Fontanès-de-Sault walks

A pleasant heritage walk open to all around Fontanès-de-Sault, where you’ll follow a section of the famous ‘Chemin Vauban’.

This route takes you through an exceptional site with its mountain landscapes, fauna and flora. From the summit, you can see the whole of the Pays de Sault, the Ariège and Catalan Pyrenees and, if visibility is good, the Pic de Bugarach above the Carcassonne plain and the Montagne Noire.

This hike is best done at the end of October. If the weather is favourable, the "French Quebec" will dazzle you with its autumn colours. But there's nothing to stop you coming back in spring or summer. There are some beautiful views of the plateau and its villages: Rouze, Mijanes, Artigues, Le Pla, Le Puch, Quérigut and the peaks overlooking Donezan. The first half of the route follows the Vauban trail.

This section of the Chemin Vauban links Rouze to Aunat, gradually leaving the Donezan behind to reach the Aude Pyrenees. The route, which is generally easy and accessible, alternates between sections through woodland and pleasant paths, notably crossing the border between Ariège and Aude. The section between Campagna-de-Sault and the Col de la Clause is particularly interesting for its heritage and numerous information boards, which provide a better understanding of the areas passed through, especially around the Dournes tunnel.From the Col de la Clause, the route continues mainly downhill through woodland before gradually reaching the village of Aunat.

The Pic de Tarbésou circular route, starting from the Mijanès ski resort, passing by:Étang de Rabassoles,Étang Noir,Étang Bleu,the Col de la Coumeille de l'Ours,Pic de TarbésouReturn via the Crête de Mounégou.

A fantastic hike in the Donezan, allowing you to discover all of its villages and rich heritage.The main difficulty of this route is its length, covering nearly 20 km.Best enjoyed in autumn, when the flamboyant colours of Donezan offer landscapes of exceptional beauty.

The ascent of the Pic de la Camisette, a granite peak, offers the chance to explore a wild area around the Étangs de la Camisette, the site of a tragedy in 1944 (a plane crash). Starting from Plaine d’Artigues, the route follows a section of the GR®7A, then a section off the beaten track but marked in yellow and with cairns.

This summit is a magnificent viewpoint overlooking much of the Aude, the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Ariège. This ridge walk takes you to the Étang Noir and Étang Bleu lakes. These lakes are bordered by small pine groves where you can relax.

A circular hike around the Étangs de Rabassoles lakes via the Pic de Tarbésou (2,364 metres), which offers magnificent views of the surrounding 2,000-metre peaks.

An easy hike from the Col de Pailhères. Magnificent 360° panorama from the summit of Tarbésou (2,364 m), then descent into a slightly more mineral landscape towards the Étang Noir de Rabassoles. The climb up to the Col de la Coumeilles de l'Ours is fairly quick, then a gentle descent back to the Col de Pailhères through the mountain pines.

A beautiful hike not far from the Ascou-Pailhères resort. On the agenda are the magnificent Pic de Tarbesou viewpoint (2364m) and the three Rabassoles lakes. To spice things up, the last part requires good navigation skills to find your way.

This easy hike takes you through the woods above Belvis, alternating between footpaths and forest roads. There are some beautiful views of the region, as well as the Barrenc de Picaussel chasm. The chasm, located at the edge of the path, is very well secured (barriers and gates prevent accidents).

A beautiful hike in the Pays de Sault starting from Roquefeuil with climbs up Pic des Sarrasis and Pic du Midi offering stunning panoramic views.

A refuge, a large pond, a pass, a legendary peak and a small pass during this mountain hike. The route is accurate. Do not cut corners. Natura 2000 site: specific rules apply. Signposting in good condition (17 July 2021). There are very few directional posts. Allow at least 5 hours’ walking time. Marked in yellow / red and yellow / unmarked sections.

Discover the Étang de Laurenti, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Ariège region, which reveals all the magic of the Donezan, a mountain range rightly nicknamed ‘the little Quebec of the Ariège’. On arrival, after passing through a beautiful forest of beech and fir trees, you’ll discover, in an enchanting and majestic setting, a lake fringed with pine trees, nestled at the foot of the Roc Blanc.

This climb in the sunny Pyrenees is a real classic, which means it can get quite busy in good weather. However, the magnificent Étang de Laurenti and the 360° view from the summit of Roc Blanc are well worth the effort required during the hike.

A magnificent hike through forests and meadows to discover three lakes surrounded by peaks.

Five lakes to see, a peak to climb and two passes to cross on this walk. This hike is classified as difficult because the descent from the Col de l’Egue is very challenging with a steep gradient. The route is accurate. Do not cut the bends. Zone Natura 2000 site: specific rules apply. Signposting in good condition (18 July 2021). There are very few directional posts. Allow at least 5 hours’ walking time. Marked in yellow / red and yellow.

A superb getaway in the ‘Little Quebec’ of the Ariège, taking you to one of the countless ponds in the Donezan region, namely the Étang de Balbonne.

This little loop is a lovely surprise. You'll discover ponds away from the crowds and various small lakes, as well as two of the three Rabassoles ponds, including the famous Étang Bleu... which is green!

Wild and beautiful landscapes with blue ponds.

This demanding hike requires a good sense of direction. It first leads to the Étang de Balbonne lake and then continues off-trail to join theGR®7B. The return journey is on the Vallée d'Orlu side to reach the Col de l'Egue and then descend to the Estagnet. Magnificent landscapes where water is omnipresent, but you will have to work hard to reach them, sparing no effort to cross the steepest sections such as the aptly named Échelle de Balbonne.

Peak accessible from the car park before La Restanque, with a view of the Dent d'Orlu.See practical information ¹GPX track highly recommended.

A particularly interesting round trip, thanks to the variety of landscapes and views. The route follows part of the “chemin vieux”, which is very well signposted with attractive signs. Park in Roquefort-de-Sault in the morning, have lunch in Escouloubre and set off again along the paths in the afternoon: that makes for a lovely day out.

A lovely walk through the forest, sheltered from the wind on days when the Tramontane is strong. A challenging hike with a steep climb to reach the Belvédère de la Mousquière, but the view more than makes up for the effort!!! Beautiful views from the Belvédères du Diable and lovely glimpses of the Quillan valley or Bugarach along the route.

A family hike accessible to all, in the Aude Pyrenees, leading to the Belvédère du Diable viewpoint, with the chance to discover the unusual Carach chalet along a constantly shaded route.