Cabrespine walks

A loop trail to discover the sheepfolds of yesteryear and enjoy beautiful views of the Pyrenees, the Montagne Noire and the Pic de Nore.

A lovely, varied hike with alternating limestone and schist formations and many beautiful views (as far as the Pyrenees).

This varied walk first takes you to the Roc du Tonnerre, offering a superb 360° panorama: the Pic de Nore and the Haut Cabardès wind farm to the north, and the Minervois, the Corbières and the Pyrenees to the south. The second part takes you through six of the seven charming hamlets that make up the village of Castans, whose town hall and church are located in one of them, Laviale. Vast open spaces and stretches through magnificent woodland of conifers and beech trees alternate pleasantly, making you forget the final section on the road – a result of the floods in the winter of 2023, which have rendered the footbridge over the Ruisseau de Serremijeanne temporarily impassable.

In good weather, the view of the Pyrenees is incredible. On that day, following heavy snowfall – exceptional for the season – the snow-capped peaks were visible from the Canigou Massif all the way to the Maladetta Massif, taking in the highest peaks of Cerdagne, the 3,000-metre peaks of Ariège, and the peaks over 3,000 metres in the Luchon region. Closer by and all around, the entire Montagne Noire, with the Pic de Nore transmission mast standing at its highest point.

A magnificent circular hike around Cabrespine offering beautiful 360° views, walks through fragrant heath scrubland in bloom (especially in spring), surprising caves (best visited with a head torch) and historical remains (a Roman road, a castle, etc.).

Between rocks, caves and passes, this hike starting from the Gouffre Géant de Cabrespine offers beautiful views of the Minervois plain, the Corbières massif and, weather permitting, the Pyrenees mountain range.

To complete a loop in the Montagne Noire on unmarked, poorly marked and rarely used paths, we have opened up a few sections of trail that allowed us to enjoy an unusual experience in a little-known area. If you like adventure, don't forget to take the GPX track with you!

Loop, on little-known trails or ones we create, reserved for experienced walkers who are willing to follow the GPX track and are not afraid to take poorly marked trails, most of which are unmarked.

This hike in the Cabardès initially follows the ‘path of remembrance’ leading to the Grotte du Maquis de Trassanel, infamous for the number of Resistance fighters killed there by the occupying forces on 8 August 1944. On a lighter note, the route continues past the two remarkable viewpoints of Roc d’Agnel and Roc de l’Aigle before returning along the ridges, crossing a Natura 2000 protected area. A harmonious blend of history and unspoilt nature on the borders of the Montagne Noire and the Minervois. Several informative panels, rich in insights into the area’s geology and biosphere, are well worth a closer look.

Magnificent landscapes on the border between Haut-Cabardès and Minervois for a circular route that follows the GR®36 on the way back from the foot of Pradelles-Cabardès, taking an old Roman road. Breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, except for the Tramontane wind.

Facing the Pic de Nore, which saw the Tour de France pass through in 2018, the wind turbines installed on Mont Sarrat and spread across the municipalities of Pradelles-Cabardès and Cabrespine immediately catch the eye. TheGR®36, coming from Pic de Nore, winds its way at the foot of the masts before plunging towards Carcassonne via the Pas de Montsarrat, an ancient "Roman" communication route. The short length of the route offers the opportunity to extend the hike along the lake (see practical information).

A fantastic hike starting from Lake Pradelles-Cabardès leading to Pic de Nore, the highest peak of the Montagne Noire, with its breathtaking 360° view stretching from Hérault to Tarn via Aude, Pyrénées Orientales, Ariège and Haute Garonne.

A circular route through the Nore National Forest, passing through the Nore gate and the Pic de Nore, also known as the little Ventoux for its climate and its red and white telecommunications tower. The climb through the conifer and beech forests is gentle, but the descent to Pradelles-Cabardès is steep! In winter, it is possible to do all or part of the route on snowshoes, depending on snow conditions. Be careful, there is a ford to cross!

The Clamoux, a small river and tributary of the Orbiel, rises on the slopes of Pic de Nore, the iconic peak of the Montagne Noire, where a Tour de France relay station stands. Following forest tracks, with climbs of varying difficulty, you arrive near the source of the Clamoux, a small stream at the start, which you follow on the right bank, off the marked trail, descending into the Soulanes de Nore National Forest to Laviale, which, along with six other hamlets, makes up the village of Castans.

Pic de Nore is the highest point of the Montagne Noire (1,211 m). The climb is fairly easy from the typical village of Pradelles Cabardès. It mainly takes you through beech forests with views of moorland offering superb panoramas to the south over the Pyrenees and to the north over the Espinouse. In addition to the Pic de Nore, which offers a magnificent 360° view, this circuit allows you to visit the "Cabane d'Hélène" menhirs and the famous ice houses of Pradelles.

On the western slopes of the Pic de Nore lies a block of gneiss, the Roc de Nouret, isolated on this windswept moorland, where broom and thorn bushes share the space. Higher up, the Bois de Combe Escure, which overlooks the ravine of the same name – the border between the Aude and Tarn departments – marks the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. A leisurely return to the village via the Bayours forest track.

A short hike on the slopes of the Montagne Noire, very pleasant on snowshoes… and in any season.

This hike is best done in spring in good weather to enjoy the magnificent views of the Pyrenees, the Carcassonne plain and the Mazametain. You will also have the opportunity to see an ice house and small menhirs. The vegetation is varied: sometimes Mediterranean, sometimes more mountainous. This hike is partially marked with a yellow line, a green line and a yellow dot.

Many points of interest along the route: arboretum, lime kilns, dolmen, legend, remarkable tree...

A walk that takes you round the three villages. The second half is quite a steep climb almost right up to the finish.