Grand tour of the Lauragais hillsides from Castanet

Park in the library car park (former town hall) or the large market hall in Castanet-Tolosan.

(S/E) Head towards the traffic lights on Avenue de Toulouse (D813). Cross and continue straight on Place Pierre Richard towards Rue Jean-Marie Arnaud. You will reach the small roundabout on Place Flourès (statue of the Virgin Mary).

(1) Take Rue de la Carrelasse, which goes up to the left. Follow Rue du Moulin Courrege to the right, then, after the small Place Galinie, take the^first street on the right, Chemin de Savignol, and follow it to the small wood of the same name.

(2) Leave the road and turn right onto the footbridge into the Bois de Savignol. Follow the path on the right and then climb up the hillside. Please note that this sunken path can be slippery in wet weather, so bring walking sticks and sturdy shoes if necessary. When you reach the small road, turn left and follow it for about 100 metres before continuing along the path that leads into the woods (leave the road on your right at the bend).

(3) Follow the main path that branches off to the left uphill and continue along it until you reach the D95A (Route de Rebigue). Turn left onto this road. At the junction with the D95 (Route des Crêtes), continue straight ahead to the left. Be careful, as depending on the time and day, there may be traffic. Keep carefully to the left, but cross to the right before the bend at the top of the small hill (no visibility) as the verge is wider there. You will reach a crossroads near the hamlet of Rouziès.

(4) Leave the road and take the path downhill on the right, passing close to the electricity pylon. At the bottom, cross the Ruisseau du Sentou stream and climb up opposite, then descend towards the Ruisseau de Reganel stream. Follow it on the right for 40 metres (in wet weather, this area can be a little muddy) before crossing it and climbing the hillside towards Rebigue. You will reach the D95a.

(5) Cross it to reach the orientation table located on the Rebigue water tower. Magnificent panorama of the Pyrenees mountain range. Ideal bench for a break and/or picnic. Here, join the GR®653 (Arles to Compostela route). Turn left (with your back to the Pyrenees) onto the road for 150 m, then take the path that descends to the left. Follow the yellow and red-white GR® markings. After passing the water treatment plant, the path climbs gently up the hillside, then descends near the Ruisseau de la Forgue stream. In wet weather, this area can be a little muddy. You will reach the Campistron signpost.

(6) Climb to the right towards Le Falcou via the path that is closed to two-wheeled vehicles. When you reach the road, turn left and follow it for 300 metres, then turn right at the bend and follow the small grassy path (GR® markings). You will reach a crossroads.

(7) Here, you have two options:
- turn right to follow the short version of the hike, leaving the GR® and continuing right on the D79, taking the hard shoulder and then the pavement to reach the small roundabout at Place Flourès, which you passed on the way there,
- continue straight ahead on the GR® trail, which is the route shown on the map. You will arrive at the road near the Mervilla cemetery. On the left are the town hall and Saint-Jean-Baptiste church. There is a small square with a bench where you can stop for a picnic. From the cemetery, continue straight ahead to reach the Route des Crêtes. Follow it on the pavement before taking the Chemin de Micas on the right (GR® signposting). When you reach the Chemin de l'Étang, turn left until you reach the Bois Blanc signpost.

(8) Leave the GR® and take the path on the right towards Auzeville. Descend gradually, enjoying beautiful views of the Toulouse metropolitan area in the distance. At the T-junctions, turn left^once, then right twice. You will reach the D79A, Chemin des Coteaux. When you reach the private castle of Castel Marly, you can admire it from the road, then turn back to return to the RD crossroads.

(9) Turn left onto the D79a, then at the next crossroads, turn left onto Chemin de Lamalamaure. At the end of the road, continue straight ahead on the path that follows it. Cross the fields to reach a crossroads of paths at a hedge.

(10) Turn left, following this hedge and the crest of the plateau. Walk along the edge of the field until you reach a road that descends gradually and then more steeply towards the Castanet cemetery. Continue downhill alongside the cemetery and take the Allée du Cimetière opposite, reaching the junction with Rue de la Ritournelle.

(11) Turn right, then walk through and visit the old quarter, taking in the square and church garden, the Quartier du Fort and the Church of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais before reaching the market hall car park (S/E) after crossing the D813.

Note: the automatically suggested duration is a little long. The walk can be done at a leisurely pace in 4 hours.

In wet conditions, the climb up the Savignol woods (2) can be slippery: wear good shoes and use walking sticks. Similarly, there may be small muddy areas after rain near the streams before (5).
Stay on the side of the ridge road for the first 300 metres (4)
No other difficulties.
Benches for picnic breaks at (5) and after (7).

Shorter route (10.5 km, 3 hours) starting from (7):

(7) Take the path on the right for 150 m, then turn left to go up the road until you reach the D95 (Route des Crêtes). Cross it and take the path that leads into the fields to the right of the old well. Follow the path down the hillside (on a clear day, there is a beautiful view of the plain and the beginning of the Montagne Noire) before entering a small wood. In wet weather, the descent into the wood can be slippery, especially the last few metres to reach the road that joins the D79 (Route de Mervilla). Take it on the right (hard shoulder, then pavement) to reach the (1), then the start (S/E) by crossing the D813.

(5) Panoramic view of the Pyrenees from the Rebigue orientation table