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.

Details

817087
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.80 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 486 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 485 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 595 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 274 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Arfons road.

(S/E) Keep right on Allées Saint-Stapin, pass the equestrian centre and the campsite, continue straight ahead past a lake. The path then becomes a wide forest track.

(1) At the fork, leave the return path on the right and turn left. Follow the road alongside the sheep pens until you reach the edge of the meadow.

(2) Take the small path on the left that runs alongside the meadows.

(3) Turn right onto the forest track and, at the next crossroads, turn left into the pine forest. A little further on, ignore a path on the right and continue straight ahead until you reach a large pylon with a view of Massaguel. Go around it and follow the path to the Chapel of Saint-Férréol (la Capelette).

(4) After the chapel, go around to the left and follow the animal tracks to rejoin the original path.

(3) Take the same path as on the way there until you reach the first crossroads.

(1) Take the path on the left that climbs into the woods.

(5) Continue to the right along the Saint-Chipoli quarry and follow the path down to the statue of Saint-Stapin (short round trip). Superb viewpoint.

(6) Take the path on the right that winds down quite steeply. Cross the road and continue straight ahead. Continue downhill, cross the road a second time to reach the Arfons road. Take it to the right until you reach the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 275 m - Departure from the Arfons road
  2. 1 : km 2.56 - alt. 468 m - At the fork, turn left
  3. 2 : km 3.98 - alt. 594 m - Sign: follow to the left
  4. 3 : km 4.2 - alt. 588 m - Follow the track to the right
  5. 4 : km 6.27 - alt. 533 m - La Capelette (viewpoint) - Chapelle de Saint-Ferréol
  6. 5 : km 9.66 - alt. 537 m - Saint-Chipoli quarry (viewpoint)
  7. 6 : km 10.73 - alt. 442 m - Saint-Stapin (viewpoint)
  8. S/E : km 11.8 - alt. 275 m - Arrival

Notes

No water source.
Respect fences and pastures.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
bergpaden
bergpaden

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with stunning views over the Tarn plain.

Machine-translated

ChristL31
ChristL31

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wonderful short hike

Machine-translated

Mercure9
Mercure9

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There should be more details at the outset because there are several possible paths

Machine-translated

Gisel
Gisel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Covered in 4½ hours, in a group (23 hikers) and in the opposite direction to that planned (ascent instead of descent via St. Stapin and along the St. Chipoli quarry), return via the Castellas cave after circling the St. Férréol and Capelette desert. We felt it was safer to do this section (marked 6 and 5 on the map) uphill. Superb landscapes and magnificent views at 4, 5 and 6.

Machine-translated

gleyzon
gleyzon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike
Good scouting

Machine-translated

Flofabre
Flofabre

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, but the directions to the starting point are a bit vague.
There are several possible starting points. The one that goes through the quarry is GREAT, with magnificent views, but you need good shoes and the elevation gain is a bit tough if you're not in good shape.
The markings aren't great, to say the least, but it's easy to find your way by following the chapel with your eyes once you've passed through the forest.
I recommend this very popular walk, with splendid views all along the way and a little chapel in the middle of nowhere, it's superb
The descent to Dourgne is a bit bumpy, so watch your knees!

Machine-translated

Deltasun
Deltasun

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike offering beautiful views of the surrounding area. There is a very pretty chapel along the route.
The hike takes no more than four hours, without rushing.
The last section of the descent to Dourgne is quite rugged.
All in all, a very beautiful hike.

Machine-translated

jfprenant
jfprenant
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with superb views. Apart from Peyremaux Rock, we haven't seen anything better in the area so far (so we're going to try Berniquaut, following Gunam's advice)

Having a bite to eat with this view is just a treat

For beginners, the elevation gain is not to be overlooked (both uphill and downhill), but it's still very doable.

In terms of crowds, you're not alone in the world because of the car parks next to La Capelette and just below the Saint-Stapin statue (but that's relative).

Machine-translated

sofcool65
sofcool65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with no particular difficulties.
Magnificent scenery at the summit.
I recommend it without hesitation.
The chapel is very beautiful.
We enjoyed this hike

Machine-translated

Djidji
Djidji

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Hike without major difficulty; at the end of the route, there is some mud on the trail shared with mountain bikers, and the ground is sometimes slippery.

Machine-translated

Thierry83220
Thierry83220

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk with several options, including the intermediate loop, which can be done first via the village of Dourgne.
No difficulty (except for the elevation gain, depending on your fitness level) and suitable for all weather conditions and families.
Towards the end, there is a paragliding launch site, which is also nice to watch before the final descent (which can be slippery after heavy rain, but it's still manageable!).
Thank you

Machine-translated

michel31650
michel31650

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes.
Can be completed in 4 hours at a normal walking pace

Machine-translated

Guillaume123456
Guillaume123456

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you for sharing.
A pleasant walk.
Cars can drive close to the chapel, which spoils the setting and tranquillity of this section a little.

Machine-translated

gunam
gunam

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful short hike thanks to the setting, the views and the varied route. Certainly the most beautiful in the area, the other being Berniquaut from Dourgne.
I do it at least once a year when the weather is not good in the Pyrenees.
It can be done in half a day in 3½ hours at a leisurely pace, but you should always allow extra time.
Please note that the passage above the quarry is closed from 4 p.m. (or 4.30 p.m.?) to 5.30 p.m.
Stay alert and keep a close eye on the map, especially around the St Ferréol chapel, to complete the small loop.

Many thanks to the author.

Machine-translated

Wolfran
Wolfran

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful hike
The final descent is quite steep, which is perhaps worth mentioning.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.