click to the pics

Winter was long – to long. But we had time to „pep up“ our Land Rover by more customizing work. No rear seats anymore but more storage room and a good icebox. MaxTrax and a winch.
Ready to go!
Didn‘t I write: we would come back to Occitanie….
In 9 stages we made our way to Southern France, „Pays des Cathares“ and the spanish/french Pyrenees, to the center of France and back home again.
In total 3‘421 km through breathtaking landscape.

Stage 1:
HWY to Narbonne-Sud, due to strong wind, we had to stay at a hotel.

Stage 2:
„Route des Chateaux des Cathares“ from Narbonne via D611 to Tuchan & Chateau Aguillar, via Padern to Villerouge-Termenès (Chateau), Auriac & Chateau Peyrepertuse (small road to the ruins). Passing the Grau de Maury with view to Chateau Queribus, Maury to Collioure where we stayed at the lovely Camping „Les Amandiers“.

Stage 3:
Collioure via D115, Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, Col d‘Ares to Spain. Continued on C38 & C26 to Ripoll – B402 till Guardiola de Bergueda. On B400 into Parc Natural del Cadi-Moixero – Paso di Josa to La Seu d‘Urgell. N260 into Parque Natural de l‘alt Pireneu, C13 to Llavorsi and L504 into the (valley) Vall de Cardós where we spent the night at Camping Bordes de Graus.
350 km driving time: approx. 7 hours

Stage 4:
Back to Llavorsi – C13 (north) – Esterri d‘Aneu – C147 till Alós d‘Isil.
From here a track brings you into the Reserva Nacional de Alto Pallars-Aran and round the Pico de Moredo to the old church from Montgarri.
The track is open from June till November.
C142b – in Baqueira at the Val d‘Aran you get back onto the C28. N230 to France, D618 Coll del Portillón to Bagnères-de-Luchon – Col de Peyresourde – Col de Val Louron and through the Túnel de Bielsa back to Spain. A138 – Bielsa – Valle de Pineta (Camping).
This valley is between Riserva Nacional de los Circos and the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido.
223 km driving time depending on track condition approx. 5-6 hours

Stage 5:
Trip to the home of the bearded vultures: A138 – Lafortunada – direction Tela – Rebilla (Revilla) – same way back. A138 – Laspuna – HU631 – Valle de Añiscolo and along the Desfiladero de las Cambras & Rio Vellos canyon – Valle de Vio – N260 – A135 direction Valle d‘Ordesa.
Bujaruelo – partly on a track to the Refugio & Camping San Nicolas. Unfortunately the camping was closed so back to the A136 – Col du Portalet (France) till Laruns – Camping du Valentin.
227 km driving time approx. 4:45 hours

Stage 6:
Col d‘Aubisque – Col du Soulour (D918) – Lourdes – AB A64 till Béziers – Portiragnes-Plage (Camping)

Stage 7:
Side trip into the Parc National des Cevennes:
A75 exit Nr. 47 La Cavalerie – D991 – Canyon de la Dourbie – D29 Chaos de Montpelier-le-Vieux (Single Trail but not track) – Gorges du Tarn -La Malène – back to A75 (north) – Ainay-le-Chateau – Isle-et-Bardais – to the little lake Etang de Pirot and its Camping des Ecossais.

Stage 8:
Along the river Cher to the Centre de la France near Bruère-Allichamps – stop at Magny-Cours Race Track – Beaune (Hotel).

Stage 9:
An HWY back home.

what to see:

• Chateau Peyrepertuse. There is a very nice walking trail to the ruins. Entrance fee: 6 Euros. Wonderful view

Naturescape and Fauna:

• Riserva Nacional Alt Aneu and the track around Pico Moredo. Alt Aneu resp. Val d‘Aran is home of the brown bear.
• Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido with its side valleys Home of the bearded vultures.
• Col d‘Aubisque: Beautiful view and very nice walking trails – don‘t miss the „Gâteaux Basque“ at the Hospiz restaurant.
• Col du Soulour: In this area you can see griffon vultures.