In the footsteps of the hermit of Calvaire in Chalabre

de fr

Route on the Greenway and at Calvaire.

Details

n°10733
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 229 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 223 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 545 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 356 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

A beautiful hike
The Calvary
The Calvary
The square in Chalabre

Description of the walk

(S/E) From Chalabre town centre, pass by the square and the Blau bridge with its half-timbered houses.

(1) Take the greenway (old railway line) on the right, passing through the lit Falgas tunnel.

(2) Turn right to pass through the village of Sonnac-sur-l'Hers.

(3) Climb gently to a beautiful viewpoint at the Cabanne de Paillou and turn back via the Ferme du Pape and its herd of Gascon cows.

(4) Continue on to the Calvaire de Chalabre Chapel, a beautiful little chapel that has been beautifully restored and refurbished by a volunteer association. Viewpoint over the mountain range.

(5) Descend towards the village, passing by the old Canat shoe factories, which employed 800 workers in the early 1960s. Return to the Tourist Office to visit the beautiful village (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 378 m - Chalabre town centre
  2. 1 : km 0.56 - alt. 373 m - Greenway
  3. 2 : km 3.58 - alt. 362 m - Intersection - Hers (rivière) à finaliser
  4. 3 : km 5.02 - alt. 449 m - Sonnac-sur-l'Hers
  5. 4 : km 7.25 - alt. 509 m - Ferme du Pape
  6. 5 : km 8.8 - alt. 508 m - Chapelle du Calvaire (Chalabre)
  7. S/E : km 9.89 - alt. 378 m - Chalabre town centre

Notes

Chalabre water source, Sonnac and the Calvary.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 34 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Netra
Netra ★

Hello Chevreuils, thank you for your feedback.

Regarding the rating, you are correct: with a total horizontal distance of nearly 10 km and an elevation gain of just over 200 m, this hike is classified as Moderate. I have just made the change.

Machine-translated

chevreuils
chevreuils
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

if we have to talk about the signage, which isn't great, fortunately the comments on the Visorando website are spot on. As for the difficulty level, instead of easy, I would have said moderate. Very beautiful views. For me, the antenna wasn't a surprise; it's very visible, but I won't say what I think about it. My group and I focused on the sublime landscapes.
To be enjoyed without moderation.

Machine-translated

carboubou
carboubou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, with no particular difficulties. Picnic at Calvaire overlooking Chalabre, offering magnificent views of the mountains!

Machine-translated

carboubou
carboubou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well, easy, picnic at Calvary with a magnificent view!

Machine-translated

pchollet
pchollet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Take the opposite route to do penance and walk the Way of the Cross. Quite a steep slope to start with. A beautiful view of the region from the chapel and the upper part of the route.
And yes, unfortunately for that awful antenna, but oh well!
A leisurely (perhaps less exciting) return via the greenway to Chalabre.
Very good for a comeback.

Machine-translated

laurencepierre
laurencepierre
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful trail for exploring the village of Chalabre and its surroundings

Machine-translated

User 26695853

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, pleasant and fairly easy hike. We loved it

Machine-translated

Tita71
Tita71
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, incredible view of the Pyrenees. Great weather for the end of December, the best. It's a shame about the antenna next to the Calvary chapel.
A must-do!

Machine-translated

Spillo
Spillo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The paved section is less interesting, but there is a beautiful view of the Pyrenees from the Calvary

Machine-translated

Ferthi11
Ferthi11

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Correct.

Machine-translated

Phil3167
Phil3167
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, with a few hills but not too many. Beautiful view of the Pyrenees.
One small downside: a few too many paved sections...

Machine-translated

GABY et OLIVIER
GABY et OLIVIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, magnificent view of the Pyrenees and a very pretty chapel... yes, it would be even better without the antenna!
We met three people along the way and it was perfect!

Machine-translated

LACeuro
LACeuro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful panoramic view of the Pyrenees mountain range with balcony view

Machine-translated

Janouka
Janouka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great walk in the hills above Sonnac and Chalabre with magnificent views of the Tabe mountains. It was winter and a weekday, so we didn't see anyone else. You walk through wide open spaces and cross a forest on an easy path.

