Circular via Alzen from Sahuc

You can park in the hamlet of Sahuc, located on the right as you climb from Foix towards the Col des Marrous. The last section is very narrow.

(S/E) Go down the road you took to get here for 50 m (south-east direction).

(1) Leave the road and take the path that descends to the left and follow it to the Route de Layrole.

(2) Follow it north-east for about 400 m until you reach a bend.

(3) Leave the road and follow the path that goes straight ahead. Ignore the paths on the right and left, cross the Ruisseau de Fautils stream, and arrive near the place called Les Fourquets.

(4) Turn left, heading north-west, and follow the yellow markings of the Route de la Grésale, heading north-west, then west until you reach a crossroads.

(5) Leave the Route de la Grésale by turning right, heading due north, and descend to Alzen.

(6) Turn left onto Plagneros, pass in front of the Guinguette and turn right. Pass in front of the school and the town hall, and arrive at the hamlet of Les Paulis.

(7) Take the path that climbs to the left between the houses and leads to the Sainte-Croix Chapel.

(8) At the chapel, take the path on the left that climbs up the hill (lovely view), then descends towards the east and joins a crossroads.

(9) Take the leftmost path and follow it until you reach Route Plagneros, at a place called La Croix.

(10) Follow it to the right, cross the hamlets of La Caussade and Les Saurats, and arrive at Seigneuric.

(11) Continue straight ahead on the path that climbs southwards to a fork.

(12) Turn right and head for the pass (located on the IGN map).

(13) Turn left and climb a fairly steep slope to the Col de l'Homme.

(14) Turn left, heading due east, ignore the paths branching off to the left and right, and join a forest road.

(15) Cross the forest road and continue straight ahead along a path that forms a circular loop to the hamlet of Lairolle.

(16) Cross the hamlet and take the path straight ahead (without taking the road that descends to the left). Cross Cambus and arrive at a road in Murat.

(17) Follow this winding road to reach the car park in Sahuc (S/E).

(1) (2) This section is well marked but often sloping and a little slippery.

(5) You can bypass the northern circular (Alzen and the chapel) by heading directly to the Col de l'Homme (14), passing by the Fontaine de la Grésale.

(6) You can bypass the chapel by staying on the road and heading to the hamlet of La Croix (10).

(8) Very old chapel and beautiful view to the north over La Bastide de Sérou.

(14) and (15) Area with a beautiful view of Plantaurel (Prat d'Albis, Picou, Roc de Batail, Pech de Therme), the Tabe massif (Mont Fourcat, Saint-Barthélémy, Soularac, La Frau), the town of Foix and its castle, and in the distance, the Pog du château de Montségur.