You can gather and start in Espéraza at the Intermarché parking lot. There is a gas station and you can do some shopping there for the road. Espéraza is located on the banks of the Aude River and is surrounded by a picturesque landscape of hills and vineyards. One of Espéraza's standout attractions is the Dinosaur Museum (Musée Dinosauria). This museum focuses on paleontology and houses an impressive collection of fossils, including dinosaur skeletons and other prehistoric finds.

You drive towards Puivert to visit the first Cathar castle on this tour. You leave the D117 and take the steep road (12%) to the castle. The castle was first mentioned in a text from the year 1170. It is best known as one of the better preserved Cathar castles in France. The location, on an accessible, relatively low hill, is less spectacular than the location of other Cathar castles such as Peyrepertuse, Montségur or Quéribus. It has retained much of its original character. The keep in particular is very well preserved. This keep has four floors, all of which are accessible. This includes the castle chapel and the famous 'salle des musiciens'. This is a room with eight sculptures of musicians. Finally, from the top of the keep you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

In Bélesta you leave the D117 towards Montségur. Just before entering the village, some tough hairpin bends await you.
The castle, located on a rock ridge at an altitude of 1207 m, is best known as the last refuge of the Cathars. It was besieged by the Crusaders in 1244 and surrendered after ten months of resistance. More than 200 Cathars inside the castle refused to convert to Catholicism and were burned alive. The castle is now a ruin and a major tourist attraction. Moreover, the view over the region is sublime, both over the lower parts towards the north and towards the Pyrenees.

What follows are narrow roads through forests with occasional views over the beautiful region. It is certainly never flat and there are many hairpin bends.
The castle of Roquefixade is an ancient ruin on a high cliff, above the town of Roquefixade. The castle has a rich history. According to various sources, it dates from the twelfth century, although the contemporary ruins are more modern. Although the castle's location may have once been a refuge for the Cathars during the Albigensian Crusade, the ruins date from a later period in history. The rock on which the once impressive castle was located has always been seen as an important strategic location over the centuries. It was renovated several times from the fourteenth century. In the seventeenth century, the once impressive castle was demolished on the orders of the French King Louis XIII. In 1995, the ruins of the castle were officially classified as a historic monument. Today the ruins of the castle are open to the public, accessible via a path from the nearby village. From the cliff where the ruins of Roquefixade castle are located, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area. A visit to the impressive ruins of Roquefixade castle is definitely worthwhile.

Restaurant 'A table', when entering Lavelanet, is popular with the locals. A sign of good food. Everything is prepared with fresh ingredients. The friendly staff exudes a high degree of hospitality.

The castle of Lagarde is no longer completely intact, but a visit to this beautiful castle is more than worthwhile. The first castle consisted of a square tower and was built to protect the area against highwaymen. In the twelfth century it was further expanded with four additional towers and a gatehouse. The entire castle was also surrounded by a defensive wall. After the Albigensian Crusade, the castle fell into the hands of the Lévis-Mirepoix family. The new owners had, among other things, a drawbridge built. Despite all the defenses, the castle was severely damaged during the French Revolution. The castle has since been used as a quarry. In 1914, the castle was declared a historic monument, so it can still be visited today.

The fortified village of Camon, nicknamed Little Carcassonne and spread around its ancient Benedictine abbey, is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. The Clock Tower, the tall house, the city walls, the abbey castle or the 16th century church are just a few of the attractions to discover. Also known as the village with a hundred roses, Camon dresses up in countless roses from the month of May onwards. Tribute is paid to this magnificent display of flowers every year on the third Sunday in May.

In Chalabre you can enjoy a soft drink or delicious coffee on the terrace at the Bar des Sports.
A few kilometers further you come to the Montbel reservoir. The flooded hills are still visible when the water level drops, revealing tree stumps and the thick sticky clay (marl) so typical of the Ariège. On calm, warm summer days, the water turns a beautiful turquoise color, which is very photogenic. The area is relatively undeveloped and peace and privacy are a big draw. The Pyrenees mountains are visible in the background. The dam that created the reservoir was built between 1982 and 1985.

From the village of Castelreng, the forests give way to extensive Limoux vineyards. This provides beautiful views with the mountain peaks of the Pyrenees in the background.
Limoux wines are a diverse group of wines produced in the Limoux region, named after the central city of Limoux. This includes sparkling, white and red wines, made from different grape varieties and methods. Limoux is considered the oldest sparkling wine region in the world, dating back to 1531, when Benedictine monks at Saint-Hilaire Abbey discovered the method of secondary fermentation in the bottle.

This is how this fascinating, historic and scenic route is gradually coming to an end. Thanks to the small winding roads and the beautiful views, this was enjoyable from start to finish.