The Cathar Castles, from Quéribus to Quillan

Moderate hiking. No particular difficulties, with elevations between 500 and 800m. However, you need to be in good physical shape. 13 to 22km per day.

No luggage to carry: you carry only a small backpack with your picnic lunch and the things you need for the day. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your accommodation each evening. 1 bag per person, weighing no more than 15 kg; no hard-shell suitcases.

From 2 people.

7 days, 6 nights, 5 or 6 days of hiking.

Choose your departure date from early April to late October (except July and August).

Self-guided trip, without a guide; we provide a digital travel pack that includes access to our smartphone navigation app, your accommodation list, any applicable vouchers and all the information you need for your trip to run smoothly.
If you wish, we can send a printed version of the travel pack to your home, with maps, a route guide and a travel wallet, for a supplement of 35 € per pack. For printed travel packs requested less than 45 days before departure, and for travellers living abroad, the pack will be available at the first hotel of your trip.

Accommodation

In rooms for two, subject to availability: 1 night in a 3*-rated hotel, 1 night in a family-run hotel and 4 nights in guesthouses.

Hotel ratings

In France, more and more hotels and guesthouses choose not to have an official rating, including establishments that were still rated just one or two years ago. This does not mean their quality has declined—far from it. Many guesthouses offer charming rooms.
If we specify, for example, a comfort level of “3* or equivalent”, this means that the establishment does not necessarily have an official rating, but offers a level of comfort comparable to a 3*-rated hotel.

Meals

• Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter and jam).
• Evening meals often feature local specialities and include a starter, a main course and a dessert.
• Picnic lunches are not included. Supplies can be purchased locally.
• Drinks are not included.

Please let us know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when booking; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

Start

On Day 1 at 15:00 (or another time agreed together in advance), transfer from Quillan SNCF railway station to your accommodation in Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse.

End

On Day 7 after breakfast in Quillan.

By air

Carcassonne Airport
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
Perpignan Airport

By train / bus

How to reach Quillan by public transport: There are numerous trains from major cities to Carcassonne (sometimes with connections): https://www.sncf-connect.com
Bus from Carcassonne to Quillan (Aude - Route 402 – Axat > Quillan > Limoux > Carcassonne): https://www.lio-occitanie.fr/horaires-et-plans/

How to leave Quillan by public transport: Bus from Quillan to Carcassonne (Aude - Route 402 – Axat > Quillan > Limoux > Carcassonne): https://www.lio-occitanie.fr/horaires-et-plans/
From Carcassonne, there are numerous trains to major cities (sometimes with connections): https://www.sncf-connect.com

By car

Plan your route on https://www.viamichelin.fr/

Parking your car

Parking in Quillan: Free, unattended parking is available at Quillan SNCF railway station, opposite Hôtel Cartier. Please check availability in advance during July and August, as many events may take place in this car park.

If you leave your vehicle parked for the entire duration of your stay, please check with the tourist office whether any events (festivals, markets, etc.) are scheduled to take place where you intend to park.

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim, either along the way or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, we stress that you alone must decide whether it is appropriate to swim; any swimming is therefore your own responsibility and undertaken at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world in a different way: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

Having served on the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector develop more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we are committed to:

• Transparency in our practices and prices
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the Traveller’s Ethical Charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and make meaningful connections with others.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has held Travelife Partner status, an international label that certifies our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification scheme, recognises our concrete actions in support of responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

In this section, you will find links to products from our partner Alpinstore, a French online retailer specialising in outdoor equipment, based in Annecy.

For carrying your belongings

• A comfortable 30 to 50 L backpack with a hip belt to carry your personal belongings and picnic lunch during the day
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack, a travel bag in good condition, or a suitcase that is not too bulky. One bag per person; maximum weight 15 kg

Find out how to pack your hiking backpack in our magazine.

For hiking

For maximum comfort, choose a layered clothing system: warm base layers (leggings + top) such as “Carline” or “Capilene” (hollow fibres that wick away perspiration) + a sweatshirt or fleece jacket + a mountain jacket and overtrousers with a waterproof, breathable membrane (such as Gore-Tex or equivalent) for bad weather. As a general rule, except in hot climates and countries, avoid cotton, which holds moisture close to the body (and takes a long time to dry), and choose suitable synthetic fabrics instead.

• Hiking boots with ankle support, a good treaded sole, a supportive heel counter and good waterproofing
• Comfortable hiking socks (at least 3 pairs)
• A fleece
• Comfortable walking trousers (quick-drying technical fabric)
• Comfortable shorts in a technical fabric
• T-shirts or technical base layers (quick-drying fabric)
• A long-sleeved shirt
• Walking poles (telescopic), which are very important for making walking easier. Discover all the benefits of hiking poles in our dedicated article, or read how to choose your hiking poles

Note: synthetic technical clothing performs very well. New merino wool clothing is also available; it performs very well, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of resisting perspiration odours!

For your picnic lunch

• Your eating kit: a plastic bowl, container or plate, and cutlery (spoon, fork, knife)
• 1 or 2 water bottles (a minimum total capacity of 1,5 L) – mandatory –; an insulated flask for winter

For protection from sun and rain

• Sunscreen (high protection)
• Sunglasses
• A hat, cap or bucket hat
• A rain poncho or a waterproof jacket such as a softshell or Gore-Tex jacket, and possibly waterproof trousers

After your walk

• A pair of running-style trainers for the evening
• A change of clothes and underwear
• A toiletry bag and a small towel
• Swimwear and a towel for wellness facilities (where specified) or swimming
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, surgical masks, hand sanitiser, plasters, sterile dressings and a bandage, gauze, disinfectant, arnica granules, aspirin, etc. (Please note: this list is not exhaustive and should be adapted to your own medical needs.)

Find these tips in our article #“what to take with you on a hike”.

This list is provided as a guide and should be adapted to your trip and the season in which you are travelling.

Country: France

Capital: Paris

Travel documents

Travellers, including minors, must hold a national identity card or passport (EU nationals).

Health

Bring your Carte Vitale health insurance card and your usual medication for the duration of your stay.

Pyrénées Audoises Tourist Office: https://www.pyreneesaudoises.com/

Quillan Tourist Information Office:
Square André Tricoire - 11500 QUILLAN
Tel: 33 (0)468200778
Email: tourismepyreneesaudoises.com gbhevfzr@clerarrfnhqbvfrf.pbz

France: +33.

No time difference: GMT +1.

• The Cathar Trail (Rando Editions)
• The Cathar Epic (M. Roquebert)
• The True Face of Catharism (Anne Breton)
• Montaillou, an Occitan Village (Le Roy Ladurie)