The Chemin Vauban: From Villefranche de Conflent to Aunat

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This multi-day hike allows you to explore the Chemin Vauban between Villefranche-de-Conflent and Aunat, along a route of over 100 km crossing the Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège and Aude.

The route offers a wide variety of landscapes and heritage sites. In particular, it takes you past Fort Libéria, the Séjourné Bridge, the Tour de Creu, Usson Castle, as well as numerous villages and examples of local heritage.

However, the route presents varying levels of difficulty depending on the section. Some sections are easy and accessible to everyone, whilst others are long, challenging and involve significant elevation changes.

This is an ideal route for walkers wishing to explore a trail combining heritage, history and scenery, whilst being well prepared for the differences in difficulty and signposting depending on the section.

Logistics: linear route. Arrange for a vehicle in Aunat to take you to the starting point.

Details

n°106569536
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 62.70 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 12,717 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 11,096 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,509 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,394 ft

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    Chemin Vauban from Villefranche de Conflent to Olette

    ↔14.38 mi ↗4,308 ft ↘3,694 ft
    This section of the Chemin Vauban links Villefranche-de-Conflent to Olette via a challenging and demanding route, characterised by a succession of ascents and descents that give the route a real ‘yo-yo’ effect and can make the walk particularly tiring. Despite this difficulty, the scenery is well worth the effort, with beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and the chance to explore the village of Jujols, situated halfway along the route.
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  2. 2

    Chemin Vauban: from Olette to Sauto

    ↔10.54 mi ↗4,596 ft ↘1,398 ft
    This section of the Chemin Vauban links Olette to Sauto via a route that is much better signposted than the previous one. The route remains, however, long and challenging, with some steep ascents and descents, but in return offers sumptuous and varied scenery. In particular, it takes you through the villages of Canaveilles and Llar, before gaining altitude towards the Serre de Clavera, then beginning the final descent towards Sauto.⚠️ Warning: the route runs alongside and crosses a military firing range between (10) and (11). Before setting out on this route, it is essential to check the days and times of firing exercises to ensure that passage is permitted.
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  3. 3

    Chemin Vauban: From Sauto to Formiguères

    ↔14.63 mi ↗1,112 ft ↘1,401 ft
    This section of the Chemin Vauban links Sauto and Formiguères, passing through La Llagonne, the Col de la Quillane, Lake Matemale and the village of Matemale. The route, which is generally easy and accessible to all, alternates between balcony paths, woodland trails and sections along the shores of Lake Matemale, offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and providing an opportunity to explore the Tour de Creu.Please note that the route passes through the La Quillane ski resort, which means it is impassable whilst the resort is open for the winter season. The final section between Lake Matemale and Formiguères, which mainly follows a forest track, offers little shade and should therefore be avoided in very hot weather.
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  4. 4

    Chemin Vauban From Formiguères to Rouze

    ↔13.74 mi ↗1,286 ft ↘3,018 ft
    This section of the Chemin Vauban links Formiguères to Rouze, crossing the Capcir and then the Donezan. The route, which is generally easy and pleasant, alternates between forest tracks, sections through the undergrowth, paths along ridges and more open stretches offering beautiful panoramic views. The route runs alongside the Galbe river, crosses the Col des Ares – which marks the border between the Pyrénées-Orientales and Ariège – and then continues through the Donezan region via Carcanières and Le Puch. It also takes you past the magnificent Château d’Usson before reaching the village of Rouze.
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  5. E

    Vauban Trail from Rouze to Aunat

    ↔9.41 mi ↗1,414 ft ↘1,585 ft
    This section of the Chemin Vauban links Rouze to Aunat, gradually leaving the Donezan behind to reach the Aude Pyrenees. The route, which is generally easy and accessible, alternates between sections through woodland and pleasant paths, notably crossing the border between Ariège and Aude. The section between Campagna-de-Sault and the Col de la Clause is particularly interesting for its heritage and numerous information boards, which provide a better understanding of the areas passed through, especially around the Dournes tunnel.From the Col de la Clause, the route continues mainly downhill through woodland before gradually reaching the village of Aunat.
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Notes

Unfortunately, the route shown does not pass directly through Mont-Louis. For walkers who also wish to explore the fortified town and continue along the Chemin Vauban towards La Llagonne, here is the route for the Mont-Louis–La Llagonne section: Chemin Vauban Mont-Louis–La Llagonne

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.

