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Departure from the town hall square (car park at the corner of Rue Saint-Michel and Rue Fernand Lacorre).
(S/E) From the car park, cross Rue Saint-Michel and pass under the Porte de Benque to descend the path. At the bottom of the path, take the road on the left (sign: "sentier botanique de Friquet").
(1) At the fork, take the path on the right (signposted "sentier botanique de Friquet"). At the crossroads marked by a cross, continue straight on until you reach the sign for "Trou du diable".
(2) Turn right towards Caubeton (sign) and follow the forest path (yellow markings). Further on, follow the sign for "Bourbon et Sauterne". Pass by the telecommunications pylons and follow the small road on the right. Beautiful views of the Pyrenees.
(3) At the D8/Route d'Alan crossroads, turn right towards Aurignac. Follow the road carefully for about 350 m.
(4) Turn left into Impasse du Cap d'Armas and follow it almost to the end.
(5) Before reaching a house, turn right onto the path towards Sauterne. This path runs along the edge of the field (private property) to the ditch, which you cross, then climb to the right and turn left after a few dozen metres. Then follow the path uphill (yellow markings and signs for "sentier des 7 collines").
(6) Continue straight ahead on the path that climbs gradually to the left into the forest. Further on, the path turns left and becomes flat again. On the right, behind the bushes, is a fenced-off quarry (danger signs), which you should go around. Stay on the path.
(7) When you see the houses of Cap del Bosc, turn right towards Aurignac and Martin (signs). The path gradually becomes more rugged and descends alongside the quarry (fenced off on the right).
(8) At the bottom of the descent, turn right onto a path that is still very rutted and muddy depending on the weather (you can avoid this by going to the right or left). Chestnuts in season. Continue to the Route de Boussens (D635).
(9) Carefully follow it on the right for about 400 m until you reach a petrol station.
(10) Turn left towards the gate (signposted "Martin") and then right to climb into the woods via a narrow path. A little further on, turn left onto the path that winds its way up to the edge of the woods (orientation table with magnificent views of the Pyrenees. Picnic table nearby).
(11) After a possible break, continue straight on along the path which descends gently (water tower on the left) and arrives at a fork.
(12) Turn left onto Chemin de Las Peyrères and follow it straight ahead, passing three lanes on your right. It descends in hairpin bends to join the D52 road.
(13) Turn left and carefully follow the main road until you reach the first road on the right.
(14) Turn right towards Cassaret and follow the road (which has little traffic). Just before the crossroads, take the path on the right that descends towards Aurignac (signposted). When you reach the D8, follow it for a few dozen metres.
(15) At the crossroads, take the small road on the left that climbs towards Cassaret (Chemin de Las Bordes). After 500 m, the path turns right at a right angle. Continue until you see the signs for "Sources" and "Chemin de La Peyre".
(16) Turn right and follow the path down to the Grotte de Rhodes. Cross the Ruisseau de Rhodes stream.
(17) The Abri d'Aurignac is visible a little further to the right. Information boards and rest area. You can return to the village via theGR® ®86 marked trail, coming back on the other side of the stream (not described here).
Walk along the D635 for a few dozen metres to the left, then cross the road carefully to take the path through the woods towards Joulin. At the Col de Joulin, join the road and follow it to the right. Then follow the D635 on the left to return to the village.
(18) At the entrance to the village, take the street that climbs to the left towards the cemetery, then the first three-way junction to the right and the second three-way junction to the left (Rue Saint Roch). Join the tree-lined avenue on the right (viewpoint!). Follow it to the left to reach a staircase on the left that leads to the keep.
Then head to the town hall car park via Rue du Château and Rue des Nobles, taking care to admire the façades of the beautiful residences (S/E).
Beautiful hike, well marked, some beautiful views (best done on a clear day)
Visorando Member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
