La Serre des Aiguilles, viewpoint overlooking Puilaurens Castle

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This short forest hike will take you to the top of a hill with a magnificent view of Puilaurens Castle. It is an interesting addition to a visit to the castle.

Details

n°27104535
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.37 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 218 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 218 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 815 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 608 m
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Photos

The Castle
The Castle

Description of the walk

Park in the last car park before the castle, on a right-hand bend in the access road.

(S/E) Head in the opposite direction to the castle and immediately take a dirt road on the left.

(1) At the first left-hand bend, leave the road and take a forest track on the right.

(2) At a small pass (elevation 713), ignore a track on the right and turn left. Ignore a track descending to the right and continue around the Serre des Aiguilles on the right. You will come to a dirt road at a large plateau (elevation 773).

(3) Take a steep path on the left indicated by a wooden sign. Follow it to the Serre des Aiguilles viewpoint.

(4) Retrace your steps back to the road.

(3) Take the road on the left and return to the first fork you passed on the way out.

(1) Continue on the same track to the right, following the same route as on the way up, to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 609 m - Car park near the - Château de Puilaurens
  2. 1 : km 0.81 - alt. 651 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.42 - alt. 713 m - Unnamed pass - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 2.32 - alt. 772 m - Foot of the summit
  5. 4 : km 2.54 - alt. 812 m - Serre des Aiguilles
  6. S/E : km 6.37 - alt. 608 m - Car park

Notes

The dirt road between (3) and (1) on the way back can seem long and monotonous, but you can also return by the same path through the woods.
At (4), on the OpenStreetMap map, a path is marked to a second viewpoint further north, but it seems to be lost in the undergrowth. To be checked.

Worth a visit

You can, of course, start the day with a visit to the castle in the morning. Don't hesitate to take the guided tour, which is very interesting.
Picnic tables are available next to the entrance buildings.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Texierala
Texierala
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with a magnificent view of the fortress.
An accessible hike as it is short with little elevation gain.

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JFAime
JFAime

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, the view from the belvedere is breathtaking, although I started the hike from the village of Puilaurens at the foot of the castle, which is well worth a break at the castle car park, then returned to the village via a paved road that is still quite impressive.
This option adds a few kilometres to the route.
But what a pleasure it was to have done it!

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Hermione Goury
Hermione Goury

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with breathtaking views of Puylaurens Castle! The path is shaded and winds through the forest, and is very easy to follow. It's definitely worth making a detour to the viewpoint, even if the climb is steep, as it's really worth it. Round off your visit with a tour of the castle itself, which is very moving.

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Azimut71
Azimut71

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Close to the start, a path, which appears to be recent, marked in yellow and signposted " Serre des Aiguilles ", offers a steeper but more pleasant shortcut than the track. It ends 50 metres above point 1. A few metres higher up, another steep path branches off to the left. However, it is better to follow the " sentier des marcassins " (wild boar trail), as described, which allows you to reach point 3 without too much effort. The final climb is well worth it! The view of the castle is worth the effort.
Once you have descended to point 3, you will find the path on the left that you overlooked on the way up. Why not take it back down? (It is very well marked). Finally, at the bench on the downhill track below point 1, you will discover another beautiful view of the castle.

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