The Pouech cross

At the gates of Saint-Girons, from the village of Eycheil, this interpretive trail offers beautiful panoramas of the high peaks, the foothills but also the historic town of Saint-Lizier.

Step by step :
Retrace your steps (by the road taken by car), and 50 meters after the War Memorial, head to the right, into the dead end between 2 houses.

0:00 AM - Departure from the bottom of the cul-de-sac. Take the steep path (steps have been added on the most difficult sections) and climb for 45 minutes.
Along your route, you will find trees of various species such as ash, hazel, cherry, oak and chestnut trees.
You will also see information panels telling the legends of the place and also interpretation tables on the surrounding landscapes.

0:45 a.m. - Arrival at Croix du Pouech
You will be able to admire a magnificent panorama of the high mountains, the foothills, the forests, the meadows, the groves and the plain.

* Towards the north: view of the basin of the Saint-Girons conurbation where the villages of Eycheil, the town of Saint-Girons and the Cité de Saint-Lizier are aligned.
* On the horizon: view of the Petites Pyrénées mountain range
* To the south: view of the Pyrenees mountain range, the Aulus and Ustou mountains and the Sourroque mountain
* At your feet: the Moulasse paper mill, built in 1875 on the site of a paper mill. It still produces cigarette paper, rolling paper, and wrapping paper.
* To the east: the Encourtiech quarry, a former marble quarry, where crushed rock is now extracted for road surfacing, construction or rockfill.

- Retrace your steps.

Additional Information :
You are in the heart of the Ariège Pyrenees Natural Park.

We encourage you to adopt responsible behavior in this fragile and shared environment.

- Stay on the trails and take your waste with you.

- Observe the flora without picking it.

- Stay discreet, for wild animals.

- In summer pasture areas, remember to close fences and gates. Do not approach or feed the animals. If a Patou (a livestock protection dog) approaches you, move away slowly and calmly. Do not make large gestures or shout, even if it barks, as it will consider you a threat. If it follows you, ignore it.

- Swimming in lakes is not recommended. Sunscreen (even organic!) and other cosmetics are a source of pollution in this fragile environment.

- Bivouacking is permitted, but only between 19 p.m. and 9 a.m., and more than an hour's walk from a parking lot.

- During periods of drought, all fires are prohibited. In other cases, fires are only permitted more than 200 meters from a forest. Stoves should be used instead of natural fireplaces.

- In the unlikely event of an encounter with a bear (which will try to avoid us at all costs): approach calmly, move away gradually, and do not run.

We advise you to keep dogs on a leash, especially in summer pasture areas where it would be dangerous for you and your dog if it approached the herds due to the presence of Patous.

In detail

• Distance: 2.5 km
• Positive elevation: 235 m
• Daily duration: 01h20
• Route type: round trip
• Marking precision: Yellow
• Type of land: Earth
• Type of land: Hard surface (tar, cement, floor)
• Nature of the ground: Gravel

Equipment

• Shaded Picnic area.
• Parking
• Free parking

Services