Montolieu walks

A ten-kilometre hike that winds through forests and fields. There are some beautiful properties to see, and above all, the village of Montolieu is worth a visit.

This is a beautiful walk, but it is exposed to the wind and sun. The first kilometre is quite steep, but the next two kilometres are gentler. Rough wooden signs engraved with "Circuit Saint-Roch" will guide you along the way, even if they are not very visible or legible... Since 15 October 2018 and the floods, a lot of earth has been washed away from the paths and many of them have become very stony and rocky. However, the circuit remains entirely feasible.

An interesting circular route through vineyards and heath around the Plaine de Moussoulens.

Unmarked hike on stony paths and trails where thick-soled footwear is recommended. Little shade, so not recommended in strong sunlight. Apart from that, no particular difficulties.

Half of the hike is under the trees and half is in the heath.

A walk through vineyards and woods with no real difficulties. It is well signposted in yellow. Please note: the paths can be very muddy after heavy rain.

An easy walk through woods and fields. A lovely climb through the forest alongside the Moureau stream.

An easy walk through fields and woodland. Well signposted in yellow. Three signs reading ‘Entre puits et heaths’ indicate that you are on the right track.

A short walk, sheltered from the sun and wind for almost the entire length as it is in the forest. It had been marked in blue for an event and these markings remain visible in 2016 – but for how long? In two places, we follow paths that are not shown on the IGN map. Hence the importance of following the Visorando route.

This walk was created by the association "Environnement, territoires et paysages" (Environment, Territories and Landscapes). Another description can be found at the Brousses town hall or at the paper mill. Half of the route is on tarmac roads, but with wide, well-mowed verges that allow you to walk on the grass. This walk is particularly enjoyable after heavy rainfall, as in 2018/2019.

This route was created by the association "Environnement, Territoires et Paysages" and is very well marked with yellow lines in accordance with FFRP coding. Every slightly complicated crossroads has been clearly marked. Very well protected, it can be done in both winter and summer. Two or three fords have been damaged by the floods of 15 October 2018, but they can be crossed without any problems. You can visit the town hall website to download another description of this hike.

A short, easy walk, sheltered for half the route.

A walk through woods and fields. The first kilometre is a bit muddy after heavy rain.

A lovely little walk from the Bassin de Saint-Denis to the Prise Alzeau and back along the stream.

A pleasant walk through woodland and fields. The lake and the Bès reservoir prove, if proof were needed, that the Montagne Noire is like a sponge. Pierre-Paul Riquet was spot on when he created the Rigole, which feeds the Canal du Midi.

This is an easy hike, sheltered from the sun for 90% of the route. The hike can be done in either direction. You will be better sheltered from the sun if you follow the directions given here.

On the lower slopes of the Montagne Noire, the Lampy River powered numerous textile factories in Cenne-Monestiés from the 17th to the 20th century. Downstream from the well-restored dam, beautiful remains are still visible in this rolling, green landscape. This route will show them to you with a series of information panels, taking you to some surprising places: along an old irrigation channel, at the end of the lake or in a panoramic spot in the middle of the pastures. Blue markings

This easy hike takes you through heaths and charming villages such as Fraisse-Cabardès and Aragon, perched on its hilltop. It gives you a taste of Cabardès, the foothills between Carcassonne and Mazamet.

A very pretty walk north of the village of Aragon, allowing you to discover the drystone shelter housing estate with its dry stone walls, its hillside planted with pine trees and the plateau with its drystone shelters, stone walls and panoramic views. The route is very well signposted and the information boards are very interesting.

At the foot of the Montagne Noire, this route passes by the Cenne-Monestiés dam, runs along the Lampy river as it climbs towards the village of Villemagne, before gently descending along a path offering a wide view of the Lauragais.

A short, gentle walk with no uphill sections, sheltered by the forest throughout. Suitable in summer and winter, even in strong winds.

The walk is half sheltered from the sun and wind. There is a little tarmac and a lot of almost carriageable, limestone and very stony paths.

