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Escoussens walks
From Sainte-Scholastique to the Quatre Saints
A beautiful, undulating route that passes through four places dedicated to the four saints of Dourgne:
Saint-Macaire and his healing spring, Saint-Stapin the giant, Saint-Chipoli or Saint-Hippolyte, Saint-Ferréol and his Capelette.
La Capelette from Dourgne
Route through the Montagne Noire, with superb panoramic views of the Lauragais, the village of Dourgne and Sainte-Scholastique, places of worship (Quatre Saints) and magnificent pine forests.
La Chapelle la Capelette in Dourgne
Breathtaking panoramic views steeped in history and legend.
02/08/2023 Message from the moderator: Change to the route at point 11 to continue on thePR® and avoid En Crouzilles, which is private property.
La Capelette via the Taurou Gorges
A lovely climb up a steep gorge leads to the dry grasslands of the Désert de Saint-Ferréol, where La Capelette stands proudly overlooking a vast landscape.
The Three Streams Trail in Dourgne
A beautiful, easy walk between the plains and the mountains, in the bocage at the foot of the Montagne Noire, with superb views of the plains.
See practical information.
Old barns - Croix de Montalric
Semi-shaded route in the Montagne Noire, with beautiful views of the Revel and Puylaurens valley and the Pyrenees. Forest of fir, pine and beech trees, moors of ferns and ash trees. Little elevation gain.
Most of this hike follows unmarked paths, even if you come across some markings. Only take these into account when they are mentioned in the description.
The crosses of the Causse de Labruguière
From Caucalières to Caucalières via Payrin, a walk in the fresh air.
The Croix de Fangasse in Arfons
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.
Between forests and peat bogs (alternative route)
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).
Lac de Laprade via the peat bogs
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.
Circular forest starting from Lac de Laprade Basse
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.
Between the forest and the Montagne Noire drainage ditch
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
In the footsteps of Pierre Paul Riquet's "Rigole d'Essai"
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.
In the Loubatière National Forest
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.
Lampy, Lampiot, around the lake
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.
Between forests and ditches, in the footsteps of P.P. Riquet
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.
Short walk around Lake Lampy
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.
The little Semalens circular
This is a pleasant walk in all seasons, with pretty panoramic views and fairly good signposting.
First follow the signs for "Petite boucle" (small circular) then "Plôts des Drulhes".
Some parts of the route cross private property, so please respect it.
Oppidum of Berniquaut and Saint-Jammes Chapel
On the western edge of the Montagne Noire, this hike harmoniously combines historical remains and beautiful views. The Oppidum de Berniquaut, the excavations of medieval dwellings on the same site, a large standing stone with cup marks and the ruins of the Chapelle Saint-Jammes de Besauceles will delight history enthusiasts. Lovers of beautiful landscapes will also find something to satisfy them on this route, which overlooks the Sorèze plain from a height of over 300 metres.
Oppidum of Berniquaut
Circuit to Gallic ruins offering a 360° view of the Sorèze plain.
Walk in Hautpoul via the Mazamet footbridge
This is a round trip to visit the hilltop village of Hautpoul, discovering the Mazamet footbridge that leads there. The footbridge offers breathtaking views of the Arnette valley.
This route takes you along the Chemin de la Jamarié, an old salt road and Roman road, until you reach the footbridge.
The two sides of Durfort via the Gravette Dam on Lake Cammazes
A very beautiful route, almost entirely on footpaths and often through woodland.
It will allow you to discover the different facets of the two sides of Durfort up to the Gravette dam on Lake Cammazes.
Chemin des Passes and Mazamet Footbridge
This is a circular route that takes you over the Mazamet footbridge, avoiding the crowds. At the end of the hike, there will be a few people around the Maison du Bois et du Jouet, where the activities will be greatly appreciated by young and old alike.
The channel through the Lac de Saint-Denis
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.
Loop south of Hautpoul
This trail runs south of Hautpoul through varied landscapes, a forest with multiple species and ever-changing flora. Your efforts to reach its heart will be rewarded by the discovery of this magnificent and picturesque little medieval village. At the foot of the Virgin perched on her rock, you will have access to a superb panorama. There are several historical sites, in particular Saint-Pierre des Plots.
See warning at the beginning of the description
The footbridge from Hautpoul to Mazamet
Hike with elevation gain, marked in yellow at intervals, which will allow you to use the Hautpoul footbridge opened at the end of 2018 and cross the medieval village of the same name.
There is a tricky section between points (6) and (7) where recent tree felling has more or less destroyed the mapped paths and removed the markers.
Alzeau water intake
A lovely little walk from the Bassin de Saint-Denis to the Prise Alzeau and back along the stream.
The Heights of Gravette
From the dam, head towards the Montagne Noire Natural Park for a hike in the forest and along the river.
After a short wet crossing and a final easy climb, the arrival point reveals a magnificent view of the dam.
The Roquefort Tower in Les Cammazes
There are no signs indicating this remnant of a powerful Cathar fortress where three hundred Cathar perfects took refuge in 1209. All that remains is a tower and an intact Romanesque gate marking the entrance to the castrum. This walk along the Rigole de la Montagne and Sor rivers will reveal the entrance to the hidden path.
Tour of Lac des Cammazes
This hike is very easy to follow, but bring sunscreen and water if you're doing it in the middle of summer!
Above Les Cammazes via the pre-Romanesque chapel
This hike alternates between beech, oak and chestnut forests and cattle pastures on the hillsides. The elevation gain is gentle, but the beautiful descent through the woods after Le Montagnet can be difficult in wet weather. Spring and late autumn are the best times to enjoy this route.
The Aiguille des Cammazes Forest
A shaded hike through a beautiful forest that once provided charcoal.
A few pits, or charcoal pits, remain as evidence of this.
Clauzet circular
A circuit through the woods following the crystal-clear Rivaillou stream! Discover the natural beauty of the Tarn, the ruins of Clauzet and the beautiful village of Boissezon. You will also discover the Virgin of Salette and the textile factories.
The Chemin des Amoureux
The Chemin des Amoureux (Lovers' Path) takes you up the Laudot valley toward Cammazes. You return on the GR7.
Mas-Cabardès - The four villages circuit
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.
La Montagne Noire via Cubserviès
Exploring La Montagne Noire and one of the highest waterfalls in Europe.
An unusual discovery of an area of the Montagne Noire starting from Les Ilhes.
This challenging hike involves four successive ascents and descents in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. It offers a wide variety of places and views throughout the day.
To complete this loop, we have cleared a path through broom and holm oak trees. The GPX track is essential for following this section, which is approximately 400 m long, from the point (10). The rest of the hike is on well-marked trails. Note the crossing of the Ruisseau de La Grave (at an altitude of 397 m), which can be tricky if the flow is strong.
Places of interest in Sidobre
This hike will allow you to discover the main attractions (granite rocks with surprising shapes) of Sidobre.
Moderator's rating Some difficulties with orientation on this route, see reviews
The Sidobre from Lac du Merle
This circuit combines the pleasures of walking with those of a picnic by the water.
The Sidobre rocks are a curiosity worth discovering.
Lac du Merle is a haven of peace and enchantment where you can relax in the summer heat. It is a beautiful spot with rocks rising out of the water, giving you the feeling of walking on air.