The Caroulet lookout

Memoirs of an ancient glacier

When people talk about the village of Montségur, they describe it as being built on a soulane slope. But it’s hard to imagine that, on its northern side, the village ends at the edge of a cliff. It’s from the top of this cliff that we offer you a unobstructed and little-known view of the Caroulet gorges.

Getting there

An easy path

Nothing could be easier than reaching the belvédère du Caroulet: set off from Montségur’s central square (you can’t miss it – that’s where the church is).

Behind the building, to the right, a small street leads down to the Place du Caroulet. There’s even a small signpost indicating “Roc du Caroulet/point de vue”. Following this direction, a few steps lead into a narrow access between a house with yellow shutters and green frames on one side and a low wall of large stones on the other.

Once past the building, the view opens up: it’s an ideal picnic spot! Two steps away, higher steps await you to guide you to the cliff’s edge at the famous viewpoint.

An incredible view

The Caroulet gorges open up in front of you. You can see the pog de Montségur to the left and the Roc de la Mousse to the right. You can even make out two hamlets that seem to emerge in the hills, the hamlet of Serrelongue and further on the hamlet of Morenci.

The Caroulet gorges hold the memory of the presence of a glacier, during the prehistoric period, now disappeared over 8,000 years ago.

How do I get there?

By car

From the D9, coming from the château, follow the direction of the village of Montségur / Fougax et Barrineuf

At the entrance to the village, near the town hall a first parking lot is at your disposal and a second one is located a little further down, at the exit of the little village.