Walking holiday in Cathar Country

Cathar Castles of the Pyrénées H78. (Carcassonne-Tuchan-Quillan-Carcassonne , Part 1 )

Cathar Castles of the Pyrenees : From the Mediterranean to Quillan. Start in Carcassonne, Narbonne or at the Mediterranean sea.
End in Quillan. 6-8 days. See the castles of Queribus and Peyrepertuse.

From the Mediterranean Aude to the Pyrenees Ariegeoises in the heart of the sun blessed Corbières region Quillan or Carcassonne you can find the secret trails and castles of the chateaux Cathar. Imposing stone castles built high up in rocky crags of 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 and not spoilt mountains and valleys.
We offer this Cathar trail as a 6 to 8 days walk along the trail from East (the Med, or Narbonne or Carcassonne) to the center of the Cathar trail.

For walks along the whole of the trail of the Sentier Cathare from the Med to Montségur you click here H80 (Part 1 and 2) .
For a short version from Quillan to Montségur (option start in Carcassonne) 7 or 8 days click here h79 (Part 2) .

Mystic Cathar Castles of the Pyrénées H78 ( Part 1: Carcassonne-Tuchan-Quillan-Carcassonne)

6 to 8 days.

You can book these walks as standard ** packages or as "plus " **/*** packages in hotels and guesthouses.

You can also start this walk in Quillan and walk in a circle back to Quillan via Peyrepertuse and Puilaurens.

Selfguided trekking French Cathar trail in the Pyrénées

h79:  Quillan - Montségur

H80:  Port-la-Nouvelle - Montségur

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Cathar walk H78 (stnd or plus packages)

You walk the first part of the Sentier Cathare as a

Standard** package (H78)       for pricing and itineraries    or as   a  Plus**/*** package (H78) .

Interesting discounts for small groups (3 tot 8 personen).

See terms and conditions of group discounts

The prices include: 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, entrance fees, additional transfers and holiday insurance.

PROGRAM walking days

Narbonne
Narbonne is a town in the new Occitanie région of France. It is less than an hours drive from Spain. It was once a busy port, but it is now about 9 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The town is linked to the nearby Canal du Midi and the Aude River by the Canal de la Robine, which runs through the centre of town. If you want to visit the beach you go to Narbonne Plage. Which has a 3 mile beach and a marina with 600 mooring.

Port-la-Nouvelle
Not very special. Only if you want to start the Cathar walk at the med. First walk of 27 km.

Durban-Corbières.
Very old town In the centre of Corbières vineyards.

Tuchan
Tuchan lies in a plain and bordered to the west by Mont Tauch which at 900 meters dominates the town. It has always been productive but whereas you might at one time have seen flocks of sheep or goats wandering around and cereals being cultivated you can now only see varieties of vines like syrah, carignan, grenache, muscat all growing in orderly rows. The town lives off the grape and its current relative prosperity is due to the success of Fitou wine and the successful marketing by the Mont Tauch Co-operative.

Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse
The village at the foot of one of the most beautiful Cathar-castles: Chateau de Peyrepertuse : in the mounts and hills of the Hautes Corbières, Peyrepertuse stands out and above at 800 m high above the the garrigues (brushwoods). From the castle you look at the other phenomenal Cathar castle of Quéribus, only 5 km ahead.

Camps-sur-l'Agly
On a place with a Breathtaking view on the Canigou mountain and the Gorges de Galamus, you could stay easily for another day.

Bugarach
You'll walk to the top of it Pech de Bugarach.

LEVEL
You walk on walking trails with good footpaths and tracks. 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.