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Park in the designated hikers’ car park at the entrance to Trassanel.
PR® yellow markings + Yellow Circle
(S/E) Head towards the village, pass the small church, then turn right following the wooden sign for “Grotte du Maquis”. Turn right at the bend and follow the stony path leading to a small pass where a memorial stone stands in memory of the Trassanel Maquis, marking the start of the trail followed by the Maquis fighters on 8 August 1944.
(1) Head down to the right along this narrow, stony path, which winds its way down through several tight bends to reach the hollow of the Ravin de Matte, then climbs gently up the other side. You will reach the Grotte du Maquis.
(2) This place of remembrance, marked by a commemorative plaque, is well worth a stop, if only to honour the memory of the fighters who took refuge here and perished. The cave is quite spacious and a head torch is needed to explore it fully and appreciate the various stalactites and stalagmites. In the first chamber, note the poignant wooden cross and the plaque marking the spot where a Maquis fighter fell, mortally wounded, and was taken in by a resident of Cabrespine.
Continue along the path, which turns right a few metres further on to begin a very steep descent into the Ravin d’Escoles before climbing even more steeply up the opposite slope: this section requires caution due to the gradient and the unstable, stony ground. Pass the entrance to the Coroluna cave and continue the climb to the ridge to reach a junction marked by a cairn.
(3) Turn right onto a well-marked path leading to the foot of the Roc d’Agnel, where another cairn stands. The path continues straight ahead for about twenty metres, then comes to some rocks which you must climb using your hands to reach the summit: this short section requires caution.
(4) Enjoy the magnificent 360° panorama, which includes a large part of the Pyrenees range to the south. Turn back, taking the same care when descending, then return to the cairn marking the junction.
(3) Head straight on and continue the descent. When you reach a junction where a sign points to a botanical trail on the right and the direction of Cabrespine, turn left. Continue on level ground, go through a fence, pass between two old sheepfolds and reach a three-way junction.
(5) Keep to the right, following the sign for “Roc de l’Aigle”. Keep to the right; a few metres further on, go through a second fence, then a third. Then take a right-hand bend, ignore the path on the left leading back to Trassanel, and arrive at a wooden chicane with an information sign marking the entrance to the Natura 2000 area.
(6) Pass through this barrier to begin a fairly steep climb and veer left before the 641m mark to follow the new marked route (IGN map incorrect). Then return to the original route and reach a junction marked by a new information sign and a marker post indicating Roc de l'Aigle to the right.
(7) Turn right, following the markings (IGN map incorrect), to reach another junction with numerous more or less ‘artistic’ cairns and another information sign. Continue right along the gentle ridge leading to the Roc de l’Aigle.
(8) Exceptional views over the Cabardès and its vineyards, the Carcassonne plain, the Corbières and the Ariège Pyrenees. Retrace your steps, pass the information sign and climb up to the right. The path soon takes a sharp 90° left-hand bend and joins the ridge at a small granite marker dated 1953. Turn right, cross the wooden barrier marking the exit from the Natura 2000 area and follow the wide path which curves to the left and leads to the junction with the GR®36.
(9) Continue straight ahead.
Very old, very rare and almost faded yellow + green + blue markings
(10) Turn left. Further on, let the track leading to the Moun Simel antennas branch off to the left and follow the wide path skirting Roquo Négro to the south. Keep going in the same direction until you reach a three-way junction.
(11) Continue left, go straight on at the junction and head towards the road leading to Fournes-Cabardès.
(12) When you see it, turn right onto a path between two fences, which leads further into a beautiful, very dense woodland and eventually comes out onto a track suitable for vehicles.
(13) Turn left. Go straight on at the inverted Fork in the road (signposted ‘Sentier de Cap Gros’ in the opposite direction), rejoin the tarmac and reach a crossroads by a beautiful stone cross.
Yellow PR® markings
Continue to the right towards Fournes-Cabardès and arrive at the junction in the centre of the village by a school bus stop.
(14) Turn left. Once in the bend, continue straight on along a dual-track path, which further on becomes a footpath. Go straight on and descend to cross the Ruisseau de la Ménetière (dry in October 2023), then follow it along the higher ground. You’ll reach a three-way junction: sign for “Sentier du Bosc Grand” in the opposite direction.
No signposting
(15) Turn left, keeping to the widest path. Descend into a wooded valley, then climb up the other side to emerge onto a tarmac road. Head left, then turn left at the junction, towards the Grotte de Limousis. Do not enter the site but take a steeply ascending path on the right, which then levels out before reaching a fork.
(16) Turn right towards Marmorières and come out onto a tarmac road before reaching the hamlet.
GR® red and white markings
Turn left. When the road begins to curve to the right, leave it and take the other tarmac road opposite, which is steeply sloping and signposted as a dead end. Continue to the end of the tarmac.
(17) Continue along the path in the same direction, ignoring a turn-off on the left at a ‘private property’ sign. Turn left at a right angle at the next three-way junction, follow a stream on your right at a higher level, cross it easily as it is dry (as of October 2023) and continue on the other bank.
(18) A tricky junction: look out for the signpost indicating you should leave the wide path you have been following and turn left onto a narrow, steep path. This levels out later and winds through lovely woodland before reaching the first houses of Trassanel. Keep to the right to return to the junction at the start, then turn right at the fountain and head back to the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
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