From the railroad
Linking Mirepoix and Lavelanet, this part of the greenway has been laid out on the old railway line, used during the heyday of the textile industry, with the Plantaurel massif as a backdrop.
The “chemin des filatiers” takes you south of Mirepoix, our beautiful, colorful medieval bastide. After a tour of the cathedral, the path takes you to Roumengoux, then Lagarde. You’ll pass under the tutelary shadow of the château de Lagarde, an impressive sentinel standing proudly on high. From station to tunnel, from Lagarde to Camon, you’ll pass from castle to fortified village, along the banks of the river Hers, to the charming “village of a hundred rosebushes”, built around an astonishing fortress abbey. Camon is one of France’s most beautiful villages.
Camon bridge (3)
Image00035On the banks of the brooks
After the old railway station, the cycle route passes through a floodlit tunnel, then continues through the woods along the river, before entering the Aude towards the charming village of Sonnac-sur-l’Hers, before returning to the Cathar Pyrenees. Continuing on, you arrive at Montbel for a welcome cool break. In summer, you can enjoy a swim before getting back on the road.
In Peyrat, you can stock up on local crafts, from the Plantaurel knife to the famous horn combs. Following the Touyre, you’ll arrive in Lavelanet, which was the base of Ariège’s textile industry in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The “chemin des filatiers” originated here, referring to the thread merchants who used to set off from Lavelanet.
