Félines-Minervois walks

Starting from Félines-Minervois, this hike leads primarily to the ruins of Ventajou, which offer a magnificent view of the Corbières and the Pyrenees. But there are many other places of interest along the route: the pretty hamlet of Auberadou, the Planette dolmen, the stone apiaries and the old marble quarries of Planette, Castillou and Escaliers, a cistern carved into the rock, not to mention the Cubitus Cave, which is worth a short detour. Finally, a walk through a magnificent pine forest filled with wonderful scents will bring this journey to a harmonious conclusion.

A magnificent hike in the hills above Féline-Minervois. Our footsteps echo on the marble that lies just below the surface of the heath. Sumptuous views of the Minervois. And medieval ruins to admire.

This hike, partly off the marked trails, allows you to see the hamlet of Biot, its quarry and its mill. As you pass the marble quarries (you will cross four during the hike), you will understand the titanic work carried out by our ancestors during the last century. The hike ends with a long, safe cliff-top path offering spectacular views of the Minervois plain and, beyond, the Corbières massif. In good weather, you can see the Pyrenees in the distance.

This hike offers a variety of landscapes and trails in the Félines-Minervois marble quarry area. The passage along trails that we have recently opened up allows you to discover places that are little known or unknown.

A lovely walk in this area, well known for its two PR® trails in Caunes-Minervois and Félines-Minervois: the Marble Quarries Route. To create this circular route, off the beaten track, we spent several days ‘working’ to find the best route, clearing certain sections overgrown with vegetation and marking the paths we created with Yellow Circles. In the marble quarries, you can really appreciate the titanic effort put in by the workers at the start of the 20th century. Information boards explain how the various quarries we come across used to operate.

From Notre-Dame du Cros (Caunes-Minervois), a route takes you to former marble quarries, with a picnic stop at the renovated Ventajou refuge, near the ruins of the castle of the old village that has disappeared. On the way back, you pass by the Moulin de Biot, a former witness to a technique of using wind energy for sawing marble. Warning from the author of the route in the "practical information" tab (2/11/2021)

If you enjoy walking among junipers, gorse and rockroses on a very stony but not particularly difficult path, you will love this short hike, which will take you to the quarry where the red marble columns of the Palace of Versailles were quarried.

The first half of this walk takes place in the Argent Double valley, the second half in the Cros valley, following parallel paths on a roughly south-north axis, allowing you to discover different tree species and the geological diversity of this very dry limestone massif.

This small river, which flows into the Aude after 50 km, is the focus of this circular route starting from Cantignergues, a hamlet in La Livinière, in the commune of Hérault, to its source near the village of Ferrals-les-Montagne, a village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. A picnic area (with tables and barbecue) has been set up near the stone "gatehouse" where the waters of the Cesse emerge, disappearing during periods of drought at the foot of the Cathar citadel of Minerve.

Starting from Cassagnoles, this walk in the Haut Languedoc Regional Nature Park leads to the Saladou and Pierres Blanches viewpoints, both offering exceptional views of the Minervois, the Corbières, the Montagne Noire and the Pyrenees. The alternation between long stretches through magnificent woodland, a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, and ridge walks is what gives this challenging route – which includes several very steep sections – its charm.

Starting from the village of Citou, this hike first leads to the Roc de Moussu which, despite its modest height (539 m), offers a viewpoint that is highly renowned in the region. The circular hike continues through the vast Soulanes de Nore State Forest, planted with deciduous and coniferous trees. The alternation of wide forest tracks and occasionally secluded paths makes the route varied and attractive, with two sections that are rarely or never used, requiring a good sense of direction and adding a touch of excitement. A route suitable for all seasons, even in summer, as it is mostly shaded. The autumn colours here are splendid.

