Tourouzelle walks

A walk through vineyards, heath and fragrant pine trees, allowing you to discover numerous drystone shelters and old sheepfolds built of dry stone, bearing witness to the activities of the villagers of yesteryear on the hillsides. At the end of the route, the Chapel of Sainte-Cécile, set in a very pretty spot, offers a pleasant place to rest.

[PLEASE NOTE: due to the fire in July 2026 in the Oupia area, the walking route is closed until further notice] This beautiful walk combines nature, history and modern technology. Enjoy the exceptional panoramic views over the wine-growing plain.Ideal for nature lovers and those looking to get away from it all for a few hours in peaceful surroundings.

This very short walk for the whole family takes in a boat harbour, a spillway, a canal bridge, a boatman's stop, an aqueduct, a beautiful dairy farm and a small lake where you can fish for trout. A wealth of discoveries!

If you have an hour or two to spare in Conhilac-Corbières – at the end of the day, for example – this quick walk offers a lovely view over the Obieu valley, which is in fact the route from Toulouse to the Mediterranean for the motorway, the train and so on, with the Pyrenees in the background. The walk takes you past a field of wind turbines, giving you the chance to see for yourself the impact of this type of development.

More of a stroll than a hike, this outing is ideal for families looking to get some fresh air. Although the banks of the canal have lost some of their charm (many plane trees have been lost), there are still two locks to discover, including the Aiguille lock with its unusual sculptor.

The Pont-Canal du Répudre bridge is the highlight of this circular route starting from Paraza towards the Minervois vineyards and the Jardin de Bacchus, near the Pouzols-Minervois cooperative winery. Before that, the passage through Sainte-Valière brings a hint of Saint-Jacques with a section of the Camin Romieu. Due to its location on the route, this Languedoc village is an essential stop for pilgrims looking for an enriching break on the Voie des Piémonts.

This beautiful walk allows naturist campers and hikers to explore the area around the Mas de Lignières campsite. The walk is done fully clothed and takes you through the vineyards and pine forest north of Cesseras. For non-naturists, there is a car park, marked on the map but not on the road, at thefirst crossing point, which can be used as a starting and finishing point.

A challenging hike, with no major difficulties, apart from the total lack of signposting or, frequently, numerous signs that contradict this route. The route follows deeply rutted paths, with loose gravel underfoot. The start crosses a pine forest devastated by fire, but after that it’s pure joy through dense vegetation, consisting of pines, holm oaks, boxwoods, junipers, kade trees, and the full range of Mediterranean plants – a feast of scents. Avoid doing this in summer or after a storm.

At the gates of Carcassonne, the Montagne d'Alaric offers a superb viewpoint over the Pyrenees and the Aude plain. The ruins of the priories of Saint-Pierre d'Alaric and Saint-Michel de Nahuze, as well as those of the Métairie de Vidal, encourage us to reflect on the history of this mountain and the life that must have once animated it. Finally, the return journey through the vineyards of the Corbières region is an invitation to end this day's walk with a well-deserved wine tasting.

Far less well-known than the Brian, its close neighbour, the Ruisseau de Coupiac has also carved out impressive gorges that are well worth discovering. After a rather gruelling climb up onto the causse, the route offers beautiful views of the Minervois, the Corbières and the Pyrenees. The descent along the canyon leads to the small village of La Caunette, where a stop for a break will be most welcome. Finally, the return journey along the dry bed of the Cesse offers a unique experience.

This day-long route takes you around the very pretty medieval village of Minerve, allowing you to explore the Cesse and Brian gorges as well as some of the Minervois vineyards. This route, walked in May 2025, follows only safe paths, many of which are signposted (several other paths running along the cliffs above the gorges are now dangerous and often off-limits). As an added bonus, when water levels are low, you can visit the spectacular and immense natural arch/cave in Minerve through which the River Cesse flows.

This route around Minerve has it all! The natural bridges over the Cesse, the heath, the footbridges over the Gorges du Brian and, of course, the cobbled streets of the town. ⚠️ After rainfall, we advise you to check the conditions for crossing the River Brian (7): the ford between the town and the catapult can sometimes be covered in water or become slippery (see practical information). This hike may be closed depending on the fire risk level. Please check the map.

This hike, at the start of La Caunette, will take you above Minerva and will let you discover the megaliths scattered along the route. You'll criss-cross vines, scrubland composed of gorse, thyme, brush, evergreen oak trees and the odd wood.

This beautiful hike offers stunning views of the Coupiat, Fendaille and Trémenal gorges. The route is fully signposted, presents no major difficulties and can be shortened at various points if necessary.

