Sentier du Lisey - Return via the Chalet de la Reine Hortense

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A pleasant hike in the heart of the Cauterets forests and their history.
Discover the superb Plateau du Lisey overlooking Cauterets. A real treat for the whole family!

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.96 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,500 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,484 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,344 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,058 ft
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Photos

View of Cauterets
Huts on the Plateau du Lisey
The Plateau du Lisey
Arrival at the Plateau du Lisey

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the Thermes de César. It is easy to park there and it is a very short walk from the town centre.

(S/E) Take the path that starts behind the Thermes de César and winds its way through the forest.

(1) When you reach the old Pauze-Vieux thermal baths, take the tarmac road that climbs up to the left.

(2) Follow the forest track that branches off to the right of the road next to the sign for the Lisey national forest. During the climb, you can enjoy the various points of historical interest.

(3) Leave the path to Turon des Oules on your right and continue on your left, staying on the track.

(4) When you reach a fork, leave the track and continue along the Lisey path on the left. The path is narrower here and runs alongside the stream. However, you can also stay on the track that branches off to the right towards the Plateau du Lisey. This path is more accessible and wider.

(5) Cross the bridge and continue along the path, which then climbs in a series of fairly tight bends with a steeper gradient. In some places, the path can be a little difficult to follow, but there are signs along the edge to avoid confusion.

(6) After one last bend (the steepest of them all!), you will arrive at the Plateau du Lisey. There is a table available for picnics. For the descent, take the track that branches off to the left of the path. After a few hundred metres surrounded by raspberry bushes, you will reach a wider gravel track.

(7) Follow it to the left. The descent is quite steep.

(8) During the descent, you will pass the Chalet de la Reine Hortense, a restaurant with a splendid view of the village. The slope becomes gentler when the track turns back into a tarmac road. You will reach the Thermes de Pauze-le-Vieux.

(1) Take the path on your right that you took on the way up towards Cauterets and descend back to the village (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,058 ft - Caesar's Baths
  2. 1 : mi 0.47 - alt. 3,330 ft - Ancient thermal baths of Pauze-Vieux
  3. 2 : mi 0.88 - alt. 3,383 ft - Crossing of the circular loop
  4. 3 : mi 2.28 - alt. 4,524 ft - Turon des Oules trail junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.42 - alt. 4,580 ft - Continuation of the Lisey trail
  6. 5 : mi 2.52 - alt. 4,665 ft - Bridge over the stream
  7. 6 : mi 3.03 - alt. 5,308 ft - Plateau du Lisey
  8. 7 : mi 3.24 - alt. 5,344 ft - Arrival on the downhill trail
  9. 8 : mi 5.29 - alt. 3,688 ft - Chalet de la Reine Hortense
  10. S/E : mi 6.96 - alt. 3,058 ft - Caesar's Baths

Notes

The IBP Index for this hike is 80.

There are no water sources along the route.
There is a picnic table at the end of the trail.

The path is generally well marked, but the last few metres before the Plateau du Lisey are very steep. However, the arrival is well worth the effort!

If you are walking with children, beware of the few thistles and nettles that line the last few bends.

Worth a visit

The climb is dotted with information boards explaining the history of the Plateau du Lisey and the work that has been carried out there in the past.

On the way down, you can stop for a bite to eat at the Chalet de la Reine Hortense (8).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
ours65
ours65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, very shaded; the Lisey plateau is truly beautiful and vast. A very gentle, winding ascent, with a steep path at the start of the descent. The ascent took 3 hours, the return 2 hours 15 minutes. We made two changes to the route description:
- We set off from the square in front of Cauterets station (plenty of parking), with Boulevard Benjamin Dulau to the left; at the Rocher thermal baths, we rejoined the route and the GR10 trail.
- At point "4", we continued along the track to the right, which winds its way up; it is less steep than the path and better suited to children. On emerging from the forest, you come out onto the plateau with a stunning panoramic view. However, you will need to cross the Lisey stream via a ford.
Two additional points:
- The full route is marked on the IGN 1:25,000 map No. 1748OT
- from the starting point to point "2", you are on the GR10 (marked "White - Red"). On the descent, you rejoin the GR10 between "7" and "8".
Regarding the comment “focus your attention on the quality of the route description and the route itself, without mentioning the markings”, when it comes to GR (Grande Randonnée) or GRP (Grande Randonnée de Pays) trails, the markings are checked and maintained every year by volunteers from the FFR (French Hiking Federation). If any issues are found (fallen trees, landslides, missing markings, etc.), these should be reported via the Suricate app. Therefore, the markings on GR and GRP trails are just as reliable as the descriptions on Visorando.

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Laurence82
Laurence82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. Shady. We stopped for a bite to eat at the Chalet de la Reine Hortense (booking recommended), a place we highly recommend!

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User 21313417

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Nice hike in the forest (redcurrants and raspberries along the way). The return trip on a forest road is less interesting.

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Alice-la-brebis
Alice-la-brebis

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

When you reach 2 km from the plateau, fallen trees slightly alter the last bend. It can be a little confusing, but trust the single track, which will guide you safely to the top. It's a beautiful hike, and once you reach the top, you can take a short break at the picnic table and enjoy the beautiful sunny view on that day.

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LAFOND-PUYO Stéphane
LAFOND-PUYO Stéphane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A fairly easy walk with few other people around: the peace and quiet suited us perfectly!
On the way back, we stopped for a bite to eat at the Chalet de la Reine Hortense.
A very good day.

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AureliaD22
AureliaD22

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike done at the end of September, so there was hardly anyone on the trail.
The climb through the forest is very pleasant but challenging, especially towards the end. The plateau without shade is not very interesting, so it's better to head for the stream 200 metres to the right, whose almost lukewarm water is surprising for those accustomed to mountain streams.
The return journey is a long, wide path with nothing of interest, and I regretted not taking the forest trail back.

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Brambure50
Brambure50

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk with our two children aged 9 and 14. The first part is very pretty and the trail is very informative. The second part is less pleasant, as it follows a wide track suitable for vehicles.

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jecaisa
jecaisa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A great hike we did last week.
Not particularly difficult, it can be done with children who enjoy walking.
Most of the hike (90%) is in the forest, so it's ideal in hot weather.
The last 200 metres before reaching the plateau are quite steep, but nothing insurmountable.
When we arrive on the Lisey plateau, we are rewarded with a beautiful view (when the weather is clear, of course...).
There is a picnic table available, but I recommend continuing 150 metres to the right to picnic by the stream.
The descent is a little steep for the first 2 km.
Actual walking time: 3½ hours at a moderate pace.

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randobambi
randobambi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, to be done again and again!

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