Le belvédère du Couserans

de fr

From narrow streets to footpaths, this route takes walkers from Saint-Lizier to Montcaliver, a viewpoint overlooking the entire Couseranne valleys and the splendid peaks dominated by the lord of the Couseranne: Mont Vallier.
⚠️ On 18 May 2026, a user reported:
>Between points (5) and (6), the route passes through private property. Following misconduct by inconsiderate walkers and horse riders (destruction of a >chicane and other damage), the owner has decided, in agreement with the local council, to no longer permit >access. Please take this >ban into account in route no. 5230.

Details

n°5230
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.99 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,168 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,168 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,211 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,358 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View from the Tuc de Montcalivert
Nice porch in the village of Montjoie
Montjoie Church
View of the countryside

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the top of the village; plenty of space and free of charge; toilets available nearby (drinking water point).

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

(1) At the town hall, continue straight ahead along Rue Maubec to the car park. Follow the dirt track straight on, skirting the ramparts on the outside. 50 m past 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, continue straight on along the dirt track. Go through a gate to cross the meadow, rejoin the path in front of an old sheepfold and leave the property (make sure you close the gate properly).
Immediately turn 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 junction.

(3) Turn right towards Maubresc, 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 close to the stream until you reach a crossroads.

(4) Do not cross the bridge. There is an old wash house below the crossroads on the south side. Continue south-east and, after about 200 metres, turn left onto a gravel path leading uphill (recently laid in 2012). Continue along the path as it climbs to the top of the Tuc de Montcalibert.
Take in the view...

(5) Head back down towards the south-east (with your back to the cross, looking towards the Pyrenees; the path is at 10 o’clock) along a path through the woodland and reach Bergerat. Take the road, then turn right and cross the D18.
Continue along the path opposite (an old Roman road) and arrive at a junction with theGR®®78(signposted Chemin de Compostelle).
Turn back to the path before the (4). Head left along 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).

(6) Turn right and follow theGR®78back to St-Lizier.

(7) This GR® passes through Montjoie-en-Couserans.
Unfortunately, the end of the walk is on the road, so please take care. (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 2.69 - alt. 2,211 ft - Tuc de Montcalivert
  7. 6 : mi 4.05 - alt. 1,460 ft - Crossroads, turn right. GR78
  8. 7 : mi 4.79 - alt. 1,473 ft - Église romane fortifiée Notre-Dame-de-l 'Assomption de Montjoie
  9. S/E : mi 5.99 - alt. 1,401 ft - Car park at the top of the village. Place de l'Église

Notes

Balisage Jaune peu visible.
GR®®78 bien balisé par contre.
Pour la traversée de Bergerat, traverser le village sur l'axe Nord-Sud, c'est petit, mais le tracé n'est pas indiqué sur place.
Possibilité de traverser la ferme de Caujole sur le GR®®78 (plus confortable que de passer par la route tel que l'indique le tracé sur la carte.)

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.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 61 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

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

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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...

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

massat
massat

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

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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

Machine-translated

martres31
martres31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful views along the entire route. Nice orientation table.

Machine-translated

hilde1958
hilde1958

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

A beautiful walk with splendid views of the Ariège Pyrenees. Unfortunately, we lost too much time at point 1. Here is a clarification:
...find the path in front of an old sheepfold and leave the property (make sure you close the gate behind you). Immediately turn right onto a grassy path that descends and ends at a perpendicular path. Turn left and follow this path until you reach the road junction, with a farm on your right.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The Aubert Waterfall from Saint-Girons

Visorando Member
La Cascade d’Aubert depuis Saint-Girons
↔6.83 mi ↗+1,394 ft ↘-1,401 ft ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Girons (Ariège)
A circular from the centre to the Aubert Waterfall via Cap de la Bouiche. Beautiful view of Saint-Girons and the heights above Moulis.

Walking Trémau sinkhole, starting from Saint-Girons

Visorando Member
Doline de Trémau au départ de Saint-Girons
↔6.96 mi ↗+1,138 ft ↘-1,138 ft ◔4h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Girons (Ariège)
This mostly shaded walk offers varied views of the valleys and hills at the foot of the Sourroque massif, with a wild feel in places, all close to Saint-Girons.

Walking Montégut-en-Couserans - Tuc de Casterot and Char de Lique via the three passes

Visorando Member
Montégut-en-Couserans - Tuc de Casterot et Char de Lique par les trois cols
↔4.13 mi ↗+1,060 ft ↘-1,063 ft ◔2h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montégut-en-Couserans (Ariège)
An accessible and charming hike with varied terrain and landscapes and panoramic views of over 180°.

Walking La Table des Quatre Seigneurs via the Crêtes trail from Ouerdes

Visorando Member
↔8.92 mi ↗+1,982 ft ↘-1,972 ft ◔5h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Eycheil (Ariège)
A very pleasant walk through beautiful forests along forest tracks and a few well-marked paths. A fairly difficult section that is fully roped off (to be avoided with dogs, otherwise you’ll have to carry them), with numerous short detours to see the entrances to chasms or viewpoints that are not to be missed. Beautiful beech woods and the regrowth of boxwood give this path a touch of magic. The app will be useful as numerous paths cross at various points.

Walking Tour of the Garrié massif

Local authority
Tour du massif du Garrié
↔4.39 mi ↗+1,089 ft ↘-1,056 ft ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Encourtiech (Ariège)
A route around the recently renovated and re-erected Croix de Garrié. The route begins in the shade, on a north-facing slope, and follows a gentle gradient for most of the way up this slope. Magnificent scenery on the south-facing slope with breathtaking views of the Pyrenees mountain range and Mont Valier in the foreground. And, before heading down towards the car park at the start, you cross the route to Cap de Garrié and its cross, which the more adventurous can reach in about ten minutes. The return descent is along a slightly steeper slope, but is completely safe, offering views of the Salat valley and the ruins of Encourtiech Castle. This trail, recently renovated and signposted, was created under the supervision of the local council, which oversees and coordinates its regular maintenance.

Walking Cap de Garrié

Local authority
Le Cap de Garrié
↔1.70 mi ↗+978 ft ↘-978 ft ◔1h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Encourtiech (Ariège)
A viewpoint overlooking the neighbouring villages at your feet. Full view of the remains of the viscount's castle during the climb. At the summit, the Couserans Pyrenees stretch out before your eyes. A 300-metre climb on a well-marked, brand new footpath created in 2021 by the municipality of Encourtiech offers you a breath of fresh air in a splendid landscape.

Walking Circular route via Lacourt – Lastès – Erp

Visorando Member
↔5.55 mi ↗+1,253 ft ↘-1,253 ft ◔3h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Lacourt (Ariège)
Discover Lastès with a beautiful view of the Ariège mountains – a very pleasant 3- to 4-hour hike.

Walking La Tête d'Âne, between plain and mountain

Local authority
La Tête d'Âne, entre plaine et montagne
↔2.46 mi ↗+873 ft ↘-873 ft ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Encourtiech (Ariège)
This hike is accessible to all, on a perfectly maintained trail which, after an hour's walk, will take you to the small summit of Tête d'Âne. There, you will enjoy a breathtaking view to the south of the highest peaks of Couserans: Valier, Maubermé and Mail de Bulard. To the north, a completely different spectacle awaits you, as in good weather you can see the plain of Saint-Girons all the way to Lescure. A striking contrast between plain and mountain.

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.