Follow in the footsteps of history along the GR367 Cathar Way (Sentier Cathare), a 260km (162 mile) trek from the Mediterranean coast at Port-la-Nouvelle to the Pyrenean foothills at Foix. This long-distance route threads through vineyards, rolling hills, and rugged mountains, connecting a chain of ruined medieval castles and villages that reveal the turbulent story of the Cathars – a Christian sect persecuted during the 12th and 13th centuries.

Suitable for hikers with some experience, the route is divided into 13 stages of 12–27km (7–17 miles) and takes just under two weeks to complete. A northern variant offers a shorter, remoter option, while the main route includes nine iconic Cathar castles, culminating with Montségur, Roquefixade, and Foix. The path varies from gentle walks through rolling hills to strenuous ascents of up to 1000m and has clear waymarking and signage, with clear red-and-white GR balises, additional ‘Sentier Cathare’ posts, and helpful markers indicating the northern variant or misdirection points.

• Step-by-step route descriptions supported by 1:100,000 mapping for each stage of the Cathar Way, helping you navigate the Languedoc’s hills, valleys, and rugged Pyrenean foothills with confidence.
• GPX files available to download, providing digital navigation for each stage of the GR367 and enabling flexible planning with GPS devices or smartphone apps.
• Historical highlights include the Cathar castles of Montségur, Roquefixade, Foix, and other medieval fortresses, offering insight into the region’s turbulent 12th- and 13th-century history.
• Accommodation, transport, and facilities guidance, including chambres d’hôtes, gîtes d’étape, auberges, and hotels, as well as advice on where to stock up on supplies along the route.
• Route options and variants, with the main GR367A southern route linking all nine Cathar castles, and a northern variant for a shorter, more direct walk that still showcases beautiful scenery.
• Planning advice including best season to walk (April–June or September–October), expected terrain, elevation changes, and tips on navigating French and Occitan-speaking villages along the route.

Plan your Cathar Way adventure with confidence, exploring one of France’s most captivating historical landscapes while enjoying a well-signposted and carefully mapped long-distance trek.

The Cathar Way - Quick Facts

Trail name: Cathar Way (GR367 Sentier Cathare)
Location: Languedoc, southern France
Designation: Grande Randonnée long-distance trail
Distance: ~260km / 162 miles
Typical duration: ~13 days (~2 weeks)
Start: Port-la-Nouvelle
End: Foix
Route format: Linear long-distance trek
Stages: 13 day-stages (east to west), northern variant included
Navigation: Well waymarked with GR red-and-white balises and Sentier Cathare signs
Terrain: Foothills, rolling hills, rocky paths
Difficulty: Moderate – suitable for hikers with some experience
Best season: Spring and autumn (Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct)
Accommodation: Guesthouses, gîtes d’étape, auberges, hotels, campsites along the route

Author Highlight

“The trail explores the wild, sun-baked Languedoc landscape. Beginning at the Mediterranean coast and ending far inland, it traverses the rocky hill ranges heading towards the Ariège Pyrenees, and meanders through woodland, vineyards, ancient villages, gorges and plateaux – including some places that have lain largely undisturbed for hundreds of years.”

- Nell Sleet and Luke Smith, authors of Trekking the Cathar Way

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

Languedoc history

The Cathars and the Crusade

The Cathar Way route

Features of interest

Planning the walk

North variant

Alternative ways to stage the Cathar Way

Getting there

Getting around

When to go

Accommodation

Food and drink

Language

Money matters

Phone and Wi-Fi

Health and safety

What to take

Maps

Waymarking

Updates

Using this guide

The Cathar Way

Port-la-Nouvelle to Puivert

Stage 1 Port-la-Nouvelle to Durban-Corbières

Stage 2 Durban-Corbières to Tuchan

Stage 3 Tuchan to Cucugnan

Stage 4 Cucugnan to Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet

Stage 5 Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet to Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes

Stage 6 Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes to Axat

Stage 7 Axat to Quirbajou

Stage 8 Quirbajou to Puivert

Cucugnan to Puivert: north variant

Stage 4a Cucugnan to Camps-sur-l’Agly

Stage 5a Camps-sur-l’Agly to Bugarach

Stage 6a Bugarach to Quillan

Stage 7a Quillan to Puivert

Puivert to Foix

Stage 9 Puivert to Espezel

Stage 10 Espezel to Comus

Stage 11 Comus to Montségur

Stage 12 Montségur to Roquefixade

Stage 13 Roquefixade to Foix

Appendix A Villages and towns with amenities

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D French–English glossary

Appendix E Further information and reading

Seasons

Best walking between April and June and between September and October. The summer months can be very hot, with accommodation busier and more expensive. Accommodation may be closed in winter and higher parts of the route can be impacted by snow.

Centres

Port-la-Nouvelle, Durban-Corbières, Tuchan, Cucugnan, Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes, Puilaurens, Axat, Bugarach (north variant), Quillan (north variant), Puivert, Espezel, Montségur, Montferrier, Foix

Difficulty

Difficulty varies from day to day, with some stages fairly gentle and others more strenuous, involving steep rocky paths and as much as 1000m ascent. A moderate level of fitness will improve your enjoyment of the trek. There are no technical difficulties but some sections of the route can feel remote, with few facilities (although accommodation is available at the end of every day stage).

Must See

Cathar castles: Aguilar, Quéribus, Peyrepertuse, Fenouillet, Puilaurens, Puivert, Montségur, Roquefixade and Foix; historic wine-producing villages such as Tuchan and Cucugnan; Galamus Gorge; the remote Boulzane River; the imposing ridge of the Pech de Bugarach; pretty Quillan (north variant); French Resistance memorials; fantastic panoramas from the Plateau de Languerail; Frau Gorge; views towards the Pyrenees

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