A pleasant hike with quite a few climbs. The descent after (4) is a little tricky, so make sure you have good footwear. This walk is marked with large orange brushstrokes. But as always, it is best to follow Visorando.

Petite balade autour du village durant laquelle vous allez souvent longer des murettes en pierres sèches. Les sentiers ont été creusés à flanc de colline et ces murettes ont été montées pour retenir la terre du fond dominant. Nous sommes en 2016 et le tracé a été reconnu et identifié par des marques de couleur Rouge. Ces marques ne respectent pas la forme officielle de la FFR mais sont parfaitement visibles car assez larges. Cela n'est pas inutile car certains sentiers sont dans les champs.

An easy walk through vineyards and open woodland.

Three-quarters of the route is sheltered from the wind and sun. A beautiful walk through a chestnut forest. The different markings cross each other. This should not be taken into account as several of the paths taken are marked with a cross, but they are the right paths nonetheless. (in (2), in (6) and in (7))

A circular trail taking in the Rigole de la Montagne Noire. You’ll also walk alongside the Bassin du Lampy, then return upstream along the Rigole past historic buildings.

A mid-season hike as it’s always exposed to the sun and wind. It climbs for 3.5 km before heading back down… obviously!

The walk is always in the shade and sheltered by very large beech and oak trees. There is practically no elevation gain as you follow the water.

Walk along forest paths towards the Bois de la Serre Haute and the Forêt Domaniale de la Loubatière from Lacombe, stopping at the source of the Canal du Midi, the Prise d'Alzeau, before following the left bank of the Lac de la Galaube. The route is marked locally (yellow line). It is taken in the opposite direction to the description with a few modifications for greater comfort (descent at the end of the route).

360 years ago, Pierre Paul Riquet had the trial trench for the Canal du Midi dug. The official purpose of this small diversion canal was to prove that large quantities of water could be brought from the Montagne Noire to the Naurouze threshold, where the planned navigation canal would have its "dividing point", its highest watercourse. However, for Riquet, the stakes were much higher: he also wanted to prove that he was fully capable of managing a project as large as the gigantic structure he had planned. To convince Colbert and the commission responsible for examining the feasibility of the project, he offered to finance the test canal himself and only be reimbursed if the objectives were achieved... Theoutcome proved this stubborn man right! This walk takes you on a journey of discovery to find traces of this "Rigole d'Essai" in the Alzeau valley, starting from the village of Lacombe. Parking is available opposite the town hall.

A refreshing walk in the Montagne Noire from the small village of Lacombe (11310) to the Ramondens national forest (Tarn) with a picnic stop near the retaining dyke of the St-Denis basin. Return via the right bank of the Alzeau and passage at the Prise d'Alzeau, source of the Canal du Midi, before climbing back up to Lacombe. Walk checked on 18/06/23. A few details have been added by the author

Close to Carcassonne, this walk, which can be enjoyed with family or friends, is not difficult and offers beautiful views of the plain and the Montagne Noire.

Part of a larger 13km circular, this fairly easy walk allows you to discover two ancient villages and breathe in the tranquillity of the banks of the Canal du Midi.

Nestled between Lake Galaube and Lake Laprade Basse, the Loubatière State Forest covers 450 hectares. It is located in the western part of the vast forest that covers the southern slope of the Montagne Noire in the Aude department. A single, completely wooded area, this forest, which ranges in altitude from 660 to 885 metres, forms the headwaters of the Linon stream. In autumn, it offers a dream setting for hikers in search of mushrooms and chestnuts, with the golden colours of oak, beech, birch and chestnut leaves carpeting the ground. This is the ideal playground for an easy walk starting from the hamlet of Cals Haut, part of the commune of Lacombe, between Saissac and Les Martys.

In hot weather, here’s a short, shaded walk in the Loubatière State Forest along paths not necessarily marked on the IGN map but very pleasant to walk along with little elevation gain. The route shares a section with the Lacombe PR°°®°° trail

The proximity of the lake for cooling off, the deciduous forest for a shaded walk and the very passable paths, despite a few fords along the route, ensure a very pleasant time even with children.

