At the foot of Quéribus Castle from Cucugnan

From the village, the route climbs to the foot of Quéribus Castle along well-marked paths.
See: practical information.
Please note that the descent after point (5) is quite steep.
It is perfectly possible to do this route in the opposite direction, ascending from (6) to (5).

Details

n°2795895

Creation:
06 Dec 2019

Last update:
02 Sep 2026

Last review:
04 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.28 mi
Average duration: 3h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,286 ft
Descent: - 1,299 ft
Highest point: 2,051 ft
Lowest point: 856 ft

Country: France
Area: Massif des Corbières
City: Cucugnan (11350)
Start/End: N 42.849611° / E 2.599429°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2447OT, 2448OT
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

To the foot of the Château de Quéribus from Cucugnan

Description of the walk

From Perpignan, head towards the airport and then on to Foix via the D117. Pass through Estagel and, once you reach Maury, turn right onto the D19 towards Cucugnan. A very scenic route that takes you over the Grau de Maury (mountain pass). From the pass, head down towards Cucugnan via the D123. Park on the right-hand side, at the entrance to the village, opposite the Tourist Office on the D14.

Red and white markings for^{the GR®®367} (some old blue and yellow markings are also present)

(S/E) With your back to the car park, head straight ahead, going up to the right of the Tourist Office and look for the^GR®®367markings. Continue due east to cross the village, then head down to the right along the Chemin de la Chapelle to join the D14 (Route de Padern).
Cross the road with care. Continue for 100m. Let the^GR®®367branch off to the right and you’ll reach the wayside shrine on your left.

Old yellow signposting

(1) Carry on straight ahead along this road (Chemin du Bourdicou). Ignore the small road on the left. 100 m further on, at the junction you come to, turn left, heading south-east. Ignore the adjacent paths and tracks. At an altitude of 279, turn right at a right angle, heading up a slightly steeper slope. Continue along the main track, which winds before heading north-east.

(2) At this junction, ignore the track that continues on level ground and turn right, heading due east, up a steeper slope through the woodland.

(3) At this altitude (marker 508), leave the track on your left and continue to follow the signposts to enjoy the scenery. Join the^GR®®367.

Red and white signposting for^{the GR®®367}

(4) Turn sharply right onto a well-maintained track, following the signposting. You will reach the car park at the foot of Quéribus Castle.
‘’There is an admission charge to enter and visit the castle‘’.

Red and white signposting for^{the GR®®367}

(5) Set off straight ahead, heading uphill, along a wide track which serves as a car park during busy periods. The route heads first north, then west, revealing a stunning view of the valley.
Do take care, however, on the steep descent, which has been fitted out with wooden steps. The area is very rugged. Please use these steps. Thank you, for the sake of future walkers. Join a small road and turn left for 100 metres.

(6) Leave the^GR®®367. Continue left along a small road towards the village.
You’ll reach the D14; turn left carefully to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 974 ft - Cucugnan Tourist Office
1 : mi 0.52 - alt. 869 ft - Oratory. Opposite. Leave the GR367
2 : mi 1.59 - alt. 1,404 ft - Turn right as you go uphill
3 : mi 1.98 - alt. 1,677 ft - Straight ahead onto the track
4 : mi 2.43 - alt. 1,893 ft - Signpost 508. Turn right.
5 : mi 3.4 - alt. 1,985 ft - Castle car park. Picnic tables.
6 : mi 4.74 - alt. 902 ft - On the left, the GR367 branches off
S/E : mi 5.28 - alt. 974 ft - Cucugnan Tourist Office

Notes

There is an admission charge to visit the castle. Ticket office.

The^GR®® 367, marked in red and white, has replaced the old Cathar Trail, which is still marked in blue and yellow.

Toilets are available at the Tourist Office at the start of the walk.
Picnic tables, drinks and toilets are available at the castle car park.

This is a mid-mountain area. So you’ll need: rainwear and a windbreaker, water, a snack, a GPX track, route description, a map, a GPS or the Visorando app, a camera, good walking shoes and a walking stick.

