Trekking the Cami dels Bons Homes

Follow in the footsteps of the Cathars on the Cami dels Bons Homes (GR107), a spectacular 225km (140-mile) long-distance trail linking Foix in France with Berga in Catalonia. Crossing the French and Spanish Pyrenees from north to south, this historic route traces the exile path of the Cathars as they fled persecution in the 13th century, weaving through mountain passes, forested valleys and high pastoral landscapes rich in history and culture.

The Cami dels Bons Homes is described in 10 stages, ranging from 16 to 36km (10–22 miles) per day. Some sections are long and demanding, requiring a reasonable level of fitness and stamina, but the rewards are wide-ranging views, remote mountain scenery and a deep sense of historical journey. Starting beneath the medieval towers of Foix, the trail crosses the Ariège and the Pyrenean frontier before descending into Catalonia to finish in the vibrant mountain town of Berga.

Clear route descriptions supported by 1:100,000 mapping help you navigate confidently across mountain terrain, rural tracks and historic pathways. Practical planning advice and a handy stage facilities planner make it easy to organise accommodation, identify services and plan transport connections along the route, whether walking the full Cami dels Bons Homes or tackling sections of the GR107.

• 10 detailed stage-by-stage route descriptions of the Cami dels Bons Homes (GR107), guiding you from Foix to Berga with clear daily distances, terrain notes and key highlights to support a successful north-to-south crossing of the Pyrenees.
• 1:100,000 mapping for every stage of the Cami dels Bons Homes, helping trekkers navigate mountain passes, forest tracks and rural paths along this historic Cathar trail.
• Downloadable GPX files covering the full Cami dels Bons Homes route, providing a reliable digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devices alongside the printed maps.
• A comprehensive stage facilities planner for the Cami dels Bons Homes, highlighting accommodation options, food stops, local services and public transport links at key points along the GR107.
• Practical advice on planning and preparation for trekking the Cami dels Bons Homes, including guidance on fitness, stage length, seasonal considerations and managing longer, more demanding sections of the trail.

Blending Pyrenean mountain landscapes with powerful medieval history, the Cami dels Bons Homes offers a memorable cross-border trekking experience. This comprehensive guidebook provides everything you need to plan, navigate and complete the Cami dels Bons Homes with confidence.

Seasons

As this trail crosses the Pyrenees, which are blanketed in snow in the winter, the best time to walk the entire trail is between May and October.

Centres

Foix, Roquefixade, Montségur, Comus, Orlu, Mérens-les-Vals, Porta, Bellver de Cerdanya, Bagà, Gósol, Berga

Difficulty

The trail is divided into 10 stages and each stage finishes in a village or town where accommodation can be found. There are some long stages/days that can be divided and options for shortening these stages are mentioned in the book. A reasonable level of fitness is required for the trek.

Must See

Cathar history, Pyrenees mountains, Foix castle, Roquefixada castle, Montségur castle, Portella Bésines, Portella Blanca, Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, Pedraforca, Gósol castle, medieval towns

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Mountain safety

Overview profile

Stage facilities planner

INTRODUCTION

A brief history of the Cathars

The GR107 trail

Plants and flowers

Wildlife

Travelling to and from the trail

When to go and what to take

Accommodation and food

Luggage transfer

Hiking with a horse or donkey

Language

Maps and waymarking

Using this guide

THE GR107

Stage 1 Foix/Montgaillard to Roquefixade

Stage 2 Roquefixade to Montségur

Stage 3 Montségur to Comus

Stage 4 Comus to Orlu

Stage 5 Orlu to Mérens-les-Vals

Stage 6 Mérens-les-Vals to Porta

Stage 7 Porta to Bellver de Cerdanya

Stage 8 Bellver de Cerdanya to Bagà

Stage 9 Bagà to Gósol

Stage 10 Gósol to Berga

Appendix A Useful contacts and information

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Glossary