Lacabarède: Hiking Trails and Heritage

Lacabarède offers hiking and nature experiences as well as distinctive cultural sites. For planning your visit, it helps to know the specific destinations: one route alternates between forest and small meadows, another leads to a spring and small stone villages, while a mountain-biking route crosses ridges and granite landscapes.

Hiking Trails and Viewpoints

The “Sentier des Hautes Futaies” is open daily year-round and free to access. The trailhead is at the car park by the former railway station on the D612 in Lacabarède. Check the latest access conditions before setting out. The “Les Clairières de Sales” trail starts in Sales, a hamlet in the commune of Lacabarède; check this starting point before you leave. Along the way, deciduous woodland alternates with small meadows. There are lovely views at the hamlet of Farail. Panoramic views towards the Aude side can be enjoyed beyond the hamlet of Baylé and halfway between Lebrat and Farail. Vegetation and visibility may vary by season.

The hiking trails in Lacabarède run above the valley and pass through the departments of Aude, Hérault, and Tarn. The Plateau du Poumairol offers an opportunity to gain elevation. This gives you a choice of different landscapes: on “Les Clairières de Sales,” the trail is characterized by woodland, small meadows, and viewpoints; the Plateau du Poumairol is a landmark if you want to gain elevation.

Ridges, Granite, and Birdwatching

The “Fontaine des Trois Evêques” mountain-biking route circles the Plateau de Sales and climbs onto the neighboring ridges of Hérault and then Aude. It passes through high-altitude granite landscapes with moorland, beech forests, and mountain meadows. The “La fontaine des Trois évêques” hiking route leads to the spring of the same name and to small stone villages. Thus, despite their similar names, the routes differ in both activity and the destinations described: the hiking route leads to the spring and stone villages, while the mountain-biking route takes in the plateau, ridges, and granite landscape.

On forest excursions in Lacabarède, look out for great spotted woodpeckers and marsh tits. Sightings of both bird species depend on the season. If you are planning nature-watching activities, you can take this seasonal aspect into account alongside the landscapes and destinations of each route.

Cultural Heritage in Lacabarède

The church of Lacabarède is decorated with frescoes by Nicolaï Greschny. Lacabarède is also home to two twin menhirs dating from 1385, known as “les deux sœurs” (“the two sisters”). According to local legend, the menhirs originally touched and are slowly moving apart; the end of the world will come as soon as one of the stones reaches the mountain summit. The legend adds a local tradition to the factual details about the two named menhirs. Glassmakers are also connected with traces of local history.

Visitor Information

The Thoré Montagne Noire intercommunal tourist office provides reception, visitor information, tourism development, and tourism promotion throughout the Communauté de Communes Thoré Montagne Noire area. Since summer 2019, it has also operated a mobile stand. As services may change, check the latest information in advance if you plan to use the visitor information service.

Discover more destinations: Massac-Séran, Viane, Sérénac, Burlats, Les Cabannes, Livers-Cazelles, Villefranche-D'albigeois, Bellegarde

For the broader travel overview: Tarn.