Worth a visit

Village of Cucugnan
Quéribus Castle

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 33 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

User 18530772

04 Nov 2025 at 09:54 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful restoration of the castle

Machine-translated

Yves LAGAFFE

03 Nov 2025 at 09:53 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

done in October on a club outing based on Visorando map
Easy climb. More difficult descent, slightly wetter, overcast weather.
Not much of a view at the castle

Machine-translated

lemarcheur65

02 Jun 2025 at 07:47 7200

Hello Manogros
You wrote :

Tarmac all the way, no shade.

I didn't know that the Aude department had macadamised all the tracks and paths!

(It's funny for a hike that's marked on the map as going through the forest).

Yes, it's the Aude, so the trees are small and often sparse!
There's no mention of any shade.
Fortunately there was no mud, because whose fault was that!

Machine-translated

Manogros

01 Jun 2025 at 20:27 7200 • Edited: 02 Jun 2025 at 07:03 7200

Tarmac all the way, no shade (funny for a walk marked on the map as going through the forest) and an upside-down climb.

On a bike, it could be very interesting, but on foot, it's pretty uninteresting.

Machine-translated

PHALIP

07 Apr 2025 at 13:12 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Tour done in reverse because of steep and slippery descent

Machine-translated

Vejapi

17 Mar 2025 at 12:16 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty walk from the village of Cucugnan with its mill, its authentic bakery and its bread baked in a wood-fired oven, past the church of Saint-Julien and its pregnant Virgin Mary.
A visit to the Château de Quéribus is a must, with its magnificent views over the plain and the village of Cucugnan.

Machine-translated

Philval

17 Feb 2025 at 10:05 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a lovely walk, and of course a visit to the castle is a must, as the view is magnificent (7.50 euros....). On the way back, it's worth strolling through the streets of Cucugnan, visiting the church and the mill further up.

Machine-translated

Joël Bars

23 Sep 2024 at 19:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Walk carried out as indicated on the map. GPS tracking loaded with .gpx file. No problems at all!

Machine-translated

joelbis

22 Apr 2024 at 10:41 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting walk because of the crest overlooking the Château de Queribus. Magnificent view of the castle and the Canigou in good weather.

Machine-translated

Jubilat66

29 Jan 2024 at 10:00 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We hiked with a group of 15 people, including several octogenarians. No such luck that day, with thick fog!
Most of the participants would have preferred to make the most of the effort on the steep slope in the morning, which was quite difficult on the descent for the oldest members of our group.

Machine-translated

Givze

01 Nov 2023 at 09:12 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk.
Don't hesitate to visit the Château de Quéribus, which offers magnificent views over the whole region.
There is an entrance fee (around €8) but it would be a shame to miss the panorama.
We followed the direction of the topo, which is much more gradual than the reverse: the climb from Cucugnan is direct and steep, so the choice is a matter of physical fitness and a taste for effort.

Machine-translated

mimcaf

17 Apr 2023 at 11:31 7200 • Edited: 17 Apr 2023 at 11:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We didn't meet any hikers. We did the route in the direction of the topo, in strong winds! But I think it's more interesting to do the route the other way round, as the descent is steep...

Machine-translated

Patrice09

13 Apr 2023 at 18:23 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk in fine weather. We set off from Cucugnan and did it in the opposite direction, as indicated in the comments (we think it's much better too). Beautiful views, a visit to the Château de Queribus, lunch at the paraglider departure area between 5 and 4, with a magnificent view of the valley, Cucugnan, Peyrepertuse and Bugarach. We wish you all a pleasant outing.

Machine-translated

PAT le lion

30 Jan 2023 at 11:27 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A lot of big tracks and roads, not very interesting except for the castle of Quéribus and a beautiful view and the descent to Cucugnan;
What's more, the bakery is closed until 20 February, which is a shame;

Machine-translated

Vie Cardonne Sabine

14 Nov 2022 at 17:38 3600 • Edited: 14 Nov 2022 at 18:01 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Departure from the Tourist Office through the village of Cucugnan.
From Cucugnan to the foot of the Château de Quérigus
Red & White GR 367 signposting
A strenuous climb, with paths lined with rock, woodland, arbutus, box and oak trees, and breaks to admire the magical panorama.
A panorama from the sea to the Pyrenees in fine weather: 17°C, all in the heart of this Citadel "known as one of the others of the Cathar country of Vertigo. Massive yet elegant architecture.
Visit to the Château at an additional cost.
Return as described.
Thank you, our souls, minds and bodies were in unison for this day.

Machine-translated