Sightseeing along the way
Mirepoix (Ariège): set in gently rolling countryside with a Mediterranean feel, Mirepoix enjoys an enviable position between Carcassonne and Foix. Following its destruction by a flood in 1289, this key centre of Catharism was reconstructed according to the bastide (lien vers page Bastides / sous-rubrique Villes et villages remarquables / Patrimoine culturel) model. The central square lined with covered walkways, the half-timbered houses with their colourful shutters, the 15th century church but also the lively atmosphere that takes over the village as soon as the sun shines, make it a popular stopping point. A few kilometres from Mirepoix, the GR 78 brings you to the unusual rock church of Vals, hewn out of the living rock.
Mirepoix is one of the Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées as part of the 'Ariège, 14,000 years of history' collection.
Pamiers (Ariège): featuring a handful of fine monuments such as the Cathedral of Saint Antonin, the Chapelle du Carmel and the Palais de Justice, the town of Pamiers has remained true to its sense of welcome. In this attractive little town, the tradition of hospitality given to walkers following the Pyrenean Foothills route is a long-standing one that is maintained warmly today.
Le Mas d’Azil (Ariège): this town surrounded by hills and rocky ridges is famous for its fascinating cave. The gigantic cavity carved out by the River Arize here contains a priceless record of the life of prehistoric man, and even gave its name to the Azilian civilisation (12,000 to 8,000 years BC).
The Mas d’Azil Cave is one of the Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées as part of the 'Ariège, 14,000 years of history' collection.
Saint Lizier (Ariège): this medieval village very close to Saint Girons, cradled by the rolling green hills of the Couserans, is home to an astonishingly rich religious heritage. The Cathedral of Saint Lizier (11th to 13th century) contains frescoes that the St James's Way pilgrims came to gaze at in awe and which today are on every art lover's list. Pilgrims were provided with bed and board at the Hôtel-Dieu in Saint Lizier, where visitors can now see an amazing 18th century pharmacy. Lastly, the former Palace of the Bishops of Couserans that dominates the village has been turned into a holiday apartment residence.
The GR® 78 leaves Ariège and enters Haute Garonne via the Col de Portet d’Aspet (1,069 m), going on to cross the Col de Buret and Col des Ares before descending into the narrow, wild and wooded Barousse Valley, which opens up as you approach Saint Bertrand de Comminges.
Saint Just de Valcabrère and Saint Bertrand de Comminges (Haute Garonne): rising up between the River Garonne and Saint Bertrand de Comminges, the architectural purity of the Basilica of Saint Just de Valcabrère amazes visitors. The vast nave of the Cathedral of Saint Bertrand de Comminges (12th century) next to it appears to float before a backdrop of mountains. Inside, the carved stalls, Romanesque tympanum, great Renaissance organ and cloister make this cathedral one of Haute Garonne's most important heritage destinations.
In addition, next to Saint Bertrand de Comminges there are some incredible ruins, the remains of the Roman town of Lugdunum Converanum.
Saint Bertrand de Comminges is one of the Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées; the Cathedral and Basilica of Saint Just de Valcabrère are UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the St James's Way pilgrimage routes.
The Abbaye de l’Escaladieu (Hautes Pyrénées): "These outlying mountains, these landscapes so full of freshness, these valleys resembling a basket of marble lined with grass", was how Gustave Flaubert described the region of the Baronnies which is home to the Abbaye de l’Escaladieu (early 12th century), a very popular stopping off point on the Pyrenean Foothills route. Today, its remarkable architecture is brought to life by its vocation as a cultural centre.
Peaceful hills, meadows, wild flowers, forests and picturesque villages accompany the GR®78 as it runs through Hautes Pyrénées. Along the way you'll find, among other things, prehistoric caves and swallow holes that are worth stopping off to see the Gargas Caves, the Labastide Caves and the Gouffre d’Esparros.
Bagnères de Bigorre (Hautes Pyrénées): this little thermal spa town 20 km from Lourdes has held on to the elegant architecture and penchant for culture and liveliness that it developed during its heyday in the 19th century. Stop off at the Musée Salies (19th century art) and Aquensis, an impressively sophisticated recreational spa.
Lourdes (Hautes Pyrénées): lying at the foot of the Pyrenees, Lourdes is one of the busiest pilgrimage destinations in the world, with some 6 million visitors a year. The Church of Ségurs with the statue of St James reminds us that Lourdes was once a stopping point on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The fortress dominating the town is a fine example of medieval military architecture. It is home to the Musée Ethnographique des Pyrénées.
Lourdes is one of the Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées.
After Lourdes, you continue along the line of the Pyrenees, passing through Saint Pé de Bigorre, after which the path enters the region of Aquitaine. In Oloron-Sainte Marie it joins the Arles route (GR® 653), running south to the Pyrenees, which walkers cross via the Col du Somport (1,632 m).
Practical info
The Pyrenean Foothills route (GR® 78)
From Narbonne (France) to Santiago de Compostela (Spain): 1,320 km.
For the section running through Midi-Pyrénées
- Starting point: Mirepoix (Ariège)
- End point: Saint Pé de Bigorre (Hautes Pyrénées)
- Length: 340 km.
- Duration: approximately 15 days.
- Height difference: 250 m to 1207 m.
Waymarking
White/red (GR® 78).
The GR® 78 is waymarked from Mirepoix (Ariège) to Lestelle-Bétharram (Pyrénées Atlantiques).
Level
Intermediate.
Best time to go
May to October.
Still little known and less busy than the Le Puy route, the Pyrenean Foothills route makes a very attractive alternative that explores the rich heritage of the Pyrenees while passing through some magnificent mountain scenery.
This route, the furthest south of the St James's Way paths, threads its way through the lowest foothills of the Pyrenees. Although not mentioned in the Guide for the Pilgrim (1140), the foothills path was indeed used by pilgrims journeying to Santiago de Compostela, who passed on details of the route by word of mouth.
The call of the mountains
After several days in Ariège, stopping off at Mirepoix and Saint Lizier among other places, the route continues westwards. You cross a handful of mountain passes and wend your way through the thickly wooded Barousse Valley before finally catching sight of the Cathedral of Saint Bertrand de Comminges outlined against the sky ahead. The Pyrenean Foothills route then reaches the département of Hautes Pyrénées, running along the tops of green hills against a backdrop of a magnificent mountain landscape that has remained unspoilt.
This alternative route follows the course of old Roman roads, along which you will discover a heritage spread far and wide but nevertheless rich and diverse, which you will come across in and around the mountain villages that line your path. After Lourdes and Lestelle-Bétharram, the Pyrenean Foothills route joins the Arles route, which heads towards Spain.
On the Pyrenean Foothills route, Mirepoix, Saint Lizier, Saint Bertrand de Comminges and Lourdes are Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées.