Hiking in Languedoc-Roussillon: Cathar Castles Part 2

Arrival and check-in at your centrally located hotel in Quillan. Here you will receive hiking descriptions and maps for your hiking week. There is an opportunity for those who arrive early to do a shorter hike on the arrival day. Time approximately 4 hours.

Accommodation in Quillan

On your first excursion from Quillan, you will explore a part of the Pyrenees with distinct Mediterranean influences. The hike takes you through fields of olive trees and vineyards, past lush scrublands with boxwood, shady oaks and juniper bushes. As you cross rolling valleys and slopes, a castle will eventually emerge, the castle of Puivert. This castle, known for its festivities rather than its military significance, served as a gathering point for troubadours. As you approach, a magnificent walk along the ridge takes you to the castle gates. Inside the castle, you can explore the towers, the dungeons and the famous musicians' hall.

Accommodation in Puivert

You start the day with a taxi transfer to Montplaisir (included in the price). Your hike takes you through dense forests to the vast Plateau de Sault, which stretches between 950 and 1300 meters above sea level. From Plateau de Languerail, an exceptional view is offered over Montsegur, Roquefixade and Plantaurel, which lie majestically before you. The journey ends in Comus, a charming and characteristic little village.

Accommodation in Comus

On this hike you transition from the Aude region to Ariège and leave Pays de Sault to reach Pays d'Olmes. Initially, you will encounter the impressive Frau gorges, with their steep walls carved in limestone, stretching almost a kilometer. The path then leads to Montségur, a village that emerges at the western end of the gorges. Since the hike is not particularly long, there is an excellent chance to explore the village museum.

Accommodation in Montségur

Starting the day with an excursion to Montsegur's pog is definitely recommended. The visit to the castle is followed by a hike on the Cathar Trail that winds through the heart of Pays d'Olmes, a region known for its wool production and historical manufacture of horn combs. Along your way, among the lush landscapes of the lower mountain areas, you will also encounter one of Ariège's historic castles, Roquefixade, which towers over the village of the same name, once known as Bastiden de Montfort.

Accommodation in Roquefixade

This hike constitutes the final stage on the Cathar Trail and takes you through the state forest of Pradières towards Foix. Along the way, you are treated to magnificent panoramic views over the Ariège mountains. As part of the morning's start of the hike, you can make a short excursion to the rock formation that bears the ruins of Roquefixade castle.

Accommodation in Foix

Take the chance to explore the heart of the old town district, where history echoes through the narrow alleys, and don't miss admiring the majestic county castle, which proudly rises on its cliff!

Accommodation in Foix

The trip ends after breakfast.