Les Martys: Hiking, Forest and History

Les Martys offers specific themes for a stay combining hikes, nature and local history. You can choose between two circular hiking routes with different distances and durations. There is also an easy, approximately 4 km family walk leading to local water features; the fitness trail provides another way to stay active. Traces of the forest and landscape, along with the archaeological site of La Forge, add further points of interest. This makes it possible to choose based on your preferred route length or interest in nature and history.

Two circular hiking routes of different lengths

Hiking route No. 13a, “Entre prairies et futaies – Petite Boucle,” is 11 km long and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. The “Grande Boucle” starts and ends in Les Martys. It is listed as 18 km long, with 600 metres of elevation gain and an estimated duration of 5 hours and 30 minutes; it is rated difficult.

The Grande Boucle is 7 km longer, and its stated duration is around two hours more than that of the Petite Boucle. The Grande Boucle also includes forest paths suitable for family walks on foot or by bicycle. This suitability applies to the forest paths; the entire 18 km circular route is rated difficult. You can compare the routes by distance and time required without confusing the rating of the complete loop with the suitability of the forest paths.

Water Features and Exercise

For a shorter outing, there is an easy family walk of approximately 4 km. Along the way, you can discover local washhouses, fountains, livestock watering troughs and draw wells. Water is the unifying theme of the route, whose stops include different types of water feature.

The fitness trail offers another way to exercise. It has various exercise stations for all ages and fitness levels and is open to everyone year-round. This sets it apart from the circular hiking routes: here, the exercise stations are the main attraction, while the distance and duration describe the scope of the hikes.

Forest and Traces in the Landscape

The forest combines deciduous and coniferous trees. Beneath its trees and shrubs, it preserves traces of former farms, small water basins and cultivation terraces. The agricultural traces and mixed woodland give the forest several facets: as well as the tree species, the landscape description also includes past forms of land use.

At the Maison forestière de Combo-Falgouzo, information panels provide information about amphibians at nearby Pesquié and bats that visit the forest. Two groups of animals are highlighted there: the amphibians at Pesquié and the bats in the forest. These details complement the landscape themes with specific information about nature.

Archaeological Traces at La Forge

At the La Forge site in Les Martys, archaeological remains associated with the ancient extraction of iron ore have been preserved. The iron-smelting site at La Forge covered at least 3 to 4 hectares. This figure is a lower limit, not an exact total area. Together with the preserved remains, it gives an impression of the scale of this historic site without treating ore extraction and smelting as the same process.

Amenities and Practical Information

La Piale offers bread, pastries, other food products and regional wines year-round; you can also pick up provisions there for hiking picnics. There is also a bar area. When planning a day of hiking, you can therefore take into account both the food available and the bar area.

La Piale has two car parks, including spaces for motorhomes, as well as an electric vehicle charging station. If you are travelling by motorhome or electric vehicle, you can factor this information into your practical plans.

Discover more destinations: Villedubert, Moussan, Cucugnan, Montréal, Palaja, Saint-Nazaire-D'aude, Espéraza, Moux.

For the overview of the wider area: Aude.