On the watershed between the Aude and Tarn rivers, we follow in the footsteps of P.P. Riquet once again, discovering other water resources that enabled this self-taught engineer to demonstrate to the experts sent by Colbert the merits of his project to supply his Canal des Deux Mers. However, the forest remains present on this easy route, and Arfons, with its slate roofs, is a picturesque little village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park.

Balade vers le Parc éolien d'Arfons-Sor, situé sur la commune d'Arfons, depuis le château de Ramondens, qui a été un temps la propriété de P.P Riquet, et siège maintenant du CCAS d'EDF qui y organise des colonies de vacances pour les enfants. Le parcours, sans balisage (ou presque), se situe entièrement dans la Forêt Domaniale de la Montagne Noire, au Nord du torrent de l'Alzeau, "frontière" naturelle entre Aude et Tarn, à deux pas de la célèbre Prise d'Alzeau. Après l'arrêt à une ancienne cabane de pisciculture, réaménagée par l'ONF, le retour s'effectue par le vallon de Bergnassonne pour retrouver le château de Ramondens.

The Rigole de la Montagne again. But this time you won’t be walking alongside it. You’ll go round it on a route that’s shaded all the way. The return along the road is a bit long, but you can walk on the verges if you don’t like tarmac.

From Ramondens Castle, follow in the footsteps of P.P. Riquet as you discover the ingenious water supply system for his “Canal des Deux Mers”, established over four centuries ago in the Montagne Noire, before reaching the Lampy Neuf Reservoir, subsequently created to provide the extra water needed for the Canal de Jonction, the link between the Canal du Midi and the Canal de la Robine in Narbonne. Please take care on a section of the route that goes off the beaten track (further details in the description)

Three quarters of the hike is sheltered from the sun and wind by the beech forest (mainly). Wear good shoes as the trail is often muddy with some stream crossings that are more or less maintained. Foresters have cleared the trail, which creates some large puddles, but these can always be avoided by walking along the edges of the forest.

A lovely walk, almost entirely through woodland, sheltered from the wind and direct sunlight. La Combe Haute is an old, abandoned property now in ruins.

Starting from the Circulade in Bram (a lovely warm-up ride through this unique and well-preserved heritage site), this route follows the path of an old railway line that once linked Bram to Mirepoix and Lavelanet, passing through the charming countryside of the Razès. The section between Bram and Mirepoix is fairly easy for all types of bike (a hybrid bike is best suited), and its high-quality surface is fairly new. However, thesecond section from Moulin Neuf to Lavelanet, which is older, is best tackled on a mountain bike.

Circular route marked in red by the Pennautier Nature et Patrimoine (PNP) association. Legend has it that a beautiful noblewoman from Pennautier would dress up as a wolf at night to meet her lovers along these paths. A lovely walk that follows the Fresquel and continues through fields and vineyards in the countryside west of Carcassonne.

Hike in the forest, almost always marked in yellow. Short off-trail excursion on paths not marked on the map. In autumn, you may be lucky enough to find some porcini mushrooms.

An easy family walk between the preserved centre of the old town of Bram and the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following a secure greenway between the town and the canal, the route also takes in the canal towpath and a quiet little road. Strolling through the circular village is a pleasure: in this medieval village built in a circle, it is impossible to get lost. This preserved and enhanced heritage site is truly unique.

The walk remains entirely in the forest and is completely off-road. Wear suitable footwear as the route is very stony.

Forest hike to the Cuxac-Cabardès wind farm, above the Dure valley, and almost complete tour of Lake Laprade Basse via the recently constructed path that avoids the D101 between the hamlet and the dam dyke (see info).

A very pleasant walk, almost entirely through forest. Wide, easily passable paths and superb views of the lake and dam.

From the dam, head towards the Montagne Noire Natural Park for a hike in the forest and along the river. After a short wet crossing and a final easy climb, the arrival point reveals a magnificent view of the dam.