A short hike around the town of Minerve along trails that are rarely used. They offer magnificent views, but be careful if you are afraid of heights on the edges of the Brian Canyon.

A circular loop that takes you alternately through vineyards, heath and undergrowth. All dotted with some beautiful views of the Pyrenees and the Mivervois plain.

Starting from Félines-Minervois, this hike leads primarily to the ruins of Ventajou, which offer a magnificent view of the Corbières and the Pyrenees. But there are many other places of interest along the route: the pretty hamlet of Auberadou, the Planette dolmen, the stone apiaries and the old marble quarries of Planette, Castillou and Escaliers, a cistern carved into the rock, not to mention the Cubitus Cave, which is worth a short detour. Finally, a walk through a magnificent pine forest filled with wonderful scents will bring this journey to a harmonious conclusion.

A lovely walk with the scent of the heath in the air. The walk starts at the recently rebuilt Boutenac washhouse, takes you past the church – which has also been renovated – and the remains of the tower. After a visit to the old village, head towards Mount Penery to enjoy a 360° view very close to the Roche Trouée, but be careful not to take any unnecessary risks: if you ask locals for directions, say ‘le Trou de la Lunette’.

This sunny and windy trip will take you to the heart of the Boutenac National Forest, better known for its wine than for its hikes. In a setting that smells of pine and rosemary, discover the cave and the Chapel of Saint-Siméon, with a fresco depicting its history, its life and its work. Then head to the rocky barrier of Roque Sestière, the highest point of the Boutenac massif, a landmark for birds of prey and an area where the Cers wind has left no chance for vegetation.

This is a great walk in the heart of the Alaric massif, where you can explore deep valleys and forests of holm oaks and Austrian black pines. Legend has it that the Visigoth king Alaric, passing through the region, gave the mountain its name, and some say that his treasure is hidden here. A trip to the summit offers views of the entire Aude plain, the Corbières, the Eastern Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea if the weather is clear enough.

A beautiful circular route around Alaric, along ridges and valleys from north to south, offering views of the Montagne Noire, the Aude valley from Carcassonne to Lezignan, and the Corbières Massif with the Pyrenees in the background, surrounded by vegetation including thyme, rosemary, boxwood, pine and lavender. Very quiet paths.

A lovely 8.5 km walk through heath and pine forest, or along one of the canals of the former, now-dry Marseillette pond.

This route offers magnificent views. Depart from Bize-Minervois via the D5 departmental road, known as "La Minervoise". Route on tracks through heath, then through pine forests.

An easy, gentle walk. Long path along the hillside and return via the ridge.

Between Aude and Hérault, this route alternates between flat and steep paths, crossing hills and plateaus between Bize-Minervois and Montouliers. On a balcony overlooking the Cesse valley, via the Travers de Verdeyre, let's set off to discover the Roc Tremblaïre before stopping at Montouliers for a break near its famous Roman fountain. The return journey, following a section ofthe GR®78combined with a Saint-Jacques slip road, allows you to overlook the Argeliers plain before arriving at Bize-Minervois.

A short circuit starting from the hamlet of Paguignan will take you through vineyards and woods, passing successively through the hamlets of Cailhol and Vialanove. On the return circuit, there is a protected cave where bats nest. Please note! We recommend using the Visorando app for navigation, and above all, downloading the map before you leave home, as the area will remain a white zone until at least the end of 2022...

Between 55 and 45 million years ago, a warm, shallow sea flooded the older terrain forming the Montagne Noire, covering it with limestone rich in foraminifera (microscopic organisms encased in a calcareous shell). This limestone forms the Causses du Minervois. Rivers flowing down from the Montagne Noire cross these plateaus and carve out narrow valleys: the canyons. This network of canyons is home to numerous karstic caves and caves harbouring ancient traces of human presence and rare animal species. Bats, which inhabit the Grotte de l’Aldène in the Cesse Gorges, the peregrine falcon, the Montagu’s harrier and the red-backed shrike all contribute to the biodiversity of this site. This walk remains on the limestone plateau, amongst vineyards and valleys, and offers an exceptional view of the Brahunal Gorges, a stream that joins the Cessière. See warning in the practical information tab

Discover the famous Muscat vineyards of Saint-Jean-de-Minervois. This circuit moves out of the hamlet of Paguignan leading onto the plateau of Saint John and then descends to the Cesse Valley to join Agel and its Castle, which is listed as a Historical Monument. The route then continues in the direction of Cassidy and then reaches the starting point.

A short, easy walk. It is partly marked in blue and, in places, in yellow and red. Warning! In summer, temperatures (in the shade) can exceed 35°C and the route is largely exposed. Remember to take plenty of water and apply sun cream. Also, from 15 August onwards, check that a driven hunt is not taking place.

