Brousses-et-Villaret walks

This walk was created by the association "Environnement, territoires et paysages" (Environment, Territories and Landscapes). Another description can be found at the Brousses town hall or at the paper mill. Half of the route is on tarmac roads, but with wide, well-mowed verges that allow you to walk on the grass. This walk is particularly enjoyable after heavy rainfall, as in 2018/2019.

Three-quarters of the route is sheltered from the wind and sun. A beautiful walk through a chestnut forest. The different markings cross each other. This should not be taken into account as several of the paths taken are marked with a cross, but they are the right paths nonetheless. (in (2), in (6) and in (7))

A ten-kilometre hike that winds through forests and fields. There are some beautiful properties to see, and above all, the village of Montolieu is worth a visit.

The walk is half sheltered from the sun and wind. There is a little tarmac and a lot of almost carriageable, limestone and very stony paths.

A pleasant hike with quite a few climbs. The descent after (4) is a little tricky, so make sure you have good footwear. This walk is marked with large orange brushstrokes. But as always, it is best to follow Visorando.

Petite balade autour du village durant laquelle vous allez souvent longer des murettes en pierres sèches. Les sentiers ont été creusés à flanc de colline et ces murettes ont été montées pour retenir la terre du fond dominant. Nous sommes en 2016 et le tracé a été reconnu et identifié par des marques de couleur Rouge. Ces marques ne respectent pas la forme officielle de la FFR mais sont parfaitement visibles car assez larges. Cela n'est pas inutile car certains sentiers sont dans les champs.

A lovely little walk from the Bassin de Saint-Denis to the Prise Alzeau and back along the stream.

This is a beautiful walk, but it is exposed to the wind and sun. The first kilometre is quite steep, but the next two kilometres are gentler. Rough wooden signs engraved with "Circuit Saint-Roch" will guide you along the way, even if they are not very visible or legible... Since 15 October 2018 and the floods, a lot of earth has been washed away from the paths and many of them have become very stony and rocky. However, the circuit remains entirely feasible.

This is an easy hike, sheltered from the sun for 90% of the route. The hike can be done in either direction. You will be better sheltered from the sun if you follow the directions given here.

Nestled between Lake Galaube and Lake Laprade Basse, the Loubatière State Forest covers 450 hectares. It is located in the western part of the vast forest that covers the southern slope of the Montagne Noire in the Aude department. A single, completely wooded area, this forest, which ranges in altitude from 660 to 885 metres, forms the headwaters of the Linon stream. In autumn, it offers a dream setting for hikers in search of mushrooms and chestnuts, with the golden colours of oak, beech, birch and chestnut leaves carpeting the ground. This is the ideal playground for an easy walk starting from the hamlet of Cals Haut, part of the commune of Lacombe, between Saissac and Les Martys.

Walk along forest paths towards the Bois de la Serre Haute and the Forêt Domaniale de la Loubatière from Lacombe, stopping at the source of the Canal du Midi, the Prise d'Alzeau, before following the left bank of the Lac de la Galaube. The route is marked locally (yellow line). It is taken in the opposite direction to the description with a few modifications for greater comfort (descent at the end of the route).

360 years ago, Pierre Paul Riquet had the trial trench for the Canal du Midi dug. The official purpose of this small diversion canal was to prove that large quantities of water could be brought from the Montagne Noire to the Naurouze threshold, where the planned navigation canal would have its "dividing point", its highest watercourse. However, for Riquet, the stakes were much higher: he also wanted to prove that he was fully capable of managing a project as large as the gigantic structure he had planned. To convince Colbert and the commission responsible for examining the feasibility of the project, he offered to finance the test canal himself and only be reimbursed if the objectives were achieved... Theoutcome proved this stubborn man right! This walk takes you on a journey of discovery to find traces of this "Rigole d'Essai" in the Alzeau valley, starting from the village of Lacombe. Parking is available opposite the town hall.

A short, gentle walk with no uphill sections, sheltered by the forest throughout. Suitable in summer and winter, even in strong winds.

