Chemin Vauban From Formiguères to Rouze

This section of the Chemin Vauban links Formiguères to Rouze, crossing the Capcir and then the Donezan. The route, which is generally easy and pleasant, alternates between forest tracks, sections through the undergrowth, paths along ridges and more open stretches offering beautiful panoramic views. The route runs alongside the Galbe river, crosses the Col des Ares – which marks the border between the Pyrénées-Orientales and Ariège – and then continues through the Donezan region via Carcanières and Le Puch. It also takes you past the magnificent Château d’Usson before reaching the village of Rouze.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: The Chemin Vauban: From Villefranche de Conflent to Aunat

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.74 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,286 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,018 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,374 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,943 ft

Description of the walk

(S) From Formiguères Town Hall, follow the D118 towards the village. Pass the church, then leave the D118 and continue straight ahead along “Carrer d’Amont”. Carry on until you reach the fountain.

(1) Turn left, then, at a bend, turn right onto Carrer del Soula. Continue to the hamlet of El Collet, where you’ll find a sign for the Chemin Vauban.

(2) Carry on straight ahead along the descending track. After a few metres, you’ll reach a junction.

(3) Leave the track and take a steeply descending path on the right, leading to another junction where there is a sign for the Chemin Vauban.

(4) Continue down the path straight ahead, which remains quite steep, until you reach a forest track where there is a sign for the Chemin Vauban.

(5) Continue along the descending track straight ahead leading to Espousouille and arrive at a junction where you’ll meet the Capcir GRP®.

(6) Take the GRP® du Capcir to the right, heading north-east towards Puyvalador. Follow the River Galbe until you reach a junction with a signpost.

(7) Continue straight ahead on the GRP® du Capcir, following the Galbe, until you reach another junction marked by a sign for the Chemin Vauban.

(8) Ignore the route towards Réal and turn left. Cross the Pont des Molines, pass a building, then cross the D32b road. Take the path opposite, still signposted GRP®, which leads to another junction with a sign for the Chemin Vauban.

(9) Take the D32g road to the right, then leave the Capcir GRP® route at the first junction by turning left into the housing estate. Then head right, then right again at the next junction. Follow Rue de la Close, pass the reservoir, then turn right onto Rue Fontaine Bona. At the next junction, turn left to reach the start of the track leading to the Col des Ares.

(10) Take this track to the left, heading north, and follow it, ignoring all side paths, until you reach the Col des Ares (Coll de les Ares).

(11) At the pass, take the path branching off to the right, heading east. You’ll come to a gate where a sign points to the Chemin Vauban.

(12) Continue northwards along the path. Further on, the descent takes you through woodland, with the occasional sight of old red and yellow markings. Go through a gate, also signposted for the Chemin Vauban, then carry on to the Quérigutforest track .

(13) Cross the forest track and then take the path opposite. Head down through the woodland, following the red and yellow markings of the GRP® du Donezan until you reach a road.

(14) Follow the D16 road to the left until you reach the next junction.

(15) Leave the road and follow the track to the right as it climbs, leading to another junction.

(16) Leave the GRP® trail, which heads off to the left, and keep to the right on the track; a little further on, you’ll come to a level crossing with a wooden sign pointing to Donezan Abbey.

(17) Turn left, then, a few metres further on, turn right to stay on the track. Continue until you reach another junction where you’ll find the first sign marked ‘Chemin Vauban’.

(18) Turn right towards Carcanières and continue the descent through the woodland until you reach another junction (with another sign marked ‘Chemin Vauban’) at the Col de l’Estagnou (elevation 1217).

(19) Ignore the sign for Carcanières on the right and carry on straight ahead towards Le Puch until you reach a road (with another sign marked ‘Chemin Vauban’) at the Col de Carcanères (elevation 1,207 metres).

(20) Carry on straight ahead, passing over the hills above the village of Carcanières, then continue towards Le Puch, following the red and yellow markings of the GRP® du Donezan. After a short descent, you’ll reach a road where there is a new sign indicating the Chemin Vauban.

(21) Follow the D25 road to the left and head for the village square in Le Puch.

(22) From the village square, take the GRP® du Donezan towards Usson, following Rue de la Mairie. Continue along the hillside above the village. The tarmac gradually gives way to a balcony-like track offering magnificent views of the surrounding villages. After a winding descent through the woodland, you’ll reach a junction marked by a ‘Chemin Vauban’ sign.

(23) Carry on towards Usson, descending for around 200 metres in elevation, until you reach this magnificent, exceptional heritage site.

(24) Continue to the left, heading south, then, at the bend, take the botanical trail directly opposite. Stay on this path, signposted by the GRP® du Donezan, until you reach another junction marked by a ‘Chemin Vauban’ sign.

(25) Head towards Rouze, crossing the stream via a bridge. Reach Rouze and the D16 road, the starting point for the next section leading to Campagna de Sault (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 4,938 ft - Formiguères
  2. 1 : mi 0.15 - alt. 4,990 ft - Fountain
  3. 2 : mi 1.11 - alt. 5,374 ft - Le Collet / Vauban sign
  4. 3 : mi 1.16 - alt. 5,331 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.28 - alt. 5,174 ft - Vauban sign
  6. 5 : mi 1.38 - alt. 5,062 ft - Forest track / Vauban sign
  7. 6 : mi 1.54 - alt. 4,993 ft - Junction / GRP Capcir
  8. 7 : mi 2.19 - alt. 4,905 ft - Vauban sign
  9. 8 : mi 3.03 - alt. 4,705 ft - Vauban sign
  10. 9 : mi 3.52 - alt. 4,787 ft - Vauban Road and signpost
  11. 10 : mi 3.87 - alt. 4,751 ft - Start of the forest track
  12. 11 : mi 5.46 - alt. 5,249 ft - Col des Ares
  13. 12 : mi 5.62 - alt. 5,226 ft - Vauban sign
  14. 13 : mi 6.27 - alt. 5,003 ft - Quérigut Forest Track
  15. 14 : mi 6.75 - alt. 4,744 ft - D16
  16. 15 : mi 7.02 - alt. 4,619 ft - End of route
  17. 16 : mi 7.22 - alt. 4,613 ft - Junction / End of GRP route
  18. 17 : mi 7.87 - alt. 4,446 ft - Junction / End of track
  19. 18 : mi 8.59 - alt. 4,216 ft - Vauban sign
  20. 19 : mi 9.01 - alt. 3,993 ft - Vauban sign - Col de l'Estagnou (1217 m)
  21. 20 : mi 9.35 - alt. 3,960 ft - Vauban sign and the D316 - Col de Carcanières (1207 m)
  22. 21 : mi 10.01 - alt. 3,862 ft - Vauban sign and the D25 road
  23. 22 : mi 10.09 - alt. 3,852 ft - Village square, Le Puch
  24. 23 : mi 11.42 - alt. 3,609 ft - Junction and Vauban sign
  25. 24 : mi 12.48 - alt. 2,966 ft - Usson and the Vauban sign
  26. 25 : mi 13.31 - alt. 3,048 ft - Vauban sign
  27. E : mi 13.74 - alt. 3,212 ft - Rouze

Notes

Accommodation in Mijanès, 1.2 km away
=> Le Relais de Pailhères – Maison Labourgade

Rouze Town Hall

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