Saint-Barthélemy loop in Montaut

Perched on the heights of Volvestre, the village of Montaut overlooks the surrounding area. This family-friendly rural loop offers superb views of the Pyrenees and the Garonne and Lèze valleys. At the start of the walk, you will find a signpost with all the information you need about the hike. Behind the town hall is a picnic area with tables, a barbecue and an orientation table where you can discover the names of the Pyrenean peaks stretching out before you. This sunny hike through fields and hillsides will warm you up in any season.

Details

18562819
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.45 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 85 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 86 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 284 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 208 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From Noé, take the D28 towards Montaut. Park in the town hall car park, a former boys' school built in 1872. View of the Garonne on the right.

(S/E) Leaving the car park, turn left and go past the bus stop.

(1) After the bus stop, go down to the left through the housing estate, following Rue des Pyrénées, then turn right towards Les Dévesses. Join Route de Saint-Barthélémy and follow it to the left for about 20 metres until you reach the first crossroads.

(2) Turn right onto Chemin des Roches. Walk along La Roche (viewpoint over the Garonne) and cross a wooded area until you reach the junction with the D28. Turn left, then walk past the pond and its junction.

(3) Turn right, go straight ahead and pass in front of the fountain. After the fountain, turn onto the rural path known as Chemin de Fabas, which goes straight ahead to La Plaine. Walk along the row of trees to the end.

(4) The road turns into a path towards the Lucau farm. Pass in front of the farm and continue on the tarmac road called Chemin de Notre-Dame. At the big bend, admire the view of the Pyrenees and the Volvestre communes: this is in fact an ancient place of worship of the cross known as Notre-Dame.
Then follow the rural road known as Lucau until you reach the junction with Route de Noé (D28).

(5) Turn right and follow the road carefully until you reach the Quarret junction. Turn left and take Chemin de Quarret, which is tarmac at first and then dirt. Once you reach the fields, turn right then left and leave the path on your right until you reach the next crossroads.

(6) Take the rural road on the left which leads to the Claret farm. From there, the road is tarmac. At the crossroads, turn left, pass the Carbonnier farm and keep left at the fork towards La Grange.

(7) When you reach La Grange, turn left behind the poplar trees, then turn right. Then turn left onto the dirt track until you reach the edge of the woods.

(8) At the edge of the woods, turn left to follow it. Enjoy the view of the Garonne and its valley, then come out onto the departmental road. Turn left.

(1) Continue straight ahead to reach the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 281 m - Town hall
  2. 1 : km 0.21 - alt. 283 m - Housing estate - Junction of the loop
  3. 2 : km 0.5 - alt. 273 m - Chemin des Roches
  4. 3 : km 1.24 - alt. 250 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 2.15 - alt. 275 m - Path crossing
  6. 5 : km 3.4 - alt. 251 m - Route D28
  7. 6 : km 4.61 - alt. 226 m - Intersection
  8. 7 : km 6.31 - alt. 234 m - La Grange
  9. 8 : km 6.84 - alt. 240 m - Edge of the woods
  10. S/E : km 7.45 - alt. 281 m - Town hall

Worth a visit

Come and marvel at Montaut, with its panoramic views of the Pyrenees and the Garonne.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Pouyllau
Pouyllau

Thank you for your feedback. It will help us to properly assess some specific aspects of this hike.
One more thing: a hike evaluated by someone in their forties does not have the same "flavour" as if it were "practised" by someone in their seventies, which is my case...

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Tourisme en Volvestre
Tourisme en Volvestre
• Edited:

Dear Pouyllau,

Thank you for your feedback and advice for future hikers. We are sorry to hear that you encountered difficulties on this route.

The elevation gain is indeed an important factor in assessing the difficulty of a route, which is why the positive and negative elevation gains are indicated here as +85 and -86. The level of difficulty has been calculated based on the effort, technicality and risk of the route, using the French Hiking Federation's rating guide, which you can find here: https://www.ffrandonnee.fr/Media/Default...

Finally, with the gradual disappearance of rural paths, we are unfortunately forced to make do with agricultural paths and departmental roads to offer short hikes in Volvestre. These sections are indicated in the hike description.

However, we did not specify the possibility of encountering tractors. We will take your comments into account and explicitly indicate the presence of a steep descent and the possibility of encountering agricultural vehicles.

We remain available if needed and wish you many wonderful future walks in Volvestre and elsewhere.

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Pouyllau
Pouyllau

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first problem encountered is the fact that the route passes along roads frequented by cars and tractors. Often very dangerous.
Secondly, the end of the hike is formidable: a steep descent to reach the village of Estantens. If I hadn't had my Nordic walking poles, I would have had to turn back at 5 p.m.! And how?
You need to give a more accurate description of the real difficulties: regardless of the length of a route, the profile of the ascents and descents is the most important factor.
Kind regards.

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JEAN LOUIS LAF
JEAN LOUIS LAF

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views. At point 2, access to the path is a little tricky due to very tall grass and a slippery trail following recent rains. Bring a hat in sunny weather.
At point 8, there is a bench where you can take a break and admire the view. The village of Montaut is beautiful and very clean. Behind the town hall, there is an orientation table, a picnic table, toilets and a breathtaking view.

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