A refreshing walk in the Montagne Noire from the small village of Lacombe (11310) to the Ramondens national forest (Tarn) with a picnic stop near the retaining dyke of the St-Denis basin. Return via the right bank of the Alzeau and passage at the Prise d'Alzeau, source of the Canal du Midi, before climbing back up to Lacombe. Walk checked on 18/06/23. A few details have been added by the author

The walk is always in the shade and sheltered by very large beech and oak trees. There is practically no elevation gain as you follow the water.

A very pretty walk north of the village of Aragon, allowing you to discover the drystone shelter housing estate with its dry stone walls, its hillside planted with pine trees and the plateau with its drystone shelters, stone walls and panoramic views. The route is very well signposted and the information boards are very interesting.

Half of the hike is under the trees and half is in the heath.

Forest hike to the Cuxac-Cabardès wind farm, above the Dure valley, and almost complete tour of Lake Laprade Basse via the recently constructed path that avoids the D101 between the hamlet and the dam dyke (see info).

Here is a variation on the "Lac de Laprade, around the lake" hike. This variation avoids the climb up the paved road to the village of Laprade Basse. It allows you to visit the Laprade peat bogs and enjoy a pleasant walk on pontoons.

From Lac de Laprade Basse in the commune of Cuxac-Cabardès, "Let's go for a walk in the woods to see if the wolf is there!" In fact, let's set off to explore the Loubatière National Forest, from the Dure River, which feeds the lake, to the Linon Stream, which joins it upstream from Montolieu. Beneath centuries-old trees stand the ruins of an old Carthusian monastery abandoned long before the Revolution, due, among other things, to wolves... which have since been replaced by deer.

On the watershed between the Aude and Tarn rivers, we follow in the footsteps of P.P. Riquet once again, discovering other water resources that enabled this self-taught engineer to demonstrate to the experts sent by Colbert the merits of his project to supply his Canal des Deux Mers. However, the forest remains present on this easy route, and Arfons, with its slate roofs, is a picturesque little village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park.

The proximity of the lake for cooling off, the deciduous forest for a shaded walk and the very passable paths, despite a few fords along the route, ensure a very pleasant time even with children.

Three quarters of the hike is sheltered from the sun and wind by the beech forest (mainly). Wear good shoes as the trail is often muddy with some stream crossings that are more or less maintained. Foresters have cleared the trail, which creates some large puddles, but these can always be avoided by walking along the edges of the forest.

On the border between the Tarn and Aude departments, this circuit allows you to discover four authentic villages preserved in their green setting: Mas-Cabardès, which is the starting point, Roquefère and its castle, Miraval and La Tourette. Although mostly in the woods, the first part of the hike offers magnificent views of the Carcassonne plain, the Corbières and the Pyrenees in the background.

Very pleasant trail between water and forest followed by a themed trail on the peat bog with explanatory panels. Ideal in hot weather, very shady trail (except for the dyke).

⚠️ THERE IS AN ENTRANCE FEE TO VISIT THE SITE. See reviews. An enjoyable cultural visit combining walking and discovery, history and a journey into the past: visit the Cathar castles of Lastours. Four castrums on the same route: Quertinheux, Surdespine, Tour Régine, Cabaret. Suitable for families with motivated children. There are a large number of steps, which will give your psoas and quadriceps a good workout.

Walk in full sun. Don't forget your hat and water. Avoid when it has rained the previous week as the vineyard soil is very clayey and remains sticky for a long time. Very beautiful views of the village of Aragon.

Circular route marked in red by the Pennautier Nature et Patrimoine (PNP) association. Legend has it that a beautiful noblewoman from Pennautier would dress up as a wolf at night to meet her lovers along these paths. A lovely walk that follows the Fresquel and continues through fields and vineyards in the countryside west of Carcassonne.

A circular route on the plateau above Arfons via the Croix des Fangasses, the Croix de Montalric and the Montalric orientation table. Magnificent view over the entire Revelois and Puylaurentais plains as well as the Pyrenees. GPS essential for this hike.