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Park in the car park of the Espéraza picnic area located near the Square de la Concorde and the Pont Neuf
(S/E) Follow the Aude river on the right bank along the Promenade Jean Monnet, passing in front of the Pont Vieux. Continue straight ahead on Rue Alexandre Dumas then Avenue Charles de Gaulle (still straight ahead). At the end of this road, you will find the first sign for the hike and its yellow markings: Rennes-le-Château via Le Ruisseau des Couleurs.
(1) Cross the D118 at the pedestrian crossing, turn left and after about 60 metres, turn right to climb slightly and follow a winding path until you reach a local road and the Ruisseau de Couleurs. Turn left and follow the tarmac road for about 300 metres. Shortly before the crossroads, a sign on the right indicates the direction to follow at the bottom of the Crête Magnifique.
(2) The climb is a little steep but magnificent. The path winds its way between pine trees and huge boulders. The panorama widens as you climb, rewarding your efforts. You will reach a crossroads.
(3) Continue climbing, turning right then left. You will arrive below the ramparts. Take care and leave the trail, turning right onto the marked path that passes under the Magdala Tower and leads to the Rennes-le-Château orientation table.
(4) Return to the Magdala Tower by crossing the small park with contemporary sculptures to descend towards the famous church and the history of Abbé Saunière. Go down the Grand Rue. Staying on the road, you will discover the view of the ruined castle of Coustaussa, then further down, find the yellow markings on a path to the left. Continue along an ancient paved road and cross the D52.
(5) Further down, at a crossroads, the markings become more discreet: turn left, admire a "Roman" column with its basin on the right, the tower of an old mill (you can make a short return trip) and arrive at the bottom of the descent at Les Labadous.
(6) Please note that there is a second hiking trail here: the Sentier du Ritou (priest in Occitan).
Turn right, then right again at the crossroads (sign) to cross the Ruisseau du Carla stream. The climb is a little surprising but quickly leads to a pass.
(7) Turn left and continue climbing slightly until the two trails separate. Head right along a marked grassy track that joins another track coming from the opposite direction. Turn right (sign). Descend the gentle slope and, about 200 m after the last junction, don't miss the remarkable karstic cave on the left.
(8) Continue downhill. At an open plateau, the track curves to the right to meet a fence and the track coming from Labadous, which you left earlier at the pass.
(9) Turn left, continuing downhill along the wide track, then climb back up to Soubirous.
(10) Now follow the small local road, discovering the first vineyards, to Pailhères.
(11) Turn left onto the steeply ascending path. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with another exceptional panorama amidst the vineyards. At the bottom of the short descent, the trail winds around a small stone hut and leads to a crossroads. Take the right-hand path, which continues to climb. At the top, the easiest route is to head straight ahead along a grassy track to find the yellow markings a little further down. Descend until you reach the D118 and its traffic. Turn right with great caution and stay on the right-hand side, as this is the only side that is wide enough to be safe. Continue for almost 300 metres to return to the initial crossroads you passed on the way there.
(1) Take the pedestrian crossing from the outward journey at Caderonne to cross the D118. Follow the route in reverse from the outward journey to the footbridge over the Aude. Take it on the right to discover the heart of Espéraza and its astonishing "republican" church.
Then continue along the banks of the Aude to the Pont Neuf. Cross it and return to the car park at the Espéraza picnic area (S/E).
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