Discovering the valley and its heritage

There are a number of walks that allow one to explore and discover the valley. A free leaflet presents the marked itineraries and is maintained and made available free from the Tourist Office. It can also be downloaded. The numbers of the routes presented below refer to those in the leaflet, which should be used in conjunction with map number IGN Top 25 1848 OT.

N°1 : Les Granges d’Ourcibats

Time: 2h.Altitude Difference: 150m
From Loudenvielle take the D725 towards Pont de Prat. At the edge of the village take the right road to Artiguelongue and follow the route marked No. 1 which twice crosses the road (be careful of cars). After the last huts and one climb, descend on the road to the left for 300 metres (careful, walk on the low side to the left of the road). After a bridge (Pont de Chèvres) leave the road to take a path to the right; close the gate and the barrier that is a little further (to control the animals). After a descent, cross the road to rejoin the road taken at the start and follow it back to Loudenvielle.

N° 2 : La Tour de Moulor

Time: 1h 45 mins. Altitude difference: 170m
From the church at Loudenvielle, take the second street on the right after the Post Office (chemin de Cidelange) and follow the route marked No. 2. After the Tour de Moulor, descend to the left towards the Génos /Loudenvielle lake. Cross the road (being careful of cars) then take the blue footbridge and follow the lakeside in the direction of Loudenvielle. After the tennis court, take the Neste footbridge and regain the church at Loudenvielle via the rue de Cazalis and the rue du Pic des Gourgs Blancs.

N° 3 : Le Chemin des Ardoisières

Time: 2h. Altitude difference: 200m

From the Mairie at Génos , cross the village on route No. 3. After the church and the castle, go down to the lake and take the blue footbridge. Follow the road to the left for 300m (take care and walk on the left behind the wooden barrier) then take the footpath on the right to Armenteule. Cross the village at the church (watch for cars) and follow the left road towards Adervielle. After a footbridge over the Neste continue to the right then left to Adervielle. Go up to the top of the village passing to the left of the Mairie. Follow the road to the left, pass a small stream and go up to an intersection. Now follow the left path which descends to Génos and rejoin the Mairie by the roads taken at the start

N° 4 : L’Eglise Saint-Calixte

Time: 2h. Altitude difference: 200m
Start at the parking at the entry to the village de Mont and go to the left of the church by following the route marked No. 4. Leave the road down to the cheese makers to the left and continue to the right. At St Calixte pass to the left of the church and descend to Cazaux-Fréchet. Descend 100m by the road with care and follow the road to the left to Mont.

N° 5 : Le Chemin des Estives

Time: 3h 45mins. Altitude difference: 500m

This route is perhaps difficult to follow in the mist. The “estives” are the summer pastures; keep dogs on a lead and be sure to close all gates and barriers. Start at the parking at Mont and pass to the left of the church on route marked No. 4. At St-Calixte pass to the right of the church on route marked No. 5 in the direction of Cazaux-Dessus. After 100m on a small road take the road that rises to the right and leads to Cazaux-Dessus. Redescend to the left to cross the village and after the chapel follow the path which rises to the right, up to the forest track of Balencous. Follow this to the left for 2 kms leaving 2 descending paths on the left. Close to some ruined walls, take the first path to the right which goes up to the pine forest (a viewpoint). Climb up to the left on the edge of the forest. At a platform, go straight on in the traces of a path until you reach a ledge (at 1722m) and follow a pastoral track which descends on the side of the mountain. Pass through one gate, then a second on a small col (with a drinking trough) and descend by the path. After several bends go down towards an oak forest, then by a larger path to Mont. At the end of a paved street, regain the left of the church and the parking.

N° 9 : La Forêt de Lapadé

Time: 1h 45mins. Altitude difference: 180m
From the Val Louron parking, follow the route marked No. 9 past the buildings. After the Tronquet restaurant go towards the forest and go down to the Palade teleski. Follow the path to the left which goes round the wire fenced area. Be careful with children along the wire fence close to the reception building (there is a steep slope to the left). The path soon rises in the forest to the Belvédère de Lapadé ( be careful, do not go close to the edge). Climb a second Belvédère de la Forêt and follow the right hand path which goes down to Val Louron. Near to the wire fenced area, regain the ski station by the route taken at the outset.

N° 10 : Le Rocher de Courtalets

Time: 2h 30mins. Altitude difference: 280m
From the Val Louron parking, follow the route marked No. 9 until the highest point (“Belvédère de la Forêt” at 1620m). Leave the path down to Val Louron to the right and follow the route marked No. 10 which, via a winding path, climbs to the height of the forest to the Rocher de Courtalets (a viewpoint). Go back by the same path to the “Belvédère de la Forêt” and take the left path to Val Louron, finishing as per route No. 9.

Chemin de la Pale

Time: 1h 30mins. Altitude difference: 300m. Time for the way back: 0 h 45 going down.
To be taken in dry weather (the track can be slippery). Be careful, this route is not marked.
From the church at Bordères Louron climb the village via the street “Cami de la Caussade”; pass in front of the wash basin “de la Caverne” and follow the street “Bie d’Aspe”. At each intersection take the right fork following the paved road. At the top, follow the left road which rises after the metal barrier, which it is important to close. After a bend and a rise, leave to the left a forest track and take the road to the right up to a ledge (Pla de Cros ; where there are picnic tables). Descend by the same route.