Observations
The climb to Montsegur is very muddy. You need to wear good shoes.
From Montsegur you can continue walking to Foix following a path marked as GRP (red and yellow signs).
From the town of Montsegur to the castle you go up a steep path (30 minutes).
To access Montsegur Castle it is necessary to pay an entrance fee. from €4.50
Description
0 km (1,166 m) Comus. You leave to the left of the arrival path and descend along a forest track that passes through the bottom of a valley. After 14 minutes, you reach a fork with a signpost where you continue along the main trail, which is the one on the right.
3,300 km, 50 min, Gorges de la Frau. At the entrance the track makes a big bend, but the GR takes a path that comes out from the front and goes into the gorges. The valley is very narrow and already announces the proximity to the bottleneck. 18 minutes later you reach the deepest point of the gorges, after a steep and difficult descent, you arrive below the highest peak, at the deepest and narrowest point of the gorges. From here the path and the gorge begin to open up and 8 minutes later, you reach the exit of the gorges (704 m). At the end of the path, a paved road begins, which is the northern access to the gorges. You must follow a section of this road, which continues downhill, following the course of the stream that passes through the gorge.
8,210 km, 1 h 44 min, Pelayo. At the entrance to the town there is a crossroads where you turn left onto the only street. The natural environment is very beautiful and features large fir trees. 29 min later the Torrent de Rivels is crossed. Cross it and once on the other bank, take the path on the right. You can also go to the left where there is less elevation gain.
10.323 km, 2 h 17 min. Fork where the two paths, which had separated at the previous fork, meet again, the path continues with a steep climb. 10 min later, there is a junction on a small landing, the GR continues up the path that goes to the right. A path is left on the left. And 10 minutes later you pass a fork in a flatter area, continue straight on the wide track and leave a path on the left.
11.489 km, 2 h 45 min. Fork at a bend to the left, leaving a fairly forested path that goes almost straight ahead. 15 minutes later there is a fork past a small pass, the GR takes a clearly descending direction. You leave a path on the left and 2 minutes later, you reach the road (980 m). If you continue to the left, you will go to Montsegur, which is not far away. The GR crosses the road transversely and continues along a path.
12.844 km, 3 h 5 min. At the crossroads, take the path that goes down to the right towards some woods, on the left you leave a path that goes more level and 5 min later you reach the Riu Lasset river (870 m). Cross a bridge and, once on the other side, continue along the asphalted pavement upwards. Follow the road to the left, the town of Montsegur is ahead.
13.910 km, 3 h 20 min. Road junction, where you take the road on the right and continue towards the town. Then, a fork where you leave the road and take a path that starts on the right, once you have passed the sign with the name of the town of Montsegur. Very nearby we find a picnic area with a fork where we take a path on the left to the entrance of the town, where the GR continues through some of the town's streets.
14,866 km (920 m) 3 h 33 min, Montsegur. Tourist office, go towards the exit of the town and follow the D9 road in an ascending direction, to the right until you find a fork where you leave the road, which goes up to the castle drawing a wide zigzag and take a path on the left that takes a shortcut and cuts through the bends of the D9 road on this tough climb.
15.973 km, 3 h 48 min, Road D9. Finally the path meets the road again, practically at the height of the castle parking lot. You must cross the road transversely and continue a few meters along a path.
16.103 km, (1,026 m) 3h 50 min, Pla dels Cremats. End of the GR 107, right at the foot of the hill that has at its highest point the ruins of Montsegur Castle, the most famous of the Cathar castles. From this level there is the possibility of climbing to the castle along a path without getting lost but with a steep slope (about 20 minutes of climbing). You must pay a toll to access the castle.
