The Château de Lavardens circuit

Taking the path through the hills surrounding the hilltop village of Lavardens, walkers can see the castle on its rocky promontory at any time.

Details

292041
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.75 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 218 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 222 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 236 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 145 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is the square in front of the church in Lavardens.

(S/E) Go down the street to the left of the church and take the D214 towards Castéra-Verduzan until you reach L'Enclos.

(1) After the buildings, take the dirt track on the right that climbs towards the Coutarde farm and go around the buildings on the right.

(2) At the crossroads, turn left onto the tarmac road towards the water tower and continue to the intersection.

(3) Go down the path on the left towards Le Cordelier and continue along the D214 for 200 metres until you reach the Y-junction at the Croix du Barron.

(4) Turn right, cross the Guzerde stream and arrive at the crossroads in the hamlet of Menjeton.

(5) Continue straight ahead and pass the path that leads to Encraman. Before the next crossroads, turn left between two fields until you reach the edge of the woods. Follow the woods on your left and pass through Arrouy, then join the D103 road.

(6) Follow the road to the right for 50 metres, then turn left onto the path. At the next intersection, turn left towards the Encappette farm.

(7) In the left-hand bend, after the farm and before the Chapelle Sainte-Marie, turn right onto the path between two fields to reach the old Moulins de Sainte-Marie. Continue to a crossroads.

(8) Take the small road on the left for 1 km, ignoring the turnings on either side, until you reach the En-Jourdan crossroads.

(9) Go down the path on the left towards En-Bouet and continue left along the Guzerde valley.

(10) Turn right at the crossroads, cross the stream and continue along the path that leads back to the village. At the water treatment plant, continue right along Chemin de Ronde du Midi, turn left onto Rue Antoine de Roquelaure, then take the first right to reach the square in front of the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 203 m - Parking in front of the church
  2. 1 : km 0.49 - alt. 168 m - Lenclos
  3. 2 : km 1.76 - alt. 217 m - La Courtade
  4. 3 : km 2.6 - alt. 210 m - Crossroads - Cote 212
  5. 4 : km 3.93 - alt. 158 m - Barron's Cross
  6. 5 : km 4.26 - alt. 149 m - Menjeton
  7. 6 : km 5.61 - alt. 195 m - Route D103
  8. 7 : km 6.25 - alt. 209 m - Exit from Encapette
  9. 8 : km 6.84 - alt. 213 m - Y-junction
  10. 9 : km 8.32 - alt. 214 m - In Jourdan
  11. 10 : km 9.92 - alt. 152 m - Crossroads
  12. S/E : km 10.75 - alt. 203 m - Parking in front of the church

Worth a visit

In Lavardens, you will discover the castle, the Croix du Barron, the Sainte-Marie Chapel, old mills, a wash house and panoramic views.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 28 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 21588115

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike around Lavardens Castle. Very well marked and accessible.

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JilChaz
JilChaz

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike around the castle. There is a bit of tarmac, but overall the route is very pleasant and varied. And to round off this lovely walk, at the end we were able to visit the castle, which had a very interesting exhibition.

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Scarlett
Scarlett

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely 2½-hour walk around the castle.

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Alain Plaisance
Alain Plaisance

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you very much for suggesting this hike. Hike completed on 10 November 2024: the route is now very well signposted, impossible to get lost! A very pleasant walk with some lovely views of the village of Lavardens. Actual duration of our walk (at a leisurely pace): 3 hours.

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Boris15
Boris15

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike around the village with its beautiful castle. The walk often takes you close to the vineyards, which are magnificent at this time of year with their clusters of grapes. There are plenty of trees to provide shelter from the sun.

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Marisol
Marisol

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route allows you to see the castle frequently throughout the walk, and there are beautiful views of the surrounding area. It was very hot that day and there are quite a few sections in direct sunlight, so don't forget your water and hat... Or set off very early.
Quite nice, but by the end I didn't have the energy to visit the exhibition in the castle... a shame
Thanks for the description. I had a little trouble finding the start, but then I followed the GPX, luckily, because some of the trailheads are hard to see.
A lovely walk overall

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I admit I was a little disappointed; I expected better from an FFRP route. And there's just too much road. I preferred the northern section, between 1 and 4.

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ChristianQ
ChristianQ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike even in winter, with very passable paths, although muddy at times, and no cars encountered... Just make sure you keep an eye out for the PR signs!
Beautiful views of the castle... and the Pyrenees..

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Christine6331
Christine6331
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Starting point: follow road number D214, but Castéra-Verduzan is not signposted.
Between 1 and 2: going up to the Courtade farm, the road is very poorly maintained; we even had to crawl on all fours under the vegetation (including brambles!) for about 2 metres.
Between 3 and 4: don't be tempted by the local walking trail (yellow with a picture of Lavardens) by turning right too early. Continue downhill to the road.
At 7: specify that the path passes between the vineyards.

Apart from these few maintenance issues and points where the signposting is unclear, this walk is very good, with many beautiful views of Lavardens.

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Mighel
Mighel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike with alternating sunshine and showers, which was a shame! But the route isn't difficult and the scenery is magnificent

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gielbe
gielbe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful view of the castle. Worth repeating on a clearer day than the first time

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VUILLEMIN Pierre
VUILLEMIN Pierre

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike is very enjoyable and will take you through some physical highs and lows.
It's my fault that I wasn't entirely satisfied with this walk because the elevation changes are too steep for my level. Don't try it if you're a beginner.
Apart from that, the view of Lavardens Castle is magnificent.

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VUILLEMIN Pierre
VUILLEMIN Pierre

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, but challenging. Not recommended for those who are not in good physical condition.

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trempoline
trempoline

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Start of the hike poorly marked and poorly explained (3) as there are no names. This adds an extra 500 metres, but once we found the route, it was a very beautiful walk.

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RFC31500
RFC31500

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Due to an unexpected incident, we were only able to complete half of the route. Follow the yellow PR signs.
A pleasant walk on an autumn day. We regret not being able to complete the circuit. We'll be back!

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