
MTG1 17 Roundtrip Foix Puivert Montsegur Lavanet

This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 20-08-2025
We drive along beautiful winding mountain roads with many hairpin bends and through mountain gorges along rivers through the beautiful Ariège region.
This route is worth 4 stars because of the beautiful winding roads, beautiful panoramas, the visit to Château de Montségur and the nice little villages
Animation
Verdict
Duration
7h 31m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
201.44 km
Countries


Château de Montségur
Bert Loorbach, the author, is an avid motorcyclist himself and lived in France for a year and a half. During that time, he dedicated himself to mapping France's lesser-known and beautiful back roads specifically for motorcyclists. Hotels, campsites, sights, parking lots, and restaurants are included as points of interest.
The ride starts in Foix. If you have less time and want to speed up the initial stages, you can take the (four-lane) N20 to Ax-Les-Thermes. This route is very busy in the summer, and we take our time and prefer scenic back roads. So we head south on the D618 to Bompas, where we turn left onto the D20 to Unac. Then, a stretch with many bends leads to Ax-Les-Thermes. Note that these roads are very narrow.
We continue to Quillian via the very winding D25, D118 and D117. This road runs along the Aude River and partly through a mountain gorge, making it a beautiful road to drive and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
From Quillian, we head west again via Puivert, where we stop for lunch, to Montésegur. Along the way, we stop briefly to take a photo at the Fontestorbes spring, one of the ten largest Vaucluse-type springs in France. It resembles a monumental arch that flows into the cliff bordering the Sault Plateau to the north, from which a veritable river, five meters wide, erupts in waterfalls and with a deafening roar.
The next stop is the Château de Montségur. Montségur Castle is known as the Cathars' fortress, perched atop the mountain. In 1204, when Pope Innocent III launched his campaign against the Cathars (which culminated in a crusade in 1209), the Cathars rebuilt the ruins of an old fortress on this mountaintop. This stronghold was declared the nerve center of Catharism in 1232 by the Cathar bishop of Toulouse.
In 1243, Montségur Castle was the main fortress of the Cathars. During the Third Albigensian Crusade, the Crusader army besieged the castle, initially unsuccessfully. Catapults couldn't be used due to the fortress's height, and the view from the top is magnificent. It's about a 30-minute walk from the parking lot to the castle.
Via the Col de Montségur (D9), the D10 and the D1, a beautiful and relaxing route, we drive back to Foix, where you can spend the night in a hotel or at a campsite nearby.

D118 Gorge de l'Aude

Scenic ride on D1
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Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.