A circular route through the heath that will take you from Paguignan towards the road to Saint-Jean-de-Minervois, passing through the Muscat vineyards.

A walk through the Avants-Monts region towards the small village of Rieussec, along the road linking Narbonne to Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, making use of a section ofthe GR® 77 starting from Vélieux and a stretch of the Grande Traversée de l’Hérault to return to this village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park

This small river, which flows into the Aude after 50 km, is the focus of this circular route starting from Cantignergues, a hamlet in La Livinière, in the commune of Hérault, to its source near the village of Ferrals-les-Montagne, a village in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. A picnic area (with tables and barbecue) has been set up near the stone "gatehouse" where the waters of the Cesse emerge, disappearing during periods of drought at the foot of the Cathar citadel of Minerve.

Discover part of the dried-up Marseillette lake, where orchards, vineyards and rice fields are cultivated, and its freshwater supply.

Amidst vineyards and pine forests, discover works of art all along the trail.

A magnificent hike in the hills above Féline-Minervois. Our footsteps echo on the marble that lies just below the surface of the heath. Sumptuous views of the Minervois. And medieval ruins to admire.

This hike, partly off the marked trails, allows you to see the hamlet of Biot, its quarry and its mill. As you pass the marble quarries (you will cross four during the hike), you will understand the titanic work carried out by our ancestors during the last century. The hike ends with a long, safe cliff-top path offering spectacular views of the Minervois plain and, beyond, the Corbières massif. In good weather, you can see the Pyrenees in the distance.

This hike offers a variety of landscapes and trails in the Félines-Minervois marble quarry area. The passage along trails that we have recently opened up allows you to discover places that are little known or unknown.

A lovely walk in this area, well known for its two PR® trails in Caunes-Minervois and Félines-Minervois: the Marble Quarries Route. To create this circular route, off the beaten track, we spent several days ‘working’ to find the best route, clearing certain sections overgrown with vegetation and marking the paths we created with Yellow Circles. In the marble quarries, you can really appreciate the titanic effort put in by the workers at the start of the 20th century. Information boards explain how the various quarries we come across used to operate.

This is a challenging hike on beautiful trails to reach the Signal de l'Alaric, the highest point of the eponymous mountain range, where the view is breathtaking – literally for hikers who do the circular loop in the opposite direction.The descent that follows is challenging, over rocky terrain, with the last kilometre at a gradient of over 20% and permanent views of the Pyrenees and Corbières mountain ranges.The end, which is more relaxing but mostly on tarmac, simply completes the circular. The final variant, which is a little longer, reduces the amount of tarmac.

A circular route around the central part of the Alaric massif with beautiful panoramic views of the Corbières and the Pyrenees from the high points. The circular route starts on tarmac, then runs alongside the Corbières vineyards and finally follows the GR®36 trail along the limestone ridges. Feast your eyes!

From Notre-Dame du Cros (Caunes-Minervois), a route takes you to former marble quarries, with a picnic stop at the renovated Ventajou refuge, near the ruins of the castle of the old village that has disappeared. On the way back, you pass by the Moulin de Biot, a former witness to a technique of using wind energy for sawing marble. Warning from the author of the route in the "practical information" tab (2/11/2021)

A loop starting from Saint-Jean-de-Minervois will take you across several streams and to the Church of Saint-Jean de Dieuvaille or the Church of the Trou. Along the way, you will alternate between old paths through the woods and Muscat vineyards. The route is dotted with beautiful views of the Barroubio cliffs. Depending on the season, you may see wild irises, broom, gorse, thyme and holm oaks.

Starting from the small village of Montlaur, in the heart of the Corbières region, this circular trail is fragrant with the scent of pine trees and heath. The return journey takes you through vineyards, in a very Mediterranean atmosphere. There is a little tarmac at the end of the route, but this should not spoil the enjoyment of the walk.

A loop from the magnificent Abbaye de Fontfroide in the massif of the same name. There are 360° views of the Corbières, the Pyrenees and the Aude coastline. With no major difficulties, the route only takes in the DFCI paths of this highly protected massif.

A circular route, not too difficult, starting from Fontfroide Abbey offering lovely views. The route is varied as it follows paths that are sometimes stony, tracks, and also a section of the Via Domitia. All in all, a short hike that is a bit of a workout in places but remains enjoyable.

A walk that leads to the ruins of the Saint-Peyre Chapel and then to a curious stone with a hole in it hidden in the heath. (Moderator's note) Please note that there are reported difficulties at the end of the route. See the three comments left since February 2022.