Haute-Garonne: a hike to discover the fortified towns and the secrets of pastel

Between the Pyrenean foothills and the Pink City, Lauragais is home to the famous Canal du Midi and verdant hills. Nicknamed the "Land of Plenty," linked both to the cultivation of pastel and the abundance of cereal production, this rural territory is full of hikes accessible to families. Zoom in on the walking and hiking trail "The secrets of pastel and wild herbs," starting from Montgeard (Haute-Garonne) and marked by the Departmental Committee for Hiking in Haute-Garonne (CDRP 31).

The charming fortified town of Montgeard, founded by King Philip V of France in 1317, is a testament to the golden age of pastel in the Lauragais region. The village now has only 500 inhabitants, but its pink brick streets, remarkable church, and castle invite you to stroll before donning your hiking boots to explore the surrounding countryside.

By taking a ridge path at sunrise, you can admire the pastel fields, which are in bloom in spring, and the Thésauque lake.

“It’s a medium-difficulty hike that takes half a day, or a whole day if you plan a picnic,” explains Apolline Maquet, trail and route development officer at the Haute-Garonne committee of the French Hiking Federation (FFR).

There are two routes. The main one, 9.12 km long, can be extended by a loop around Lake Thésauque. But, in both cases, "the 15 km hike is marked with yellow trails and signs are visible at the beginning of the path and throughout the hike to explain the route and the history of pastel," explains Apolline Maquet. "There isn't much elevation gain on the route, about 225 m."

To avoid getting lost on the route, the CDRP 31 recommends downloading the FFR's Ma Rando application, which allows you to download the main route without registration and be guided throughout the hike by geolocation.