Machine-translated

Manechene
Manechene

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A course that is well worth revisiting. Truly magnificent scenery along 90% of the route. It's a shame about the 4G antenna in a place like this.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Chalabre: Greenway and Montbel Lake

Visorando member
Chalabre : Voie Verte et Lac de Montbel
↔16.05 km ↗+195 m ↘-199 m ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Chalabre (Aude)
This moderately difficult route starts at the old Chalabre railway station on the line that used to connect Mirepoix to Lavelanet, now a greenway. It follows the Hers river, which feeds the Lac de Montbel, crossing two dams before returning to the old Chalabre station after passing through some woodland. It offers views of the Pyrenees and the Lac de Montbel.

Walking Tour of Lake Montbel

Visorando member
Tour du Lac de Montbel
↔15.38 km ↗+30 m ↘-30 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Montbel (Ariège)
A pleasant walk around Lake Montbel. You will pass several dams with beautiful views. Enjoy the activities around the lake: swimming, water sports, fishing. A lovely shaded walk in the coolness of the lake during the summer months.

Walking Circular south of Lake Montbel starting from La Bastide-sur-l'Hers

Visorando member
Boucle au Sud du lac de Montbel au départ de la Bastide-sur-l'Hers
↔13.70 km ↗+215 m ↘-210 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Bastide-sur-l'Hers (Ariège)
Starting from La Bastide-sur-l'Hers, via Sainte-Colombe-sur-l'Hers and the hamlet of Mireval, this circular offers beautiful views from the ridge:- to the north over Lake Montbel,- to the south over the Tabe Massif with the peaks of Soularac and Saint-Barthélémy, as well as Mont Fourcat.

Walking The Bélesta Forest

Visorando member
La Forêt de Bélesta
↔16.32 km ↗+642 m ↘-645 m ◔6h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Bélesta (Ariège)
A pleasant route, admittedly long but peaceful, which will allow you to discover the ancient Royal Forest of Bélesta, with the added bonus of a visit to the incredible intermittent fountain of Fontestorbes. Complementary hike to: The Croix de Millet route.

Walking Between crests and rivers, a circular in Plantaurel

Visorando member
Entre crêtes et rivières, une boucle en Plantaurel
↔14.05 km ↗+277 m ↘-272 m ◔4h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Laroque-d'Olmes (Ariège)
A circular loop in Plantaurel: greenways, woods, ridge views, the Touyre and Hers rivers, and history with the Saint-Roch Chapel and the Castella de Laroque d'Olmes. Something to satisfy all hikers.

Walking Panoramic and historical loop in the Moulin-Neuf region

Visorando member
Boucle panoramique et historique en pays de Moulin-Neuf
↔18.00 km ↗+378 m ↘-373 m ◔6h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Moulin-Neuf (Ariège)
An exceptional panoramic view from the ridge, picturesque villages (Cazal des Faures, Tréziers, Roumengoux) and historic villages (Lagarde), a gigantic feudal castle, a short greenway and the sparkling clear waters of the River Hers. This loop is magnificent from Moulin-Neuf: enjoy!Remember to follow your GPS: this is a new route and the first part is not signposted!

Walking Around Cazals-des-Bayles

Visorando member
Autour de Cazals-des-Bayles
↔18.07 km ↗+320 m ↘-318 m ◔6h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Moulin-Neuf (Ariège)
A short family walk without too much elevation gain. However, the route goes up and down constantly. The trail is mostly unmarked, so a map and description are necessary.It is possible to shorten the walk by starting from Cazals des Bayles (church).moderator's note: See reviews, many trails are difficult to navigate, route changes made in 2024.

Walking The Gréoulou circular horseshoe loop from Laroque and Lavelanet

Visorando member
Le fer à cheval de Gréoulou en boucle depuis Laroque et Lavelanet
↔10.95 km ↗+385 m ↘-378 m ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Laroque-d'Olmes (Ariège)
Set off to explore this part of the Plantaurel ridges with the unique Gréoulou horseshoe! Perched above Laroque d'Olmes and Lavelanet, this is an original circular route with a very steep climb up Sainte-Ruffine! Remember to bring enough water.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.