Take a trip
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Trips in the non-motorised category often include a GPX file for those who like to navigate by GPS. Please note that you follow these routes at your own risk. Particularly off-road, land may slide, trees may topple, paths may disappear or be cut.
take the train
suitable for motorised vehicles and road bikes
suitable for hikers, mountain bikers or trail runners
THE RESISTANCE, THE BOLIVIAN AND SOME DEADLY CATERPILLARS / In a forest clearing halfway up a mountain, five granite figures stare into the distance and dream of freedom. Who carved them, and what do they represent?
TAKE A RIDE TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD AND DISCOVER THE PIC DU MIDI / There are five Pics du Midi in the Pyrenees. The one from Bigorre is undoubtedly the easiest to reach, and its summit is home to a range of constructions including observatories, a cafeteria, a restaurant, and even a hotel. It also offers stunning views of the mountains.
KING WAMBA AND THE CASTLE OF THE VULTURES / Discover a remote castle with splendid views and read the story of a rebellion against the last great king of the Visigoths.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DOM ROBERT / Dom Robert’s tapestries were inspired by nature in general and the Montagne Noire in particular. This country hike visits 11 viewpoints associated with his work.
BIARRITZ, LA RHUNE AND EMPRESS EUGENIE / In 1859, Eugénie, wife of Emperor Napoleon III, climbed this mountain in grand style. She also did much to develop tourism in Biarritz, Eaux-Bonnes and other parts of the western Pyrenees. Most modern visitors climb the mountain with the help of the scenic mountain railway.
A FAMILY STROLL THROUGH PREHISTORY IN THE PYRENEES / One of my favourite short walks in the Cerdagne is a five-kilometre balade néolithique, or Stone Age stroll, around the village of Eyne. As well as fine views of the Pyrenees, visitors of all ages will be astonished to discover such a wide range of ancient monuments in such a short distance.
WHICH IS THE MOST SOUTHERLY FRENCH DEPARTMENT? / Although it lies 9,000-kilometre south of Paris in the Indian Ocean, the volcanic island of La Réunion is a true French department, making it the most far-flung corner of the European Union. Climbing the volcanoes requires a high degree of fitness.
A WHISTLE-STOP TOUR OF THE PYRENEES / This is a circular journey of 470km made entirely by train, which you can start and finish at many stations along the way. An optional 5.6 kilometre walk in the high Pyrenees turns the journey into an international voyage that takes in the Spanish town of Puigcerda.
PIGEONNIERS IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE OF TOULOUSE / Follow this 22-kilometre circuit in Toulouse and discover eight magnificent pigeonniers built between the 17th and 19th centuries.
THE RUINS OF LIANTRAN: DISCOVER ONE OF THE OLDEST PASTORAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE PYRENEES / Liantran has been used by shepherds for around 7,000 years, and it was surveyed by archaeologists for the first time in 2018. What they discovered makes Liantran one of the largest and most complex pastoral sites discovered in the Pyrenees.
ON THE ICE HOUSE TRAIL IN THE MONTAGNE NOIRE / Pradelles-Cabardès lies just below the highest point of the Montagne Noire – the Pic de Nor. A century ago, this tiny mountain village dominated the ice industry in our region. The best way to grasp the scale of this enterprise is to take a stroll along Le Sentier des Glacières (The Icehouse Trail).
A MORNING RUN THROUGH 10,000 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE MONTAGNE NOIRE / Why do I love the Lauragais and the Montagne Noire? Where else can you find a heritage trail that offers so much in such a short distance, not to mention seeing France’s most beautiful tree?
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