Local Walks in the Immediate Area

Cubertou is ideally placed for exploring this beautiful area of France on foot. France’s extensive network of “GR” (grande randonnée) pathways are usually extremely well maintained and marked, and the GR 36 runs along the bottom of one of Cubertou’s meadows – follow it as far as Bonaguil castle

Contact Sally Gosheron, a bilingual art historian who has lived in neighbouring Montcabrier for many years, for accompanied walks in the immediate area around Cubertou.

The Guide

As well as the national walking paths (GR and horse riding paths) there are 16 marked paths in the area, described in this guide book (in French), which is available from the Duravel Tourist Office if you cannot find a copy at Cubertou.

Duravel is a short drive from Cubertou (turn right at the bottom of Cubertou’s drive, then first right and keep straight on until you emerge from the woods at a T-junction, where you turn right to drop down into Duravel.
Or better still on foot: turn right out of Cubertou’s courtyard and walk through the woods to Duravel – 45 minutes at a lazy pace.

The 16 circuits, ranging from approx 5 to 15 km, are shown on the map below

Short walk & biking maps

La Gineste : 6 Km - easy - time : 1h40 signposts : yellow
 » See map
Route Royale : 9 Km - fairly easy - time : 2h30 markers : yellow
 » See map
Chapelle de Sainte Avit : 11 Km - medium/easy - time : 3h20 markers : yellow
 »  See map
Le Ball Trap : 6 Km - medium/easy - time : 1h50 markers : yellow
 » See map
Circuit des Fontaines :   medium/easy. Two possibilities :
Starts - Duravel : 13 Km - time : 4h
Starts - Cazes : 8 Km - time : 2h20
 » See map
Our thanks to the Duravel hiking and mountain biking club for these.

Local Orchids

Orphys apifera. Photo Michael Slattery.

Wild orchids are particularly fascinating – not to mention beautiful – and in Spring the area is full of them. The Orphys species, bee orchids, are truly extraordinary with their flowers mimicking bees, wasps and flies apparently clinging to their stems designed to lure real insects.

All wild orchids are protected, and they are relatively rare, but they seem to thrive in the “Quercy Blanc” with its calcareous soil, warm and dry climate, and large areas of friche – uncultivated land dotted with small oaks, grassland and patches of juniper. Unpredictable and individual, some take 8 or more years to develop their first flowers and may mysteriously disappear from an area they once thrived in.

A local photographer identified 25 difference species in a matter of a few weeks: visit Cubertou in the Spring and see if you can match this – but please don’t pick any!