Distance: 31,9 km
Duration (average) : 09h
Level: Medium
Elevation: 1394 D +
Departure: RIBAUTE
White and red GR
Traveling from Normandy to Spain, the GR® 36 crosses the Aude right through, from north to south. Cool shades of the Canal du Midi, the medieval city of Carcassonne, the wild massif of Corbières and Hautes-Corbières, proud remains of the castles of the Cathar Country ... The route of this route allows you to discover an infinite palette of landscapes, grandiose panoramas, a wild and unspoiled nature, flora of exceptional richness. The GR 36: information from the Departmental Hiking Committee 04 68 47 69 26
Your itinerary
1
Step 1
Go down the rue de la Gare to the right then to the left rue de l'Orbieu for about 50 meters (a round trip to rue de l'Orbieu (GR36) allows access to the Pont Vieux spanning the river and the giant pots, real natural pools carved into the rocky bed. In front of the bridge, vestiges of fortifications; in the cobbled street, door from the 212th century). Go up the rue de l'Abeille on the left. Cross the D212 to climb stairs. Turn left on rue J.-Latissien then right on chemin des Planels. Follow this road to Lagrasse. At the D3, continue to the left. At the D36, walk along the esplanade to the right in the direction of Carcassonne, take the rue du Consulat on the left and the rue des Deux Ponts on the right. Cross the Pont Vieux and turn right. (Junction with the GR XNUMX variant coming from Montlaur.)
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Step 2
Climb an embankment on the left to climb the hillside in a bend in the Orbieu. Quickly dominate the village (Point of view: The site is remarkable both for its location and its vegetation of umbrella pines, Scots pines and especially cypresses). Go up to the right on a stony track. Go straight ahead in front of a capitelle. After a small pass (Viewpoint: View on the right on the Combe Chaudron and the meanders of the Sou. On the left, Orbieu valley), turn left, then right. Approximately 100 m further on, ignore a path on the right and reach a crossroads.
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Step 3
Take the second path on the right (the first going to the Chapel of Our Lady of Carla) to cross the wood of Lauza. At the fork, go right. Follow a beautiful alley of cypresses and pines to arrive at Lauza (309 m). (-Take the GR36A: Le Lauza - Saint Pierre des Champs - Villerouge-Termenès)
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Step 4
Descend from Lauza, taking a left twice. At the first crossroads, go opposite and, at the second, turn left to cross the ruins of Clamendaigues. Walk on a balcony above the Madourneille valley. The descent takes a final steep path to find itself in the vineyards. Turn left then right to join the D 41 (150 m).
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Step 5
Go left, then cross the bridge to the right towards the Château Saint Auriol. About 250 m further on, in a hairpin bend, leave the road to the left for a forest track which goes up through the pines. At the crossroads, take the second path on the right to bypass the Saint Auriol estate. Leave a path on the right and continue on this tarmac road to the bridge over the Orbieu; Cross it and, turning left, go up to the D 212 at the entrance to Saint Pierre des Champs (160 m).
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Step 6
(In Saint Pierre des Champs Viewpoint: Formerly fortified, the village is dominated by its castle. It was a stopover on the Roman road which crossed the Corbières. It was a possession of the Abbey of Lagrasse). Climb opposite by rue du Château (Viewpoint: on the left, ruins of the Castle and medieval street), then by rue des Pins, on the right. At the top of the hill, go up to the right above the village (Viewpoint: Panorama over the valley). Ignore the hamlet of Joffres on the right then a path on the left.
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Step 7
Turn right: the track runs along the western side of Mont Rode. Ignore access to Soulane and continue. Further on, turn right then straight ahead. Continue to climb, turning left three times. Reach a crossroads.
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Step 8
Climb to the right by the wide middle path. This very steep climb leads to the Mont Major belvedere (541 m) (Point of view: 360 ° view of Mont Tauch, the Burgarach pech and the Pyrenees range).
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Step 9
The path winds its way to the left, then descends, steeply. Always walk on a balcony following the crest of the Serre de Blanès (Viewpoint: Exceptional panorama). Descending south-east, pass near the Chapel of Saint Martin des Auzines going straight ahead. The path turns to the right southwest and joins a forest track; go down to the left.
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Step 10
At the T-junction, go right towards the village, ignoring the paths on either side. Pass thus at the foot of ruined mills (323th century). An old path lined with low walls leads to Villerouge -Termenès. Go down Carriera dels Molins to the left, then Carriera Blanca (Viewpoint: Porch and old street). Follow the banks of the Lou to the castle. Cross the bridge and turn right to reach the town hall (36 m) and the medieval garden. (Link from Villerouge-Termenès to Termes to find the GR 36 which continues towards Mouthoumet, then Peyrepertuse.) (GRXNUMX A from Villerouge-Termenès to Palairac, then the Col de Férréol.)
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Step 11
From the town hall, follow the Camin de la Bassa and, at the crossroads, continue straight ahead, leaving the path towards Palairac. Turn right and, 50 m further on, go up to the left by a grassy path overlooking a field for 80 m. At the end, turn right to go up to the Pech Rigaud. Walk among the junipers, holm oaks and boxwoods. Become very narrow, the path is in balcony above the valley. Go back down to come out on a track. Cross a stream on the left and reach a small chapel.
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Step 12
Continue on the main road: cross the stream again and ignore a path on the right. The route winds its way through a deep valley on the right bank of the stream. After two fording and before the ruins of an old sheepfold, descend to the right, then to the left 50 m further on to reach the Libre dam.
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Step 13
Ford to engage in front in a steep climb and switchbacks in the undergrowth. Join a track. Go up it to the right (Viewpoint: Clape de Villerouge cliff); ignore a path to the right, then fork to the right to enter the state forests of Villerouge and Termes and walk along the contours of the massif (Viewpoint: View of the Libre valley and the hamlet of Creuilhe). Cross several streams. A slightly steep climb and a descent lead to a crossroads. Go up to the left to join the D 40; Take it on the right for 300 m. (Except GR: for Creuilhe 3 km 45 min go down on the right by the track)
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Step 14
In a bend, leave the departmental road to follow a wide path in the undergrowth opposite. At the cross, continue straight on (Viewpoint: View of the Château de Termes). At the ford, leave this path again to the right to descend on a narrow path buried in the undergrowth. (Junction with the GR 36 coming from Mayronnes.)
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Step 15
Continue the descent towards Termes by a sunken lane. Follow the alleys on the hillside, pass to the left in front of the church and gain the D 40. End of stage 1.
Be careful, the fire risk is often high, especially in summer, and can lead to flower bed closures. Find out before you go consulting the fire risk map for outdoor activities.
Fires strictly prohibited. Do not smoke and never throw cigarette butts in nature. Fires are numerous and catastrophic in our region. In the event of a fire or accident: give alert 18 or 112 from a cell phone.
Protect yourself from the sun and take enough water with you.
Avoid picking flowers and plants. Take all your trash. Close fences and keep dogs on a leash in pasture areas, villages and protected areas.
Mountain bike routes: the routes are often shared with hikers or other users (cars, tractors, etc.). Be careful and always anticipate that a pedestrian may be present around a bend to have time to brake if necessary. Pedestrians have priority in principle, slow down at crossings or stop if the configuration of the terrain requires you to do so.
Thank you and happy hiking!
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