Walking in the Pyrénées

Cathars Castles of the Pyrenees : From Carcassonne or Quillan to Montsegur and Foix

From the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees Ariegeoises in the heart of the sun blessed Corbieres region, or between Montsegur and Foix is where you can find the secret trails and castles of the chateaux cathares. Imposing stone castles built high up in rocky crags or pogs.  These fortresses are the symbol of a tragic, political intrigue and drama that shook the South of France. This walking holiday combines a historical interest that stirs the imagination as well as some memorable walking through lush unspoilt mountains and valleys.
We offer the Cathars trail as a week itinerary from Quillan to Foix or you can book a 9 to 14 days walk along the trail from East (the Med) to West (Foix).

Supplement taxi transfer to Carcassone (instead of to Quillan) on last day : €  54 per pax up to 4 persons.
Supplement taxi transfer to Toulouse airport on  last day (instead of to Quillan) : €  89 per pax up to 4 persons.
 

The price includes: the moving on of baggage between hotels, the  dossier containing your maps, route notes and all necessary details needed for your holiday.

The price does not include: Drinks, picnics, entrance fees, additional transfers and holiday insurance.

5-9 days tours

Parties of  3 persons :   9 % p.p.
Parties of  4 persons : 14 % p.p.
Parties of  5 persons : 17 % p.p.
Parties of  6 persons : 19 % p.p.
Parties of  7 persons : 20 % p.p.
Parties of  8 persons : 21 % p.p.

ACCOMMODATION
In hotels and chambres d’hotes in double or twin rooms: 7 nights

MEALS
- Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, bread, butter and jam)
- Evening meals in hotels or restaurants, local specialities comprising of a starter main course and desert

STARTING POINT and SCHEDULE The distance by car/taxi from Toulouse airport to Quillan is 160km.
It will take 2 hours 15 minutes to get in Quillan.

day 2    Start at railway station at Quillan  and
             walking to Puivert. 20,5 km
day 3    Walking from Puivert to Belvis 15,8 km
day 4    Walking from  Belvis to Comus 20 km
day 5    Walking from  Comus to Montsegur 14,5 km
day       Walk around Montsegur 14 km optional
day 6    Walking to Roquefixade 17 km
day 7    Walking to Foix 18 km
day 8    Leave after small roundwalk . You can take the train back to Toulouse (not included) in Foix.

We advise you take an extra night in Carcassonne.  

We can arrange for a transfer from the airport of Toulouse (€150,-) or Carcassonne (€130) or back to Quillan (€100).
 

END
At the hotel in Foix after breakfast. (return to Quillan by taxi possible by request)

ORGANIZATION
We propose a self guided, independent walking formula. You choose your departure date and we will take care of all the rest. We transport your bags between the hotels ,provide the maps and good walking notes. This is a way of enjoying complete flexibility, you dictate the walking pace and rhythm of your holiday.

DATES
Departs day 1: every day all year round.  
 

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
One person.

HOW TO GET THERE

- By Road:
- Quillan is situated 39kms from Carcassonne, the main town in Aude on the D118 passing by Limoux.
- From Toulouse it is 140km by motorway to Carcassonne.

- By Train :
- There are regular trains from Toulouse to Carcassonne. There are regular buses from Carcassonne to Quillan.  For more information contact 0836353535.

- by Air:
-Toulouse  or Carcassone (Ryanair from London).

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Railway station at Foix: 0836353535
- Meteo Aude: 0436680211
- Ariège: 0536680209

PROGRAM walking days

Day 0 (extra night):

If you prefer arriving the night before the first walk you can take an extra hotel night in Quillan and or Carcassonne. You will stay here on the base of B&B. Dinner not included in Standard package but included in the Plus package..
 

Day 1: From Quillan to Puivert
Start at your hotel in Quillan. (If you want a transfer to shorten this first walk you can get one from Quillan to Nébias. Suppl. €5,-Please let us know in advance). Nebias is a small Pyrenean village, the walking trail known as the Sentier Cathare leads all the way to Puivert castle. In its time this castle was far more festive than military a castle of troubadours. The surrounding terrain is scrubby, there is a pleasant vegetation of box tree, and juniper which gives a subtle fragrance to the air, to be enjoyed in the shade of the oaks. From undulating valleys and hillsides the castle comes suddenly into view, the imposing site gets ever nearer. A ridge walk will lead you towards the castle doors, it’s possible explore the towers, dungeons and the famous hall of the musicians. This feudal castle was a hive of activity in the XII century, a meeting and performance place for the most famous troubadours of the era. The village of Puivert itself also represents an interest and vestige to the past, the museum of Quercorb is a superb exhibition that really evokes the life of the area at the end of the last century. There is a model of Puivert castle showing how it would have been in the XIV century. (Please note it is also possible for clients to be transferred directly to Puivert from Quillan and from their chambre d’hote walk in the village and visit the castle.)

