Discover Mazamet and find hotels

A trip to Mazamet can focus on a range of interests: trails, cultural history and industrial heritage. The Passerelle de Mazamet spans the Arnette gorges high above the river; Hautpoul is steeped in medieval history, and several trails are described with their distances and walking times. There are also museums, viewpoints and opportunities to stroll by Lac des Montagnès. If you are looking for a hotel, you could start by considering which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

Walking between the footbridge and the Arnette

The Passerelle de Mazamet is 140 metres long and crosses the Arnette gorges at a height of 70 metres. It is open to pedestrians year-round, free of charge; check the latest conditions before your visit. Two waymarked trails lead to the footbridge from the starting point at 95 rue de la Resse. This gives you a specific starting point for planning a visit on foot.

The Chemin des fontaines runs for 4 kilometres through Hautpoul and takes about an hour. The Chemin des passes is an 11-kilometre circular trail with a stated duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. These details make it easy to compare the routes: the Chemin des passes is seven kilometres longer, and the stated walking times also differ considerably.

The Sentier de l’Arnette industrielle runs for 7 kilometres along the banks of the Arnette and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Compared with the Chemin des passes, it is four kilometres shorter, with a similar stated duration. It has a distinctive focus: 16 information panels explain the history of wool stripping and leather tanning, which brought international renown to Mazamet and its valley. Most of the trails described are also suitable for mountain biking.

Medieval history and museums

Hautpoul is a medieval hilltop village and one of the few surviving reminders of the Cathar period in the Tarn département. The Chemin des fontaines passes through the village, making it easy to combine the walk with a visit to this historic place.

The ruins of the Church of Saint-Sauveur were Mazamet’s first parish church and were in use at least until the 16th century. The parish church of Saint-Sauveur was listed in its entirety by decree on 7 March 2022. The church’s history and its present-day heritage listing offer specific points of interest for a cultural history visit.

The Musée du Catharisme uses audio guides, touchscreen tablets, videos and models. The Maison du Bois et du Jouet displays more than 1,500 wooden games and toys from France and around the world; it also has an arboretum. The two venues offer different experiences: the Musée du Catharisme combines audio guides and audiovisual and digital interpretation with models, while the Maison du Bois et du Jouet brings together wooden games and toys with an arboretum.

Viewpoints and outdoor activities

At Parc Saint-Sauveur and along the Sentier Ferdinand Cormouls, about ten terraces, viewpoints and pavilions offer views over the Arnette valley and Mazamet. If you are interested in an activity with zip lines, the Via Ferrata de Mazamet is in the Arnette valley: its zip lines run beneath the footbridge, and the via ferrata has four in total.

The Base de Loisirs du Lac des Montagnès welcomes visitors year-round for walks or a meal break. Supervised swimming is available there in July and August; check before your trip whether this seasonal service is operating. A 2.7-kilometre circular route around the lake is laid out as a fitness trail and botanical educational trail. This means year-round opportunities for walks are complemented by a seasonal swimming option.

Mazamet is accessible by train.

Discover more destinations: Le Sequestre, Cuq-Toulza, Prades, Montpinier, Magrin, Albi, Cestayrols, Boissezon

For the regional travel guide: Tarn.