First taste of the Pyrenees: La Croix de Millet walk

View to Bélesta from La Croix de Millet
↺ Distance / ↑ Ascent Time Map

↺ 8 km / ↑ 300 m

3 hours

Online with GPX
Printed 2247 OT 1:25T

After a few months in the Canary Islands, I’ve moved back to continental Europe. I spent a couple of weeks in rainy London and then I finally arrived in the lovely village of Fougax et Barrineuf, in southern France on the edge of Pyrenees. It’s my first time in Pyrenees and I haven’t felt so much at home since leaving New Zealand. So, I couldn’t wait to do my first hike here, and because it’s good to explore your surroundings first, I’ve chosen an undemanding walk: La Croix de Millet.

You’ll see a lot of mud in the Pyrenees in the winter

The hike starts at Fontestorbes Fountain. It’s a very unique natural phenomena – from July until October, the flow of the water coming out of the cave stops and starts at approximately half hour intervals. The reservoir sealed inside the cave has two outlets which creates a kind of natural pump, depending on the height of the water in the reservoir and resultant change in pressure.

Fontestorbes Fountain

From there, take the path going straight up the slope. You soon hit the road which you follow for a few minutes and then you go down towards a couple of stone buildings. Go right and follow a forest walk up. The forest density steadily grows together with the slope. After about an hour of going up, you eventually come to the Croix de Millet. From there you can oversee all the beauty of the Pyrenees foothills.

Croix de Millet

From the cross the path follows the ridge back for a bit and then it gradually descends to Bélesta. Like the other villages around, Bélesta’s population has been slowly but gradually decreasing over the last few decades. It doesn’t stop it from being an admirable mountainish townish.

Typical French wooden balcony wrapped in climbing grapes

After crossing the bridge, turn left and follow the yellow marks along the river all the way back to Fougax et Barrineuf. Most of the time you just walk on a gravel road but it’s lovely.

Walkway going back to the Fontestorbes Fountain

Hiked with Anna on 14th February 2016. Photos taken by me and my lovely Sony a6000

About the Author

Michal
I lived a pretty ordinary life for a while. I did my studies, my second studies, my third studies, my first job, my second job, and my third job. I wasn’t really sure what’s going on so, in 2014, I left my home country (Czechia) to learn about the world. I’m still not sure what’s going on but I enjoy it much more. I lived in a few countries before settling in New Zealand.

2 Comments on "First taste of the Pyrenees: La Croix de Millet walk"

  1. Hi Michal, When you went to Fontestorbes, were you able to go further into the cave system (when safe) and did anyone talk about a passageway of about more of less 3,000 metres terminating/beginning in or close to Montsegur?
    I will be there next month researching the area from – of course – Cathar times and also what was accessibly in the late 1920’s early 1930’s.I’m working on a book, the third in a of sorts.
    Any help/desccriptions/anecdotes/links/persons you could provide me with would be very welcome.
    Thank you,Tracy

    • Hi Tracy, no I didn’t go there. There is a big community of British folks in Fougax that may have some more inforation 🙂 I may pass you on with some contact details if you like

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