The Moulin de Biot and the marble quarries via Ventajou

In Félines-Minervois, head towards the hamlet of Brama. Once in Brama, continue along the track until you reach the second DFCI water tank. Park near the tank.

(S/E) Leave the track descending to the right of the cistern and take the one that climbs slightly towards the north-west. At the intersection of tracks, leave the track opposite the return and take the track on the left, heading west until you reach a fork.

Yellow markings

(1) Turn right onto the fairly steep path marked in yellow (PR®), which leads to the hamlet and marble quarry of Biot (mill). These buildings have been renovated by an association that has done a lovely job.

No markings

(2) After the last house, leave the marked trail and turn left to reach a recently renovated canopy. It appears to contain an old well and an underground conduit that was used to supply water to the marble quarry for cutting marble blocks. Return to the trail and continue west and north-west. On the grassy track that follows, turn left to reach the hamlet of La Matte, with its magnificent buildings in perfect condition. Continue between the buildings to find a stony track. Turn right onto this track and follow it for about 200 m to the north.

(3) At the next bend on the right, take the path that runs to the left, northwest. The path winds through heath with low vegetation until it reaches a grassy track, which you will leave behind.

(4) From this point, continue along a path that we have created by clearing and marking with yellow paint circles. Continue to follow these yellow dots, heading east, which will lead you back to the yellow-marked PR®. This old path that we have reopened is quite winding (we return regularly to maintain the passage). As we prefer to walk on trails rather than tracks whenever possible, we open or reopen "forgotten" or neglected trails. This is the case between points (4) and (5). For this hike, which I published on 12 May 2025, I returned to improve the markings on 16 June and, after the summer, on 17 October. During these sessions, I cut back some brambles and added paint to the yellow circles that had been slightly faded by the sun.

Yellow Markings

(5) The trail passes by the La Planette marble quarry, then a small stone cottage (a terrace with a stone table and chairs provides a comfortable place to have lunch; we used it a lot when we were reopening the trails). The trail continues to a gravel track. Turn left, still following the markings. Continue along the track, ignoring the paths on the right, following the yellow PR® markings. Pass the La Fount dal Rainard marble quarry, then a cavity that opens up at the edge of the trail (elevation 610) and, after a nearly horizontal path, you will come out onto a meadow at Font dal Rainard. Turn left and continue for a few metres.

No markings

(6) Take a path on the left, heading north-northeast, which is faint for a few metres but then becomes well marked. Descend until you come to a pile of wooden pallets on the right, just before a track in the undergrowth.

(7) Leave the path at this point and head towards the pallets (hunting post?). Turn left to enter the woods and descend towards the hamlet of L'Abeuradou. The descent into the woods is sometimes difficult to see. The rest of the trail is clearer and easier to follow. You will come to a track. Follow it to the left and continue along this beautiful track to reach the hamlet. Go around the hamlet on the right. As you pass, you will see a basin where water flows continuously. Join the D12E9 and follow it to the right.

(8) After the last building, leave the tarmac road and turn right onto the track that goes uphill. At the three-way junction, turn right (west) and continue uphill. Walk along a fenced vineyard, climb more gently and join a stony track.

Yellow markings

(9) Follow it to the right and immediately turn left at the hairpin bend. Walk along a very high hedge that hides a private property to reach the hamlet of Bel Soleil (renovated house with a beautiful terrace) overlooking the Domaine de Ventajou. Beautiful view of the Minervois plain and beyond, further south and the Pyrenees mountain range.

(10) At the intersection, continue on the right-hand track to reach the hamlet of Ventajou (restored refuge open all year round).

(11) Ignore the marked trail that climbs to the right before the refuge. An esplanade in front of the ruins offers a remarkable view of the plain and the Pyrenees mountain range (orientation table). Continue around the ruins on the left and take the yellow marked trail heading north-west. Stay on this trail for a long time, which runs along a ledge on the mountainside (no danger) and offers remarkable views. (Depending on the weather, you may be able to see the Maladeta Massif and Aneto).

(12)At the crossroads, continue straight ahead to reach the Bessous marble quarry. Go down the steps (a handrail makes the passage safe and easy). At the bottom of the steps, it is interesting to enter the quarry to see the marble walls left after the blocks have been extracted. Leave the quarry and continue along the path, still marked in yellow, through the scree formed by marble debris, until you reach a stony track.

(13) Turn left onto this track and descend towards the car park (S/E).

There is a basin at the entrance, on the right, in the hamlet of Labeuradou (drinking water).

Between points (4) and (5), the GPX track may be useful. Near point (5), a stone house can be used as a shelter. The Ventajou Refuge (11) is open all year round.

The hamlet of Biot and its mill are currently being restored (a project that has been ongoing for several years now). The work carried out by this association is remarkable. At the marble quarries, informative signs explain the work carried out by the workers of the time.