Distance: 53,5 km
Level: Difficult
Elevation: 2233 D +
3 reviews

Departure: LAGRASSE
boucle
MTB Black
No doubt, this circuit is very dark. Physical and technical, there will also be portages, good mountain biking, lost in the Corbières. You can do this route in 2 or 3 days if you feel like it, so you will have time to appreciate the landscapes and heritage. Departing from Lagrasse, passing near ND du Carla; in St Pierre des Champs, see the castle district. After the Serre de Blanes balcony (Mont Major, belvedere at 541m), pass near the chapel of St Martin des Auzines. You will then cross the villages and the State Forests of Villerouge and Termes, (castles to visit) not far from the Gorges de l'Orbieu; Mayronnes and its sculptural path, ruins and hamlets; you will touch the Val de Dagne in Caunettes en Val. Great program for sure! Viewpoints: “Charlemagne’s Buttocks” path. Termes National Forest: Libre valley, hamlet of Creuilhe. Stone cross: Termes castle. Durfort: the castle. Col de la Croix: Plateau du Lauza, Mont Alaric. Plateau de la Bouchère: Les Corbières, l’Alaric, Plateau du Lauza.

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Your itinerary

LAGRASSE

IGN map reference (s): IGN 2446 West Capendu, IGN 2447 OT Tuchan

1

Step 1

In Lagrasse, after the bridge over the D3, climb an embankment to the left to climb the hillside in a meander of 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 (Point of view: View to the right of 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. Take the second path on the right (the first going to the Chapel of ND du Carla) to cross the wood of Lauza. At the fork, go right. Follow a beautiful alley of cypresses and pines towards Lauza. From Lauza to Saint Pierre des Champs: continue on the GR36B and go down to the left until the D 41. Go left for a few meters, then cross the bridge to the right towards the Château Saint Auriol. About 250 m further on, in a hairpin bend, continue on the GR36B and continue on the tarmac road to the Orbieu bridge; Cross it and, turning left, go up to the D 212 at the entrance to Saint Pierre des Champs (160 m). From Saint Pierre des Champs to Mont Major: In Saint Pierre des Champs, climb towards the hamlet of Joffres then take the small road on the left for a few meters then continue to the right on the GR36B. The track runs along the western flank of Mont Rode. Ignore the access to Soulane and continue in front of the ruin of Auzine, straight ahead towards Bouzole. Continue to climb to the foot of Mont Major. Climb to the right by the wide middle path. This very steep climb leads to the Mont Major belvedere (541 m) (Viewpoint: 360 ° view of Mont Tauch, the Bugarach pech and the Pyrenees range). From Mont Major to Villerouge Termenès: 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. At the T-junction, go right towards the village, ignoring the paths on either side. Pass at the foot of ruined mills (XNUMXth 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 Château. 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.

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!

Reviews

Dujardin Gregory The 29 July 2021
Breathtaking landscapes, almost perfect markup (the GPX track is sometimes a little different) and real technical passages! For my part, I did the course without electric assistance and I can tell you that the calves tasted. To do again with friends because alone it is a little too dangerous in my opinion. Congratulations again for the development of this track!
Francis lees The 29 July 2021
I know the area well and I have already practiced these paths and trails ... Not necessarily according to the proposed route. Two passages deserve to be at the top both technically and physically. I also ride in VTTAE, that is to say ... The ascent from the dam on the Libre is a real pain in a very steep ravine path where you touch with the pedals ... and the descent of the Côte Aigre (which I have never done except uphill while pushing the bike) requires great caution! For the rest, great course, landscapes and heritage.
David Amiel The 29 July 2021
Super course with magnificent landscapes like the sublime 360 ​​° view of Mont Major !!! The descent is great ???? The only negative point is the climb on the tarmac road after Saint-Pierre des Champs. But as it is at the beginning of the course, it is quickly forgotten. I did the route in Vttae and I had to stop at the Caroun pass and take the direction of Saint-Martin des Pits by taking the track on the right through the Creuille domain which is a bed and breakfast and tables d 'hosts. Brigitte showed me the route to reach Lagrasse. Arrived at the car with 4% battery but I would come back to finish the course and even do it all over again with 2 batteries. Have a good ride everyone !!!

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