The Crusader Trail - Cathar Castles Walk

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duration 7 days
tour type Private
age requirement 18-99 yrs
max group size 15
guiding method Self-guided
Tour Code BM-20354
Footprint Carbonneutral CO₂ emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Operated in English

Starts Toulouse, France
Ends Toulouse, France

HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes

Walking along ancient trails in the stunning Corbières region
Exploring the ruins of Cathar castles and delving into the historical intrigue of the sect
Experiencing interesting villages and towns en route
Enjoying excellent local cuisine and the warm hospitality of the guesthouses

Start and end in Toulouse, the tour "Crusader Trail - Cathar Castles Walk" is a self-guided walking trip that takes 7 days. You will travel through Toulouse, Camps-sur-l Agly, Roquefixade and 4 other destinations in France. "The Crusader Trail - Cathar Castles Walk" is a private tour which includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

Traverse the magnificent terrain and hotbed of historical intrigue that is the Cathar Castle region. On the border of the Corbières region, where the Pyrenean mountain chain begins, lies a network of secret trails that lead to the mysterious Cathar castles. From the 12th to 13th centuries, Catharism was entrenched in the region, a sect that shunned conventional Christianity and materialism. The Cathar Crusade against the people of Languedoc in southern France lasted for more than forty years and effectively ended the Cathar reign. Whilst many of the castles have since been destroyed or built over, a few good examples remain including the castle at Puivert, Chateau de Troubadours. This walk follows ancient trails through forests, vineyards and orchards to the medieval castles. The stunning scenery and interesting villages make this a richly rewarding experience for walkers and history buffs alike.

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1 : Join Perpignan, transfer to Chateau de Quéribus, walk to Duilhac (3-4hrs)
Day 2 : Climb to Peyrepertuse castle, hike to Galamus Gorges, transfer to gite-hotel (5-6hrs)
Day 3 : An impressive walk with excellent views en route to Puilaurens Castle (5-6hrs)
Day 4 : Pass interesting villages en route to Puivert Castle (Troubadour Castle) (5-7hrs)
Day 5 : Transfer to Montsegur to visit castle, continue to Roquefixade (6hrs)
Day 6 : Traverse a high ridge with stunning views to the small town of Foix (6-7hrs)
Day 7 : Trip concludes after breakfast

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation

6 nights accommodation is included: 5 nights on a twin share basis in a combination of small family run hotels, B&Bs and gites/guesthouses, some nights with private facilities and some with share facilities, and 1 night in a gite-hostel in a small dormitory with shared facilities. Required to bring a sleep sheet. Single rooms are available on two nights only (days 1 & 6), other nights are in small multishare dormitories (a supplement applies for single travellers).

Meals

6 breakfasts, 5 dinners - Continental breakfasts are served and usually consist of breads, jams, cheese, occasionally eggs and meats, coffee, tea and juices. Dinner will consist of 2 to 3 courses which include regional specialties

Transport

All internal transfers described in the program

Others

Digital information pack including GPX tracks
Luggage transfer - limited to one bag weighing a maximum of 20kg per person. Any excess luggage should be stored at your pre-tour hotel, or we can arrange for its transfer from Perpignan to Foix - supplement applies (note you will not have access to this luggage during the trip).
Emergency hotline

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Travel to Perpignan and from Foix
Meals not listed as included, drinks
Travel insurance - mandatory
Guide – this is a self-guided walking holiday
A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
Entrance fees not listed as included
Optional transfer Foix to Perpignan
Transfers by taxi or public transport if you need to skip a stage
Excess luggage
Hotel taxes if applicable – payable directly to the hotel
Items of a personal nature

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 387 reviews for other tours with an average 4.7 rating.

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