The Puechs circular route: following in the footsteps of Toulouse-Lautrec towards Montfa

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Hiking trail in the commune of Montfa, in Sidobre & Vallées, in the Tarn – Occitanie. This village is one of the former strongholds of the ancestors of the famous painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – Montfa. His father even stayed there as recently as the early20th century. This walk offers the chance to explore the agricultural plateaus and enjoy beautiful views over the Castraises and Lautrécoises plains. As you stroll along, you’ll pass through meadows, village paths, small hamlets and woodland. In particular, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the ruins of Montfa Castle, which is gradually being restored thanks to the Friends of the Castle association.

Details

n°72990302
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.59 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 591 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 607 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,283 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 804 ft
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Photos

Woodland in Montfa - Sidobre Tourism
View of Montfa with a vista of the Montagne Noire and the Pyrenees – Sidobre Tourisme
Details of Montfa Castle – Sidobre Tourism

Description of the walk

Start at the Montfa Town Hall car park.

(S/E) Take the street to the left of the town hall. On Rue de Montredon, turn left onto the small Route des Collines. Continue to the Graviac junction.

(1) Turn right, continuing until you reach a large right-hand bend.

(2) At the wide bend, take the small track on the right and carry on until you reach the cross at the end of the track. 

(3) Turn left onto the D4 and continue to Les Fournials (caution: busy road). 

(4) In the centre of Les Fournials, after the speed bump, turn left onto the Route du Rudel, RD612. Drive past the hamlet until you reach a Fork in the road at the end of the hamlet.

(5) Turn left onto the small path through the woodland (please make sure you close the gates on the Chemin de la Longuié properly). You’ll come to a Fork in the road.

(6) For the short route, turn left towards the village. Otherwise , follow the sign for the “circular route” along the narrow path between two fields, which leads into the woodland. Turn left up the slope towards the farm.

(7) Pass to the right of the farm. Go down the path leading to the small road, then turn left and continue to a Fork in the road.

(8) Turn right, following the rutted dirt track. Carry on straight ahead to the houses at La Quintaine.

(9) Cross two small roads, continuing straight on along the enclosures. Turn left onto the small road running alongside the RD612, and carry on until you reach a path leading uphill to the left.

(10) Turn left onto this small track which climbs up a slope. After about 200 metres, you can visit the ruins of Montfa Castle, the estate of the father of the famous painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – Montfa (return). This is private property, so please follow the directions and signage carefully. Carry on straight ahead, down the slope, until you reach a road.

(11) Cross two small roads, continuing straight on alongside the enclosures. You’ll reach Chemin de la Longuie.

(12) Turn right onto the path, heading towards the village houses. Turn left and continue to the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,102 ft - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.63 - alt. 1,135 ft - Graviac
  3. 2 : mi 1.01 - alt. 1,047 ft - Wide bend
  4. 3 : mi 1.63 - alt. 1,273 ft - Croix and the D4
  5. 4 : mi 2.53 - alt. 1,184 ft - Centre des Fournials
  6. 5 : mi 3.71 - alt. 909 ft - Fork in the road after Le Rudel
  7. 6 : mi 4.09 - alt. 853 ft - Fork in the road for the shorter route
  8. 7 : mi 4.81 - alt. 876 ft - Farm
  9. 8 : mi 5.3 - alt. 860 ft - Junction with a rutted dirt track
  10. 9 : mi 5.67 - alt. 827 ft - La Quintaine, two small roads
  11. 10 : mi 6.13 - alt. 837 ft - Uphill path
  12. 11 : mi 6.71 - alt. 978 ft - Two small roads
  13. 12 : mi 7.06 - alt. 1,053 ft - Chemin de la Longuie
  14. S/E : mi 7.59 - alt. 1,102 ft - Town hall car park

Notes

Start: Town hall carpark

Finish: Same location as the start

Towns: Montfa, Montredon-Labessonnié

Road access and car park: Via the D59

Parking: Town hall carpark .

Worth a visit

Montfa Castle

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
UK
UK

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A visit to the ruins of Montfa Castle is a must. Restoration work is well underway. Beautiful view from the top of the hill. A well-equipped picnic area: tables, benches, logs to sit on, shade under the trees. A delight. Thank you to the owner and the association’s volunteers for their work. Under sunny skies, 18°C on 24/03/2026 PK

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User 424378

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

On the positive side: visiting Montfa Castle and meeting a member of the association that is restoring the castle.
Not many people on the route. A bit too much tarmac, but as the paths are very muddy at this time of year, we appreciated it.

On the negative side: we were appalled by the extensive clear-cutting of the forests (especially between 8 and 9), which left the paths completely destroyed by forestry machinery and, above all, areas where the forest will never grow back. It's heartbreaking. For this reason, I would not recommend this hike.

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Arcade
Arcade

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 19 October in the opposite direction to the route on Visorando, but it is also very well marked by signposts in this direction.
Hike with a view of the Black Mountain. We extended the hike by climbing up to the castle on a promontory, which is currently being renovated by an association and is well worth a visit.

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