The Hourontan path

At a place called Le Chalet, you will discover an exceptional panorama of the Pyrenees and the village. The Bois de la Paguère is a haven of coolness on summer days. Further on, before reaching the Domaine des Claux, the Bois de Labesse and the valley you will walk along are also places of beauty and serenity. A quick visit to Castelnau-Barbarens is a must before you leave.

Technical sheet

284535
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 189 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 191 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 278 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 174 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on Place d'Uzes in Castelnau-Barbarens.

(S/E) From the square (near the esplanade and tower of the former 13th-century castle), take the tarmac Chemin du Calvaire for about 1 km. On your right at a place called Sasian, pass a wooden cross and continue straight ahead.

(1) At the crossroads, turn left and then 200 metres further on, turn right onto a stony path. Pass in front of the water tower and descend towards the "Hourontan" farm. Pass in front of the farm (beautiful view) and the path will lead you into the woods to the En Forgue estate (pidgeon hunting huts, please keep quiet).

(2) Take the tarmac road on the right and reach the D626.

(3) Turn right towards Castelnau-Barbarens and continue for 800 metres.

(4) At the first intersection, climb left up the driveway to the Pastré farm. Go around it on the left and then take a path for about 500m.

(5) Turn left and pass in front of the driveway to the Tuquette farmhouse inn, then Loudas. Continue along the small road for 300 metres.

(6) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside the woods (picturesque valley), passing in front of the driveway to Domaine des Claux (accommodation for riders and horses). Continue straight ahead on the road that leads to the D40.

(7) Turn right to return to the village along the road.

(8) At the artistic mushroom, turn left. Cross the D626 and climb up the path opposite, which runs alongside the cemetery. Then turn right onto Rue de Saint-Roch and turn left at Porte du Pont Levis. Go up the street on the right to return to your starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 233 m - Village square
  2. 1 : km 1.24 - alt. 270 m - Calvaire, turn left
  3. 2 : km 3.71 - alt. 231 m - In Forgue, turn right
  4. 3 : km 4.49 - alt. 194 m - D626, turn right
  5. 4 : km 5.44 - alt. 207 m - Turn left towards Le Pastré
  6. 5 : km 6.39 - alt. 267 m - Turn left
  7. 6 : km 7.08 - alt. 258 m - Walk along the woods on the right, path
  8. 7 : km 8.75 - alt. 174 m - D40, on the right
  9. 8 : km 9.33 - alt. 185 m - Artistic mushroom, on the left
  10. S/E : km 10.07 - alt. 234 m - Village square

In the nearby area

This route takes you along Chemin du Calvaire, near which there was once an old leper cemetery in Sasian. Only a wooden cross remains to commemorate these cagots.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
5 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Alain VERDIER
Alain VERDIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

simple route, with beautiful scenery

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tehcurt
tehcurt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely, relaxing walk in beautiful, gently rolling countryside

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EMBC88
EMBC88

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk/hike in the countryside. It might be better to do it in reverse, so that you can get the asphalt and the less attractive lower part of the village out of the way at the start, and finish with the hillsides and woods. We were lucky enough to see the Pyrenees when we set off in the morning, as they were much less visible in the afternoon. And a special mention for the village centre, which is very charming and deserves to be better known.

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Perciflette
Perciflette

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

I would give this hike a rating of 3.5/5.

The positives:
- Beautiful views, especially in the first part of the hike when you are up high (choose the right day to ensure clear visibility)
- No particular difficulties, so it's easily accessible. The route is clearly marked throughout
- Not very busy, so very peaceful

Negatives:
- Lots of road (more than half of the hike is on tarmac). Even though there is very little traffic, it's not the most pleasant place to walk
- Few points of interest, apart from Castelnau Barbarens, which is the starting point, and the pretty panoramic views at the beginning.

Points to note:
- At point 2 on the map, you come to a farm where four dogs running loose surrounded me and barked. They didn't try to bite, but it can be intimidating for some people
- At point 4, after passing the farm, you walk along a path with an electric fence, the wire of which hangs across the path in places. Be careful not to step on it or let a child touch it.

In summary, this is a pleasant walk when the weather is nice, especially the first part up to point 2. But it's a bit too much road for me. The walk could be very nice to do by bike (mountain bike for the paths where tractors pass). Thanks for sharing in any case!

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jakojako
jakojako

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful views. Easy route.

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DestinationGers
DestinationGers

Thank you Liliane.clarens for this lovely comment!
If you have a few minutes, I suggest you leave your message on the page for this trail as well. Follow the guide https://www.tourisme-gers.com/castelnau_...

Thank you again and enjoy your walk in the Gers!
The CDT Destination Gers

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liliane.clarens
liliane.clarens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful start with views of the Pyrenees, a varied and open route where you pass through woods, wide rolling fields and beautiful, imposing farms to arrive at the village, which is well worth a visit with its 13th-century tower, magnificent esplanade, church and well-designed layout.
Thank you to the author for this wonderful discovery

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ruiz lucien
ruiz lucien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

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michaelgeorge
michaelgeorge

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Excellent walk. Two hours and 30 minutes elapsed time, not walking quickly. Steep climb at the end of the walk, up the hill to the car park!

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g.ricros
g.ricros

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

We found that there was too much driving involved in the entire route. What's more, unfortunately, the weather was overcast and we couldn't enjoy the view. However, Castelnau-Barbarens is a really pretty little village.

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ritournelle
ritournelle

hello;

the Catelnau-Barbarens hikes are circular routes.
best regards
ritournelle

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marie32
marie32

Hello,
Is the time indicated for the hike a round trip?
Thank you
Marie

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ritournelle
ritournelle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 24, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

(assos acta32), we completed the Castelnau-Barbarens PR2, starting from the given PR2, but then the PR markers were no longer numbered. Quite a lot of road for my liking, but apart from that, a very good route, not to be done on a rainy day.
a very pleasant hike visually

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Knoxibus
Knoxibus

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Did it as a family. We got a little lost at the start when we found a sign indicating the 4 PRs (this hike is PR1) but weren't sure where to go next. It was actually behind us

Otherwise, a very nice hike. Magnificent view of the Pyrenees. At the end, you can choose your own path to perhaps enjoy the village a little more (which is what we did).

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