Night and evening meal in chambre d’hôtes at  Camurac.
5h45 effective walking, +115m altitude, -210m, 20,5kms

Day 2: From Puivert to Belvis
Today’s trail is for the most part in the forest, the Cathare footpath traverses the forest of Lescale and Picaussel in the direction of the Pays de Sault. A vast, airy wide open plateau  situated high up between 950 et 1300m, the plateau is the gateway towards the high mountain summits. Does, stags, roe deer are at home in these thick fir tree forests, if you don’t have the chance to observe them you will surely see their tracks and hear them nearby. The forest is also home to foxes, squirrels and fouines, just thirty years ago lynx, wolves and bears would also have been present.
During this day’s walking you will be surprised by the diversity of the vegetation, different species of trees  such as oak, fir, silver birch and ash. On the outskirts of the forest the land is covered with the box tree, heather and juniper. The village of Belvis has a traditional architecture typical of the style to be found in mountain villages between 900 and 1000m, slate roofs, houses huddled closely together and concentrated around the church interwoven with small alley ways.

Night and evening meal in Chambres d'hôtes at Camurac.
4h15 effective walking, +583m altitude, -25m, 15,8 kms
 

Day 3: From Belvis to Comus
Today we have a section of the walk that offers a wonderful transition of scenery. The walk will lead you into the county of Ariège and the ‘Pays d’Olmes‘ by a footpath that was once used at the beginning of the century by the local inhabitants whether for simple means of communication and travelling or for commercial exchanges. It was the main route between the ‘Pays de Sault’ and the ‘Pays d’Olmes’ regions.

Night and evening meal in Chambre d'hôtes at Camurac
5h15 effective walking, +660m altitude, -772m, 20 kms.
 

Day 4: From Camurac/Comus to Montsegur
The lay of the land dictated the route and the natural route of access between the villages of Comus and Montségur was by the gorge of the Frau. For one kilometre the gorge is notched out of high chalk walls, the path passes between  cliffs soaring impressionably straight up, vertically, towards the sky. The name itself Frau means fear or apprehension.
Before penetrating into the gorges, you will pass through the picturesque, rural villages of Camurac and Comus. It is here in these out of the way corners that the phenomena of the ‘inquisition’ hit particularly hard across the Pays de Sault and the lands of Ariège in the XII and XIII centuries, the views are captivating.

The castle of Montségur balancing high on the pog, a high mountain pinnacle is a very emblematic  symbol.  Built between  1204 and 1211 by Raimon de Péreille at the request of  the local Cathare clergy, this site was to become during the first part of the XIII century the religious capital of the Cathare church. You will find here, a place and atmosphere out of the ordinary.

Night and evening meal in Chambre d'hôtes at Montsegur
3h15 effective walking, +660m altitude, -772m, 13 kms.
 

 

Day X: Walk Around Montségur
The site of Montségur, the very bastion of the Cathare resistance certainly requires an additional day for exploring. The village itself is quite unique, the houses and buildings are in long curved lines one after another. They flank the mountainside in a well defined pattern and are linked by small streets and pedestrian walkways. There is a museum and some art and craft shops. From the museum a pathway leads to the foot of the pog, a high rocky buttress, it takes about 30 min to walk up to the summit where you arrive at a sumptuous belvedere. The panoramic view extends for miles around over the Massif de Tabe, with the Pic de Soularac and further East the mountain of the Frau. Having visited the castle a circular walk in the direction of the ridge of Taulat will allow you to discover high altitude mountain plains, still used to graze the local cattle.

Night and evening meal in Chambre d'hôtes Montségur.
6h30 effective walking, +774m altitude,-580m, 12kms.
 

Day 5: From Montségur to Roquefixade
The ‘Sentier Cathare’ or Cathare footpath progresses through the heart of the region known as the ‘Pays d’Olmes’, in past times a land renown for the weaving of cloth, wool, fabrics and certainly specialised in the production of combs made from cows corns.
Still in the county of Ariège, traversing lush, green countryside, undulating between valleys and mountainsides the trail will lead you towards the medieval castle of Roquefixade. Crossing through the village of Montferrier and the hamlet of Coulzonne you may well run in to some locals and experience a warm exchange or interesting insight into the life here.

Night and evening meal in chambre de hote at Roquefixade.
4h30 effective walking +400m altitude, -760m, 17kms.
 

Day 6: From Roquefixade to Foix
The last section of the sentier Cathare presents the double particularity of visiting a medieval castle at the beginning and at the end of the day. The route itself follows for most of the time a ridge walk between the small village of Roquefixade and the county, country town of Foix.   The town of Foix was a counts town and its castle linked to Gaston Febus is characteristic by its three towers and high, unusual rocky base. Foix is the principal town of Ariège and in during the Summer months it is a centre of music and animation, a season of festivities and merriment as well as the colourful Friday morning market.

Night and evening meal in a hotel at Foix.
5h00 effective walking +350m altitude, -720m, 18.5kms.
 

Day 7 Last visit of Foix
This morning, the last possibility to visit the centre of the old town and to wander through the old streets and to visit the castle .

2h00 effective walking.
 

The programme is an example of the itinerary we aim to adhere. If due to situations beyond our control the itinerary may be modified.
 

IMPORTANT PRECISIONS

LEVEL
The walks are on good footpaths and trails. You need to be used to walking and taking regular exercise to enjoy this holiday. There is between 4h30 and 6h00 effective walking each day.  The  ascents and descents are constant. There will be between 350m and 750m ascension per day.

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