Transhumance in Bethmale

In the Bethmale valley, the main project of the Transhumance en Bethmale Association is to accompany the breeders over 2 days (sheep, cows, horses) with entertainment, a friendly meal and a folk show on Sunday.

Saturday consists of an approach walk of a herd of about a hundred horses between St Lizier and Arrien en Bethmale and of a herd of 800 sheep from Lescure via the greenway to Bordes Uchentein.

Each town along the route is committed to providing a dignified welcome to the herds and their handlers.

On Sunday, the goal is to reach the magnificent Cirque de Campuls, above Lake Bethmale, the starting point for the summer pastures for the horses, sheep and cows that have come from the lake.
Upon arrival of the herds, a pastoral meal is served on reservation, with entertainment including folk songs and dances from the local group, Bethmalaise.

2026 Program (downloadable PDF)

-> Saturday (horses over 21.3 km)
* 7:00 am (km 0) - Saint-Lizier (Basterne farm): departure of the horses
* 9:00 am (km 8) - Moulis: gourmet break offered by the Municipality
* 12:00 (km 16) - Castillon-en-Couserans: Welcome by the Municipality and the FAC
* 13:00 PM/13:30 PM (km 19) - Bordes-Uchentein: refreshments provided by the municipality
* 16:00 p.m./16:30 p.m. ((km 21) -Tournac (commune of Arrien-en-Bethmale): arrival of the herd

-> Saturday (sheep over 26.2 km)
* 8:00 am (km 0) - Lescure: departure from the 800 sheep stadium. Greenway towards Saint-Girons
* 12:00 (km 15) - Moulis: aperitif offered by the municipality / meal by reservation by telephone at 05 61 66 02 57 - 06 17 32 44 23 (adult €15, child under 12 €10)
* 17:00 PM (km 23) - Castillon-en-Couserans: passage
* 19:00 PM (km 26) - Bordes-Uchentein: welcome by the municipality
(Herd kept near the Idrein road)

For the comfort of the herds, these times may vary depending on the weather and unforeseen circumstances.

-> Sunday
* 6:00 FORT Family - Bordes-Uchentein: departure of the sheep, crossing of the villages of the Bethmale valley, passing around 9:00 at the Bethmale lake (18.5 km - 5h30)
* 8:15 AM LOMPEDE Family - Arrien-en-Bethmale (Tournac Junction): Meeting point to join the horses towards Campuls via Relais de la Serre (16 km - 3h30 - sporty pace)
* 9:30 a.m. VEPER family - Lake Bethmale: Departure of the Gascon cows, direction Cirque de Campuls (9 km - 2h30/3h00)

After the arrival of the herds at the Campuls circus:
* 13:00 PM Pastoral meal with "La Bethmalaise", a folk group from the Bethmale valley.

Additional Information :
FAQ
Where can we start? It all depends on whether we're going on Saturday or Sunday. For Sunday: Lake Bethmale

Where to park? At the Bethmale lake car park (15 to 20 cars)

What time should we arrive? See the schedule. Important: you must arrive before the sheep leave Bordes-sur-Lez, otherwise your cars will be stuck behind it all the way to the lake.

Walking time, distance and elevation gain from Lake Bethmale to the Cirque de Campuls: 2h / 2h30 walking time, 9 km and 400m elevation gain (information for the outward journey - allow time for the return journey)

Working Languages

• French

MEALS AVAILABLE FOR A FEE AND MUST BE RESERVED
- Saturday lunch in Moulis: payable, reservation required (05 61 66 02 57 or 06 17 32 44 23). Adults €15, children under 12 €10

- Sunday lunch at the Cirque de Campuls: reservation required through the Couserans Pyrénées Tourist Office (adult €18 - child under 10 €7)

Services