In the Montagne Noire, between Citou and Caunes-Minervois, this circular route follows trails that are less well-known than the traditional PR® routes. They are of great interest from both a sporting and environmental perspective. At the summit of the Roc du Moussu, the 360° panorama offers a remarkable view of the Minervois plain and the Pyrenees mountain range. On the section of trail between (4) and (6), it is recommended that you follow the GPX track closely.

A beautiful circular route starting from the village of Citou. Almost the entire hike takes place in the woods, so it is feasible in hot weather. A passage along the ridge at the highest points of the route offers beautiful views of the surrounding area, particularly the village of Lespinassière.

Starting from Citou, this circular route takes you on a route that winds along the western slopes of the massif, including the ascent to the summit of La Bourasse. Sections along the ridge offer interesting views over the Montagne Noire as far as the Minervois plain.

This hike in the Haut Languedoc Regional Nature Park allows you to discover small peaks and pastures around the village of Ferrals-les-Montagnes. After passing Mont Cayroux, which offers a magnificent 360° panorama despite its modest size (788 m), the route continues through woods, beautiful meadows and gentle hills offering new views. The Col de Serières memorial provides a historical complement, commemorating a tragic event that occurred in June 1944, while several decorated fire tanks along the way add an unusual artistic touch to the whole.

This walk, starting from Ferrals-les-Montagnes, leads to two small, easily accessible peaks, Pech Mégé and Roquedaut, situated on the southern foothills of the Montagne Noire and each offering a superb 360° panorama. It also offers the chance to walk through majestic forests, featuring a mix of different tree species, whilst enjoying a few ridge sections that provide sweeping views over the Carcassonne plain, the Minervois, the Corbières and the Pyrenees. Pleasant in any season – even in summer, as it is mostly in the shade – this route reveals its full beauty in autumn, when the leaves change colour.

Here, sheltered by deciduous and coniferous forests, you can take your time to enjoy the hike in the cool shade.Here you’ll find the Cesse, the Minervois’ iconic river, which has its source here (to be explored off the trail).

This hike starts from Ferrals-les-Montagnes and follows twoPR® trails among those that criss-cross the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, where the south of France becomes mountainous and the rivers flow either towards the Mediterranean or the ocean, thus determining the "watershed line". The source of the Cesse, at the end of this circular route, is a testament to this unspoilt area.

This beautiful walk allows naturist campers and hikers to explore the area around the Mas de Lignières campsite. The walk is done fully clothed and takes you through the vineyards and pine forest north of Cesseras. For non-naturists, there is a car park, marked on the map but not on the road, at thefirst crossing point, which can be used as a starting and finishing point.

In the Laure-Minervois area, drystone shelters known as capitelles bear witness to the history and work of the rural world. This route, marked in yellow, will take you to around thirty capitelles that have been restored by the villagers.

A lovely 8.5 km walk through heath and pine forest, or along one of the canals of the former, now-dry Marseillette pond.

This challenging walk leads, initially, to the Roc de Peyremaux, renowned for its magnificent 360° panorama. The route continues through beautiful, varied woodland, featuring a mix of tree species dominated by beech, oak and conifers. Crossing the Realpo and Gelprigoun streams will provide a bit of extra coolness – most welcome in the warmer months – before you emerge into open country to reach the Cun de San Marti. Finally, you’ll need to navigate the final descent with caution, as it is particularly steep and even downright precipitous in places. The lack of signposting makes this section relatively difficult in terms of finding your way, before you return to Lespinassière and its welcome bar.

If you enjoy wide open spaces and magnificent cairns, you will be well served.

This very short walk for the whole family takes in a boat harbour, a spillway, a canal bridge, a boatman's stop, an aqueduct, a beautiful dairy farm and a small lake where you can fish for trout. A wealth of discoveries!

A walk on flat ground (less than 10 metres elevation gain), always in full sun. The ground is very clayey and should be avoided after heavy rain. Let’s not forget that the entire Marseillette and Puichéric basin used to be a lake that was drained for agricultural purposes. There’s water everywhere, and numerous canals and ditches criss-cross the area.

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.