Le belvédère du Couserans

Winding through narrow streets and along footpaths, this route takes walkers from Saint-Lizier to Montcaliver, a viewpoint overlooking all the Couserans valleys and the splendid peaks dominated by the ‘Lord of the Couseran’: Mont Valier.
⚠️ On 18 May 2026, a user reported:
>Between the points (6) and (7), the route passes through private property.
=> Route and description updated on 24 August 2026 by a moderator

Details

5230
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.33 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,138 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,138 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,211 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,375 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the top of the village; there’s plenty of space and it’s free; toilets are available nearby (drinking water point).

(S/E) Head uphill towards Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède Cathedral and the Bishops’ Palace.

(1) At the town hall, carry on straight ahead along Rue Maubec until you reach the car park. Follow the dirt track straight on, which runs along the outside of the ramparts. 50 metres after the ramparts, turn right onto a path that climbs towards the Pouterolles cross. Turn left, pass the public bench and go down the grassy slope via the steps. Take the road on the right, towards the cemetery.

(2) At the crossroads, carry straight on along the dirt track. Go through a gate set up to cross the meadow, rejoin the track in front of an old sheepfold and leave the property (make sure you close the gate properly).
Turn immediately right onto a grassy path that descends and ends at a right angle to another path. Take this path to the left until you reach the junction with the road, with a farm on your right. Follow this road until you reach another road at a junction.

(3) Turn right towards Maubresc, which is visible below, until you reach the wayside cross on the right-hand side of the road, then turn left. After about fifty metres, turn right and follow the road alongside the stream until you reach a crossroads.

(4) Do not cross the bridge. There is an old wash house below the junction on the south side. Continue south-east for about 200 metres.

(5) Turn left onto a gravelly, uphill track (laid in 2012). Continue along the track as it climbs to the top of the Tuc de Montcalibert. Take a moment to enjoy the view...

(6) Turn back to the path you were previously following.

(5) Turn left onto the track (signposted). At the end, turn right and join the Route de Camp de la Flou (C10). Cross it and immediately turn right to rejoin the suggested route (GR®78).

(7) Turn right and follow theGR®78back to St-Lizier. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,401 ft - Car park at the top of the village. Place de la - Cathédrale Saint-Lizier (Saint-Lizier)
  2. 1 : mi 0.13 - alt. 1,437 ft - Town hall. Near the - Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Sède (Saint-Lizier)
  3. 2 : mi 0.47 - alt. 1,421 ft - Cemetery
  4. 3 : mi 1.52 - alt. 1,542 ft - Junction, turn right
  5. 4 : mi 1.83 - alt. 1,453 ft - Crossroads, opposite
  6. 5 : mi 1.96 - alt. 1,463 ft - Junction. Return trip to the summit
  7. 6 : mi 2.69 - alt. 2,211 ft - Tuc de Montcalivert
  8. 7 : mi 4.13 - alt. 1,473 ft - GR78 on the right - Église romane fortifiée Notre-Dame-de-l 'Assomption de Montjoie
  9. S/E : mi 5.33 - alt. 1,401 ft - Car park at the top of the village. Place de l’Église

Notes

Yellow markings are barely visible.
The GR®78, on the other hand, is well signposted.

Worth a visit

Vallé du Biros et Étang de Bethmale.
Haute Vallée du Couserans : villages typiques et Mont Valier plus loin.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 63 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Laurence82
Laurence82
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied landscape. Shaded, so it’s pleasant on hot days.

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stephaneguilloux
stephaneguilloux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route, very well signposted. Breathtaking views with extraordinary vantage points

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★
• Edited:

Hello Jean-Paul BARDOULAT
Thank you for your comment.
I have added a warning, amended the route and updated the description.

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Jean-Paul BARDOULAT
Jean-Paul BARDOULAT
• Edited:

Hello,
Yesterday I followed route “Le belvédère du Couserans” (no. 5230). Between points 5 and 6, it passes through private property. Following damage caused by inconsiderate walkers and horse riders (destruction of a chicane and other issues), the owner has decided, in agreement with the local council, to no longer allow access. Please could you take this ban into account in route no. 5230.

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CahierNomade
CahierNomade

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The path is generally well marked. Follow the map carefully to stay on course. After the Tuc de Montcalivert, the yellow markings are partially faded. In the woods, there is a discrepancy between the yellow-marked route and the Visorando GPS tracks (as mentioned previously). You’ll come to a ‘private property’ gate. But the path does indeed go through there.
The walk offers magnificent views; the route is very pleasant apart from the last kilometre, which is on a road in full sun.

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Vouvounet
Vouvounet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, especially the view from the highest point (the cross), if you are lucky enough to have clear skies. Passing through St Lizier and Monjoie allows you to enjoy the charms of these beautiful villages. However, the last 1,500 metres are very disappointing, as you have to walk along a road that can be quite busy.

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eric2706
eric2706

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little hike...

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AACR
AACR
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There is a slight discrepancy between the description and the track.
The route is very reliable.
There were families picnicking at the summit, but few people on the hike as a whole.

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Rocky1
Rocky1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed only partially on Friday, 18 April 2025 in sunny weather with a 4-year-old child. Departure from the village hall in Montjoie-en-Couserans and retrieval of the route for the ascent, continuation of the hike and return to the hall. Beautiful scenery of snow-capped mountains. Everything went well. We chatted with people who are familiar with the Tuc hike and discussed nearby hikes with children (thank you to the gentleman who had lunch with a Saint Pierre at the top of the Tuc). No problems with the trail. Photo break in front of the owl sculpture. Very nice afternoon. Great with children.

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Kiwinz31
Kiwinz31

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At number 4, the GPS route is incorrect for about fifteen minutes.
At the end of the hike, the road section is a bit long.
Otherwise, beautiful views throughout the hike and at the summit with the snow-capped peaks.

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massat
massat

Very beautiful hike, well done to the person who created it.
We did it in superb weather with stunning views.

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patrickdml
patrickdml

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice little hike. Just one small downside: avoid in rainy weather. The descent from Tuc de Moncalivert is tricky. The ground is very, very slippery.

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KWC096
KWC096

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

A short but interesting route, but don't do it after rain as the descent is very slippery and there is a big difference between the actual route, which is well marked in yellow, and the GPS tracks on Visorando on the descent after the cross and at the end of the route. The last part along the road isn't great either.

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Quentin486532
Quentin486532

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Beautiful viewpoint in Couserans.
However, be careful if, like me, you are hiking with your dog(s).
After Montcalivert, immediately after the descent, you will enter private property where you are likely to encounter free-roaming goats.
On the way back, you can extend the hike (but shorten the tarmac section) by turning right after Montjoie towards Bordes d'en bas, then rejoining the route you took on the way there.

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Cebene
Cebene

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful panoramic views, pleasant route
One minor drawback: the last 2 kilometres are on tarmac

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