IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MONKS AND GOOD MEN

From Villerouge Termenès to the Notre Dame des Prats Chapel: 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, 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. The narrow path is a balcony above the valley. Go back down to come out on a track. Cross a stream on the left and reach a small Chapel. From Notre Dame des Prats to a bend in the D 40: Continue on the main road: cross the stream again and leave 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 (! In case of strong current). Forded to embark on the opposite side in the 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. From a bend in the D 40 to the crossroads at the Croix de Pierre: In the bend, leave the departmental road to follow a wide path in the undergrowth opposite. At the cross, continue to the left (Viewpoint: View of the Château de Termes). From the Stone Cross to Termes: Continue the descent to Termes by a sunken lane. Follow the narrow streets on the hillside, go left in front of the church and reach the D 40 (visit of the castle recommended). From Termes take the direction of the Croix de Pierre and continue the route towards the Serre de Coste Raste on the plateau, beautiful view of the castle and the top of the Terminet gorges. At the Col de la Gardie, go left downhill and continue the route. Reach the bank of the Orbieu in a meander then cross the bridge to the left on the D212. Continue on the road for a little over a km. From Durfort to Hautes-Jonquières: Turn right (view of Durfort castle on the left: built on a rocky outcrop, the castle stands overlooking the gorges of Orbieu, an outpost of the fortress of Termes); we leave the road; continue on the GR36 and climb up to the partially ruined Combe de Vigne forest house (shelter possible). Walk in the middle of an unusual landscape (leave on your right the path going to Basses Jonquières or Métairie Carrus) and arrive as far as the Ruins of the old Priory of Saint Clément. Continue in the Cirque de Jonquières dominated by the pierced cliff, cross the Jonquières stream and continue to the hamlet of Hautes-Jonquières. From Hautes-Jonquières to Mayronnes: After the hamlet of Hautes Jonquières, fork to the left following the GR 36 and go up to the Col de la Croix (363 m) (Panoramic view of the Lauza plateau and the Alaric), then cross the Gautier valley. Continue on the track towards Mayronnes (optional: return trip to the village). From Mayronnes to Caununits-en-Val: Before arriving in Mayronnes, turn right on a track; in view of the cistern, turn right on an uphill track: you follow part of the Sculptural Path. After about 1km, go down to the left on a path until you come out in a vineyard. Take in the creek bed (! very raviné) which runs along the vine and continue on the track. We go around a ruin and cross the stream again. Go up the path then turn left on a downhill path. Come out on a path and turn left towards Caununits en Val. From Caununits-en-Val to Lauza: On the D 41, turn left on the D 42 and just before the cemetery, take the path on the right. Walk, arrive at the cross track, turn right for about 150 m, and take the path to the left. Gradually climb up to the Bouchère plateau, staying on the main path. Continue straight on the Bouchère plateau through dense maquis-type vegetation. (Belvedere on the Corbières, Alaric, the Lauza plateau). After the Côte Aigre ridge, the descent is steep. Cross a very arid area of ​​red marl and continue down a narrow path to the left. Take the track to the left until you cross the Serrat de l'Epine. Ignore the Chemin de Notre-Dame-du-Carla on the left. At the intersection, turn right, pass next to an old well, arrive at Lauza (Forest house razed to the ground following a fire). From the locality of Lauza to Lagrasse: Turn left (we find the route followed on the outward journey): drive along a beautiful alley of cypresses and pines, leave a path on the right and arrive at an intersection. Take the second path on the left. Path, (View to the left of the Chaudron valley and the meanders of the Sou. Right, Orbieu valley). Go down a small pass. Go straight ahead in front of a capitelle. Go back down on a stony track. (The site is remarkable both for its location and for its vegetation of umbrella pines, Scots pines and especially cypresses). Quickly dominate the village. Continue the descent in a meander of the Orbieu until you arrive in the village of Lagrasse. Do not miss on and off the route: Abbey and village of lagrasse; chapel of ND du Carla; castle of Saint Pierre des Champs; castle and village of Villerouge Termenes; castle and village of Termes; Mayronnes village and sculptural path. Viewpoints: - Viewpoint on the Chemin des Fesses de Charlemagne: The site is remarkable both for its location and for its vegetation of umbrella pines, Scots pines and especially cypress trees. - Viewpoint at the end of this path: View to the right of the Combe Chaudron and the meanders of the Sou. On the left, Orbieu valley) - Mont Major belvedere (541 m) (Viewpoint: 360 ° view of Mont Tauch, the Burgarach pech and the Pyrenees range). - Crest of the Serre de Blanès (Point of view: Exceptional panorama). - Above Le Libre: Viewpoint: Clape de Villerouge cliff - National forest of Termes Viewpoint: View of the Libre valley and the hamlet of Creuilhe - Stone cross: Viewpoint: View of the Castle of Terms.