Other walks in the area

Walking Chemin Vauban from Villefranche de Conflent to Olette

Visorando Member
↔14.38 mi ↗+4,308 ft ↘-3,694 ft ◔10h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Corneilla-de-Conflent (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This section of the Chemin Vauban links Villefranche-de-Conflent to Olette via a challenging and demanding route, characterised by a succession of ascents and descents that give the route a real ‘yo-yo’ effect and can make the walk particularly tiring. Despite this difficulty, the scenery is well worth the effort, with beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and the chance to explore the village of Jujols, situated halfway along the route.

Walking Historical route above Villefranche-de-Conflent

Visorando Member
Circuit historique au-dessus de Villefranche-de-Conflent
↔9.92 mi ↗+2,592 ft ↘-2,585 ft ◔6h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Corneilla-de-Conflent (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This route allows you to discover military remains (Vauban's cistern and redoubt) as well as former ore quarries (marble, manganese and talc) and, above all, superb panoramic views of the Têt and Cady valleys. You can also see Villefranche-de-Conflent and Fort Libéria from above. This is a fairly easy hike, but don't underestimate the length.

Walking Chapel of Our Lady of Life and caves

Visorando Member
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vie et grottes
↔1.33 mi ↗+1,086 ft ↘-1,086 ft ◔1h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Fuilla (Pyrénées-Orientales)
What could be more surprising than visiting a chapel built by human hands, completely isolated on a seemingly impassable rock face, with a huge cave overlooking it, also equipped with an altar forming another chapel, this one natural and even larger than the previous one!On the way up, there is a smaller cave. Both caves are completely safe. With a torch, you can explore them more fully...From up there, you'll get a breathtaking view of the Têt Valley, the surrounding valleys and the Canigou.

Walking Loop on the steep slopes of Sant-Pere, at the foot of Roc Campanya

Visorando Member
Boucle sur les pentes abruptes du Sant-Pere, au pied du Roc Campanya
↔4.62 mi ↗+2,159 ft ↘-2,146 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Fuilla (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This is a good, challenging hike, mostly off the beaten track, along ancient paths in the Sant-Pere massif. At the foot of Roc Campanya/Campagna, you will discover an incredible view of the Têt and Rotja valleys. There is a 180° view with the 2,784-metre-high Canigou in the south.

Walking Tour and ascent of Roc Campanyà via the Vauban trails

Visorando Member
Tour et ascension du Roc Campanyà par les sentiers Vauban
↔6.30 mi ↗+3,163 ft ↘-3,153 ft ◔4 hrs ▲Extremely difficult
⚑Departure from Fuilla (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Roc Campanyà or Campagnia rises to an altitude of 1,134 metres, just above the Mas de Lastourg campsite in the Têt Valley, very close to Villefranche-de-Conflent. Its pointed, aggressive silhouette and the chaos of the Sant-Pere massif on which it is perched suggest that it is inaccessible without climbing equipment... But it's not. With a good pace and a good sense of direction, hikers can reach the summit in just 3 hours.Read the comments carefully before setting off on this route. Don't hesitate to turn back. There is a way out of the route between (10) and (5): return via the Vallon des Horts, a hike described here on visorando. The point (10) on this route corresponds to the point (4) on the other route.

Walking De Lastourg à Villefranche-de-Conflent

Visorando Member
↔1.50 mi ↗+69 ft ↘-138 ft ◔0h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Fuilla (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Comment gagner Villefranche-de-Conflent depuis Lastourg sans emprunter la dangereuse N116, qui n'a aucune circulation piétonne de prévue ?Petite découverte d'un circuit alternatif le long de la Têt !Attention, cette randonnée qui emprunte un itinéraire partiellement sur le terrain d'ERDF (non clôturé), se fait à vos risques et périls !

Walking From Lastourg to the Jando Canal

Visorando Member
De Lastourg au Canal de Jando
↔3.20 mi ↗+669 ft ↘-640 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Fuilla (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This short hike of just over 7 km takes you along the banks of the Canal de Jando (or "Rec Nou"), an abandoned irrigation canal that now serves as a footpath.The unmarked trail is located on the south side of the Têt valley and offers a sunny 2.5-hour walk or 1.5-hour run on suitable sections, close to the campsite, providing hikers with an alternative to longer hikes that require a car.

Walking From Mas de Lastourg to Serdinya along the banks of the River Têt

Visorando Member
↔2.15 mi ↗+197 ft ↘-0 ft ◔1h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Fuilla (Pyrénées-Orientales)
To get from the outskirts of the Mas de Lastourg campsite to Serdinya without taking the main road, there is a lovely path that runs alongside the River Têt.Please note: you are not permitted to cross the campsite – it is private property!

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.