : km 14.69 - alt. 578 m - Descent towards Puivert
  17. S/E : km 15.82 - alt. 477 m - Lac de Puivert car park

Notes

The first section from Puivert to Nébias follows a path through the fields (in full sun). The return route is mainly through woodland.

Ford after (S/E): please note that, depending on the level of the stream, the bollards may be under a few centimetres of water. If the water level is too high, it is possible to go via the lower part of the village. Pass the town hall, cross the bridge, then turn right onto Rue du Barry du Lion, which leads straight to (1) to rejoin the route described.

Worth a visit

Visit to the Cathar castle of Puivert.
Walk through the Green Maze of Nébias.

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.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
laurencepierre
laurencepierre
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

no complaints about the signposting from the start, but it was more difficult around the green maze as there were no signs.
fortunately, the guide helped us a lot.
otherwise, a beautiful walk, but remember to bring cash when you arrive at the castle as there is an entrance fee

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Bernard Aneto
Bernard Aneto

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello
The route as proposed doesn’t seem sensible to me, and the description is confusing in many places – starting with which car park is it referring to? This led to us having to go round the lake because we set off in the opposite direction (Camp Sadourny instead of Camp Serdou)
Why not simply join the Cathar trail from the start at a place called ‘Les Bouzigues’ (south of the gliding centre) and follow it to Nebias via Camp Gast, Camp Serdou, Camp Sylvestre and La Fontaulié Sud?
Please clarify your information
(3) sewage treatment plant??? The
two stations on the IGN map (2247 OT), one at Camp Serdou and the other at Le Naudet l’Ile, but not at the location you indicate to join the D117 (which you reach after crossing a small bridge over the stream [a significant detail])
We did indeed join the Cathar trail east of San Rouma, then opted to head due north along the discovery trail (green maze) from the altitude of 578
We reached the Ruins of En Dominique (a point you could have mentioned, which appears to correspond to (12) in your description) and, failing to find the path that follows the contour line directly to Pas de Bessegne, we continued along the discovery trail towards Brezillou, leaving it on the left at a well-marked track (following the 4x4 tyre tracks) to the Pas de Bessegne, where we clearly spotted the start of a path through the undergrowth which should correspond to the one we should have taken
From Pas de Bessegne, we followed the ridge all the way to Château de Puivert (without rejoining the GR7A) via a wide path through the trees, unfortunately with no views, via the points marked 663, 635 and 623
Generally speaking, your description is confusing due to a lack of precise landmarks, particularly regarding place names.
I hope my message will help to improve or completely overhaul this “Visorando profile”.
See you very soon for more “Visograndioses” walks 😉
Bernard Pech
(31400 Toulouse)

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La Miche
La Miche

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Please note that the signposting between points 12 and 14 no longer exists. I think the landowner or the hunting reserve has removed this section. At point 12, you have to go back to rejoin the GR7A or the GR367.
I tried to find the old route, but the path is blocked by a fence.
Otherwise, everything’s fine; a very pleasant walk. The first section up to Nébias is best done in the morning, especially in the heat of summer.

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Thierry Trémas
Thierry Trémas

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk linking the "green maze", the mills and Puivert Castle. Very green in the second half; the first half is in open countryside and a bit dreary (a good warm-up!). A few notes, take them or leave them:
At point 9, you can follow the path marked with red hand symbols, which takes you back onto the main hiking trail: very nice (the notable rocks are marked with a spiral)
Curiously, at 10, the route doesn’t take us into the ‘green maze’; it goes round it, even though it’s well worth a visit.
At the clearing at 12, with the ruin, do not take the path opposite with the barrier, and do not go down to your right either: the path to take is between the two, entering the forest. You have to climb over a makeshift barrier consisting of two flexible rods.
In wet weather, from marker 13 onwards, numerous muddy patches mean you’ll need to wear closed-toe shoes. The forest is pleasant (we spotted two roe deer).
Strangely, the walk avoids the entrance to Puivert Castle, even though this wouldn’t have added to the distance.

I’ll come back to show it to friends visiting.

Thank you for suggesting it

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Patrice09
Patrice09
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with little elevation gain; impossible to do without VisioRando, as there is little or no marked trail. A GPS is essential. If you follow the route on VisioRando, you’ll have no trouble. A green maze waiting to be explored, with lovely views of Puivert Castle. The outward leg to Nebias is in the open, whilst the return leg offers shelter from the sun.

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jess rando
jess rando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

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

The description is a bit confusing! The route to Nébias is fine, but once we reached the mill, we ended up going round in circles in the green maze three times. Points 8–9–10–11 are rather confusing.We couldn’t find the way to the Pas de la Bessègne, so we retraced our steps and took the Cathar Trail from the Chapel of Sainte-Claire to Puivert Castle.

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ricou33
ricou33

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk undertaken in the sweltering heat on 14 July. The first section is in full sun but pleasant in the morning. We found the route description somewhat vague before reaching the Green Maze (a remarkable site in its own right), and the return path to the Pas de la Béssegne (13) was difficult as it wasn’t well-cleared. Lots of branches were blocking the way. Otherwise, a very interesting route which can be rounded off with a visit to the Cathar castle at Puivert before heading back down to the village!

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jdecor
jdecor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Damp weather for All Saints' Day. A pleasant walk nonetheless.

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Roroboubou
Roroboubou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A few people at the castle itself, and two couples in the ‘Labyrinth’, but no one on the walking trail. Not very busy today. (Much to our delight).

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