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Heading towards Ax-les-Thermes, leave the N20 and turn left towards Luzenac. Cross the bridge over the Ariège and, at the corner of the cemetery, turn left again, following the road sign for "Château de Lordat". After the sports ground, turn right onto the D55 towards Lordat and reach the village after a series of impressive hairpin bends. Opposite the church, turn right and park on the left-hand side of the road in the designated parking spaces.
Yellow PR® markings + signage
(S/E) Return to the church and turn right at the corner. Cross the small square with its charming fountain and follow a narrow street that leads to another small square. Continue to the right, following the signs for "Château".
Pass the castle car park on your left and continue straight ahead to begin a gentle descent to a fork in the road where there is a signpost.
(1) Ignore the path on the left, which is the return route, and continue straight ahead. A little further on, leave the wide path you have been following and turn left onto the path that descends quite steeply to the small stream (Gérul stream). Cross the stream and begin the climb back up to the village of Axiat.
No markings
(2) Leave the marked trail for a moment and turn right onto the road. Pass the wash house, the town hall and the war memorial before arriving at Saint-Julien Church.
(3) Take the time to admire this early Romanesque building, whose bell tower and apse are two remarkable features. Turn back.
Yellow PR® markings + signposts
(2) Walk about ten metres and turn right at the corner of the house with green shutters. The slope becomes steeper before reaching a crossroads just after a red letterbox on the left-hand side. Turn left, cross the bridge over a stream and take a wide path that runs flat through the meadows.
Ignore the track closed by a barrier that climbs up to the right and keep to the left. Then begin the descent that leads to the ridge road (D20), passing another trail on the right. Once you reach the road, turn right and walk for about 200 metres.
(4) Take the path on the left, going through a fence, which you should close carefully behind you. This pretty sunken path runs parallel to the D20, which is above on the right. Further on, go through another fence using the passage provided, then cross a stream, after which the slope becomes steeper. At the next crossroads, ignore the path on the left that leads to L'Estagnole and continue to the right to reach Appy.
(5) Turn left onto the D20 and leave the village. After a right-hand bend, the slope flattens out as the road runs alongside a meadow on the left with a few trees in the centre.
(6) Take the path on the left (signposted Caychax). When you reach the first houses in the village, turn right despite the yellow cross and you will quickly rejoin the D20.
(7) Turn left. Pass in front of the rather unusual church, which is attached to a house and shares the same roof. Pass the town hall and take the first street on the left. At the wash house, continue straight ahead, slightly to the right (signposted Albiès - 6-8), then turn right onto a grassy path.
This path alternates between steep descents and flat sections, then turns sharply left and crosses the Turière stream. Further on, ignore a path on the right that is not shown on the map (signposted Chemin de Turière in the opposite direction) and continue straight ahead until you reach the next junction marked by a signpost.
(8) Turn left (sign for Vèbre). Leave the woods and begin crossing the southern slope of Roc du Courbas, enjoying beautiful views of the Ariège valley. Join the tarmac road at the first houses in Vèbre.
No markings
Go straight ahead, passing between the church and the cemetery to reach the D420.
(9) Turn left and follow this quiet road, which later runs alongside the railway line. Continue to the old station, just before the level crossing.
(10) Turn left onto Rue de la Forge and continue to a crossroads with a very simple metal cross.
Yellow PR® markings
Go straight ahead. Further on, ignore a path on the left marked by a signpost and continue straight ahead along a beautiful dry stone wall.
At the next junction (not shown on the map), keep to the right towards the footbridge over the stream. Cross the footbridge and begin a very steep climb up the path that goes up the valley, leaving another path on the right that leads to Garanou. Fortunately, the slope levels out a little before you reach the crossroads you passed on the way up.
(1) Turn right and retrace your steps to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Easy 
