Cathar Trail GR®367

In 9 Aude stages and 3 Ariege stages, the trail links the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees. The route never climbs high into the mountains, making it accessible to all, while offering magnificent landscapes and panoramas. The trail winds its way from rocky ridges to gorges, through vineyards, forests and fragrant garrigue... a veritable journey between sea and mountains.
Stage 1: Port-la-Nouvelle - Durban-Corbières: Transition stage between coast and hinterland: vineyard-covered hillsides, garrigue and rocky ridges. Walking time: 6h45 Distance: 29 km Altitude gain: 600m
Stage 2: Durban-Corbières - Tuchan Here we discover the wine-growing Corbières through and through. The first castles appear, such as Aguilar. Walking time: 7h Distance: 28 km Altitude gain: 800m
Stage 3: Tuchan - Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse : Discover the castle of Quéribus and the landscape of impressive limestone walls on which the sentinel castles cling. This stage also passes through a village famous for its legendary... curé de Cucugnan! Walking time: 6h15 Distance: 23 km Ascent: 750m Favourite ❤️: Pech de Bugarach and the village of Quillan
Stage 4: Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse > Cubières-sur-Cinoble or duilhac-sous-peyrepertuse > prugnanes Certainly the most picturesque stage, it takes hikers from the citadel of Peyrepertuse, 500m above the plain, to the Galamus gorges and the hermitage of Saint Antoine. Between Fenouillèdes and Corbières, this shorter stage includes a visit to the famous Peyrepertuse citadel. GR®367: DUILHAC-SOUS-PEYREPERTUSE - CUBIÈRES-SUR-CINOBLE Walking time: 4h Distance: 13.2 km Ascent: 700m GR®367A variant: DUILHAC-SOUS-PEYREPERTUSE - PRUGNANES Walking time: 5h45 Distance: 20 km Altitude gain: 920m
Stage 5: Cubières-sur-Cinoble - Bugarach or prugnanes - puilaurens : GR®367: CUBIÈRES-SUR-CINOBLE - BUGARACH High plateaus and pastoral paths, plus the famous Pech de Bugarach, a sheer peak that can be seen from this 5th stage. Walking time: 4h50 Distance: 16.8 km Ascent +: 700m GR®367A variant: PRUGNANES - PUILAURENS Fenouillèdes vineyards, the Occitan village of Caudiès, the Saint Jaume gorges and Puilaurens make up this stage. Walking time: 4h50 Distance: 18 km Altitude gain: 500m
Stage 6: Bugarach - Quillan or Puilaurens - Quirbajou: GR®367: BUGARACH - QUILLAN Wooded valleys where you can see the last vineyards before the great cliffs and the Pyrenean mountains. Walking time: 6h30 Distance: 24 km Ascent + : 700m GR®367A variant: PUILAURENS - QUIRBAJOU Like all these "citadels of vertigo", Puilaurens castle served as a refuge for fleeing Cathars. This fortress with its dismantled walls is typical for its well-preserved battlements and melons. We then continue along the Aude and Rébenty valleys. Walking time: 6h15 Distance: 23 km Altitude gain: 700m
Stage 7: Quillan - Puivert or Quibarjou-Puivert : GR®367: QUILLAN - PUIVERT The boundary between the Mediterranean and Pyrenean zones is now crossed, and hikers move through beech and fir forests. The château de Puivert comes into view on this stage. Walking time : 5h45 Distance: 21 km Ascent + : 700m GR®367A variant: QUIRBAJOU PUIVERT Passes (Clot de la Dourne, du Sarrat), Scots pine, spruce, boxwood and limestone boulders make up this wild and varied stage. The château de Puivert can be discovered on this stage. Walking time : 5h45 Distance: 22 km Ascent: 500m
Stage 8: Puivert - Espezel : This stage is mainly through forest, relaxing in the heat and ideal for discovering wildlife. Walking time: 4h30 Distance: 17 km Altitude gain: 600m
Stage 9: Espezel - Comus: Here we cross the Sault plateau, whose altitude varies between 1,000m and 1,300m. Forestry and livestock farming are the region's main economic activities. We pass close to the village of Montaillou, whose archives describe the daily life of the inhabitants in the 14th century, following the interrogations of the inquisitor Jacques Fournier. Walking time: 5h15 Distance: 20 km Altitude gain: 500m
Stage 10: Comus - Montségur : Here we cross from the Aude to the Ariège after the surprising Frau gorges. We arrive at Montségur castle, symbol of Cathar resistance, whose site was taken over by the King of France after the stake of 1244. Walking time: 3h30 Distance: 14.5 km Ascent: 500m

Stage 11: Montségur - Roquefixade: This penultimate stage of the trail crosses the Pays d'Olmes, land of textile and horn-working, to reach the village of Roquefixade dominated by its castle. Walking time: 4h15 Distance: 17 km Altitude gain: 550m
Stage 12: Roquefixade - Foix : The trail takes you to the heights of Pech de Montgailhard, offering exceptional views of the Ariège valley, Prat d'Albis and Mont Fourcat. The last stage of the trail leads to the town of Montgailhard, 4km from Foix, the former capital of the county that stood up to Simon de Montfort. Foix castle was later owned by Gaston Phébus. Walking time: 7h00 Distance: 20 km Ascent + : 500m

You must be in good physical condition and be prepared to hike for several days in the mountains or even in the high mountains.
Find information and advice on how to behave in the mountains: https://www.ariegepyrenees.com/preparer/randonner/montagne-mode-demploi/
Also information on the art of sleeping in the mountains: https://www.ariegepyrenees.com/preparer/randonner/lart-de-dormir-en-montagne/