Minerve, La Cesse and Brian

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This tour around Minerve has it all! The natural bridges of the Cesse, the heath, the aerial passages of the Gorges du Brian and, of course, the cobbled streets of the town.

31/05/2024 hike modified at point (4): Follow the concrete track (yellow markings) and NOT the PR® marked on the IGN base map, which is now a prohibited PRIVATE PROPERTY where wood has been felled.

This walk may be prohibited depending on the level of fire risk. Please consult the map.

Technical sheet

n°369783
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.71 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 353 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 359 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 352 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 151 m
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Photos

One of the viewpoints during the tracking of the route
Cave level, Cité Minerve
The cave
Cité Minerve

Description of the walk

Parking is available on the causse above the village of Minerve. You can stay there from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a small fee.

(S/E) Leave the car park on the west side and join the D147E.

(1) Follow the D147E to the left, leaving the first road on the right and taking the second turning on the right. Enjoy the view of the natural bridges of the Gorges de la Cesse.

(2) Take the path on the right. Walk along the first field of vines on your right and reach the corner of the second. Go left down the path through the scrubland. Cross the small ford (often dry) and climb towards the pine trees. After Le Mazet, turn right and walk up along the vineyard. At the top of the vineyard, turn right and continue straight ahead along the main track. It crosses the Ruisseau de la Loubatière (troglodyte shelters) and reaches a crossroads.

(3) Follow the track up to the left, with fields of vines on your right. At the end, cross the D147 and take the track that rises to the left. Ignore the first left and continue straight ahead on the cement track leading down to the Gorges du Brian.

(4) At the hairpin bend, follow the concrete track marked out because of the logging on the PR® (do not follow the PR®, which is a private path and is being modified on the IGN maps!) Pass the pumping station and continue along the path alongside the Brian (slippery slabs).

(5) Cross the Daniel bridge (be careful, low parapet!) and on the left bank, climb to the right along the side path to the crossroads.

(6) Continue right along the steep path (take care when approaching the cliffs) to reach a flat area. The path turns left, climbs the combe to the left and reaches the plateau. Continue through the heath for about 200m, joining a wide track.

(7) Turn right and the track overlooks the Gorges du Brian and the town of Minerve. After the catapult, take the path on the right, cross the footbridge and climb the stairs into the town. Take the Grand-Rue to the right and then the Rue des Remparts. On leaving the village, after the tower (Candéla), climb the lane to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 217 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.12 - alt. 217 m - Natural bridges in the Gorges de la - Cesse (rivière) - Affluent de l'Aude
  3. 2 : km 0.47 - alt. 206 m - La Cesse
  4. 3 : km 1.79 - alt. 257 m - La Loubatière
  5. 4 : km 3.67 - alt. 281 m - Balsière
  6. 5 : km 5.09 - alt. 208 m - Daniel Bridge - Briant (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 5.63 - alt. 246 m - Caution cliffs
  8. 7 : km 6.42 - alt. 307 m - Les Gorges du Brian
  9. S/E : km 8.71 - alt. 217 m - Car park

Practical information

Yellow PR® signposting.

In the nearby area

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 120 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Léalys
Léalys

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent walk, the beginning is not too interesting apart from a few high viewpoints. Nice finish in Minerve.

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Isard63
Isard63

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A varied route, first through the heath and then the gorges, with beautiful scenery and views of the Pyrenees. The finish in Minerve is breathtaking. The only regret is that there are a lot of tracks on the first half of the route, some of them concreted...

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AACR
AACR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Varied landscapes.
The wind blew our hair out

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AACR
AACR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Varied landscapes.
The wind blew our hair

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cgiaco
cgiaco

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It's a lovely walk for the whole family. Lovely scenery and I particularly enjoyed the "bottom of the Briand gorge" and the walk through Minerve. Mind you, there's not much shade! The route must be very hot in summer.

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cathy cabanes
cathy cabanes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk, very pleasant out of season. It took us 2? hours. The route is well signposted and there are yellow arrows all along the way.

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danjos
danjos

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The beginning not very interesting, well from the description 3/4
Bring a cap or hat, there's not much shade, and a drink.
Daniel's bridge was used to carry water!

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Fernandez Benjamin
Fernandez Benjamin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Out of season and on weekdays, not many people, except in Minerve. Overcast, perfect! In high summer it must be an oven.
Easy and interesting route. Thank you for a good walk. We wondered about the original purpose of the Daniel bridge, which is an aqueduct?

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Olivier Lenoir
Olivier Lenoir

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb walk in just over 3 hours, extremely well signposted even though I use the GPS, and the arrival at Minerve is fabulous. Setting off at 8am, we passed the first people arriving in Minerve.

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annick jouanin
annick jouanin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

An exceptional site with magnificent scenery and nature - don't forget your walking sticks and good shoes!

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crassous gilles
crassous gilles

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A lovely walk.

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jp11
jp11

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk, with autumn-coloured vines and blue skies in the morning. There is indeed some cutting work going on under the path leading from the track at point 4. We asked for permission to go through, but no problem. However, be careful not to turn into the tracks of the backhoe on the left, but 20 m further on when you find a line of stones blocking the path on the ground.

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Nathalie C
Nathalie C
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice walk, but out of season as the route and village are very busy. After crossing the bridge in the Brian gorges, the climb was very stressful for me: a very narrow path with an impressive sheer drop. This is not mentioned at all in the description, and for people who suffer from vertigo, this passage (which is too long) can become a total panic. Luckily we didn't come across anyone, because I really don't know how that could be possible. I was wondering if anyone had ever fallen into the ravine? I'd really like to know.
The hike remains exceptional, with magnificent views of both the gorge and the village.

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marie-julienne
marie-julienne

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A magnificent hike, very well signposted. Beautiful, very quiet, we walked for 2hrs 15mins, but actually much longer, as I often stopped to take photos!
It was a great way for us to discover the landscapes of the causses and canyons of the Minervois.
At point 4, as there was no chainsaw noise, we dared to take the path to the right and we were right, it was just us.

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello caffray

Added warning about (4) in the introduction.

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