Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze – Grazac – Lézat-sur-Lèze via the hillsides

Start from the car park, Place Élie Lacombe, in the centre of the village of Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze.

(S/E) From the square, take Rue Lazare Carnot on the left, then continue along Rue du 14 Juillet, followed by Chemin le Corbusier. Then turn left onto Chemin du Tortillard and head towards Avenue Marcel Vidal.

(1) Turn right, cross the bridge over the Lèze, then, at the roundabout, follow the D622 towards Lagrâce Dieu until you reach the junction with the D28.

(2) Turn right towards Esperce. At the three-way junction with a central reservation, veer to the right, and, opposite a small shed, turn left. You’ll reach a four-way junction.

(3) Turn left onto the D40, towards Mauressac. Ride through a forest and, on emerging, you’ll reach the hamlet of La Bouscarre.

(4) Turn right onto Chemin de la Bouscarre, then continue through the woods. Follow a steep slope for 200 m, partly following the botanical trail, until you reach the ridge. Follow the ridge to the left and join the main road in Mauressac.

(5) Head straight on along Chemin de Pyra, leave the village and continue along a track. Carry on straight ahead until you reach a road on the plateau.

(6) Turn left and, 500 m further on, you’ll reach a path branching off to the right at No. 2490.

(7) Turn right, ignore the access to the house and carry on straight ahead. Continue along a small road until you reach a 90° bend to the right, with an electricity substation on your right.

(8) Leave the road and take the path on the left. Follow this until you reach a road.

(9) Turn left and rejoin the route you previously took at no. 2490.

(7) Carry on straight ahead and rejoin the track you have already passed on the right.

(6) Leave the route you’ve already taken and follow the road. At the first houses in Puydaniel, follow Avenue des Pyrénées until you reach a Stop sign, just after No. 24.

(10) Turn right, towards the cemetery. About a hundred metres before the cemetery, take the path on the right. At the next fork, turn right, pass between the fields, then rejoin the tarmac road. Turn right and you’ll reach a crossroads, opposite No. 5.

(11) Turn left and, at the junction with the D12, turn right towards Caujac. Continue to the next four-way junction.

(12) Turn right onto the^D28E towards Grazac and carry on straight ahead until you reach a hairpin bend to the left. Take the track on the right and enter the woodland. After a steep 500-metre climb along a narrow track, continue along the ridge, then descend along the edge of the woodland and join a road (D28).

(13) Turn right and follow this departmental road. Pass through Esperce and arrive at a three-way junction after house number 422.

(14) Turn left onto the^D40D, heading towards Lézat-sur-Lèze. At the next junction, continue left onto the D40 and, as you enjoy a lovely, fast-flowing descent, take in the magnificent panoramic view of the Pyrenees. You’ll reach the junction with the D919 in Lézat-sur-Lèze.

(15) Cross the road, continue straight ahead onto Rue des Jardins, and, at the end, turn right (Faubourg Saint-Antoine). Leave the village, pass number 18 and head for the next turning on the right, which looks like a driveway to a house.

(16) Turn right, go round the house on the left, then cross the departmental road and continue straight ahead towards the Lachet Industrial Estate. Walk along its left-hand side, then carry on along a path. Follow this path until you reach the road, near the hamlet of Le Laurent.

(17) Turn right, then quickly take the small road on the left, Chemin de Lastronques. Follow this road straight on, continuing under a row of plane trees until you reach a three-way junction, near the Domaine de Lastronques and its castle, which is currently being renovated.

(18) Take the track on the right for 200 metres, and at the four-way junction, continue to the right until you reach the hamlet of Les Ressegayres. Pass through it and, at the 90° bend, to the right of the road, take the track on the left. Continue for 800 metres until you reach a fork and turn left. Pass through the hamlet of Le Rouja, cross a bridge, then climb a steep incline for 600 metres until you reach a road (D74).

(19) Turn left, walk through the village of Montgazin and, on leaving the village, turn right at the three-way junction onto the^D74B, towards Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze. Walk through the hamlet of Le Pitot, then continue along the D48 until you come to a path on the right at the bottom of the descent.

(20) Take this dirt track which runs alongside a row of poplars, and carry on until you reach a tarmac road (Chemin de Jourdane). Follow the track, pass house number 28, then take the track on the left, 100 metres from the junction with the D919. Continue straight on through the village of Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze to Place Élie Lacombe (S/E).

Route best tackled in dry weather; some muddy sections may be encountered in the forest in wet weather. Moderate difficulty on an e-MTB, difficult on a conventional MTB.

Between (2) and (3), enjoy the panoramic views of the Pyrenees mountain range.

Start and finish at the car park opposite the Bar Hôtel Restaurant “Chez Lagarde”, in the centre of the village of Saint-Sulpice-sur-Lèze. This family-run establishment is a lovely way to round off the ride.
Panoramic views of the Pyrenees.
Mauressac nature trail.
Lastronques Castle and Ariège wine production.