Circular loop around Launac

A beautiful circular route steeped in history, where you will discover a castle and a fortified village in the village of Launac, which was also the site of the bloody Battle of Palot.

Details

702762
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.87 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 46 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 43 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 215 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 156 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Launac (31330)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.742962° / E 1.182845°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2042O, 2043ET, 2043O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at the Launac village hall.

(S/E) Turn right when leaving the car park, pass in front of the town hall and turn right after the church. Take the Route de Saint-Cézert (Rue du Lac) which is in front of you. Cross the stream and at the next crossroads, turn right onto Chemin de la Garenne to find Chemin de la Rochelle on the left.

(1) Turn left and follow this road. At the end of the tarmac area, go straight ahead to enter a path through the fields.
At the end of the fields, turn right and a few metres further on, after a villa, you will reach a three-way junction. Follow the road to the left (from here you can see the Frayret mast) until the next turn-off on the left.

(2) Turn left onto Chemin de la Bartasse, then continue at the end, opposite Chemin de Jordi. Cross the D58 and continue to the mast indicating the change of direction.

(3) At the mast, turn sharply left onto the path through the fields; at the end, you will enter the Bois de la Pleysse. Follow the path to the end.

(4) Turn right onto the tarmac road, which leads to the D64. Turn left and continue for about 100 metres.

(5) Turn right onto this small road towards Mailletus and continue until you reach Chemin de Coucassayré on the left.

(6) Turn left and follow Chemin de Coucassayre to the end, then turn left onto the D58.

(7) A few metres further on, turn right onto Chemin des Litanies. Continue to the crossroads.

(8) Turn left onto Chemin de la Peladère. At the end, turn right onto Chemin de La Biatre, then right again to return to the village hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 173 m - Parking at the village hall.
  2. 1 : km 0.71 - alt. 169 m - Chemin de la Rochelle
  3. 2 : km 2.42 - alt. 158 m - Frayret mast
  4. 3 : km 5.48 - alt. 187 m - Towards the Bois de la Pleysse
  5. 4 : km 7.05 - alt. 179 m - Turn right towards the D64.
  6. 5 : km 8.05 - alt. 176 m - Towards Mailletus
  7. 6 : km 10.01 - alt. 215 m - Coucassayré path
  8. 7 : km 12.33 - alt. 183 m - Chemin des Litanies
  9. 8 : km 13.09 - alt. 176 m - On the left, Chemin de la Peladère
  10. S/E : km 13.87 - alt. 175 m - Parking at the village hall.

Notes

In the 12th century, a castle and fortified village were built by the Viscounts of Gimoes. The castle became the property of the Counts of L'Isle Jourdain. Launac was the site of the bloody Battle of Palot. After a period of calm, the seigneury passed into the hands of Toulouse parliamentarians, sparking a conflict over feudal rights. The inhabitants resisted and even emigrated for years. After the Revolution, the market hall and church were rebuilt, a school was created and the ramparts were demolished.
Bring hiking boots, or trainers if possible.
Safety vest.
Open area, so windy conditions are possible.

Area crosses fields that may be muddy during rainy periods.

There is a picnic table in the Bois de la Pleysse.

Worth a visit

Church
Market hall

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
hcrando
hcrando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An ideal route after long periods of rain, with small roads and wide, gravel paths. Of course, it's not exactly adventurous, as you ride through fields on fairly flat terrain, but after such a wet spell, it's nice to have some passable paths. The village of Launac is picturesque and interesting, and the ride is pleasant and suitable for dogs.
Two comments: at point 2, after the Chemin de la Bartasse, you must first turn left onto the Chemin de Frayret and then later onto the Chemin de Jordi opposite.
At point 3, in the Pleysse woods, there is a nice surprise in the form of a picnic table and benches, which means you don't have to sit on the wet ground.
Thanks to the author.

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CloShanti
CloShanti

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Best practised after rain, as there is little mud, and outside of hot periods.

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Rémy31
Rémy31

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

No view of the Pyrenees, of course, but no other tourist attractions either.

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Farce
Farce

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Too much driving for me

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jab31
jab31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

A pleasant country walk, best enjoyed in spring when the vegetation is in bloom!

You can shorten it at km 8 to make a 10 km circular route.

Tarmac between km 8 and 10! And a little at the end.

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Bernard CONDAMINES
Bernard CONDAMINES

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The village of Launac is worth a visit, and history buffs will enjoy spending time there.
The hike itself is rather disappointing, too flat, too much tarmac and no remarkable scenery.

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gunam
gunam

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

After completing the southern section of the D29 route several times, this time I travelled along the northern section.
This northern side is also flat and unvaried, except for the section through the woods.
It is very quiet, with little traffic, allowing you to walk peacefully through the countryside.
The whole route seems long and certainly tedious to me, so I prefer to do only half of it.
Thank you for this route and its description.

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Chichoune32
Chichoune32

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Too flat for my taste and not very visually appealing. Just good for a morning workout.

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Mreff
Mreff

Hello

I have just made the changes, thank you for your feedback.

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marchelaroute
marchelaroute

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Hello

Two small comments about the description that caused us some hesitation.
In paragraph (S/E), instead of "Then a few metres further on", it would be better to say 200 metres further on. The "few metres" left us unsure.

In paragraph (2), "Turn left onto Chemin du Frayret": this road is actually a little further on, still on the left, but first there is Chemin de Bartasse.

It should also be noted that the markings are yellow and very easy to see.

Thank you and well done for your work.
Kind regards
Jean

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los Calvets
los Calvets

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Apart from the village of Launac, the hike is not particularly interesting. Far too much tarmac.

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