Mauléon-Barousse offers hiking routes, water and cultural heritage as different starting points for a trip. The “Les deux Ourse” route begins in the village at the confluence of the Ourse de Sost and the Ourse de Ferrère. Other options range from an easy walk to the Gouffre de Saoule to the moderate “Randonnée de Peyremilla” and the “Mauléon Rouge” route, which is 25.5 kilometres long and has 1,000 metres of elevation gain. Before your trip, consider how much activity you want and which themes you would like to focus on.
Routes of Different Lengths
The moderate “Randonnée de Peyremilla” hike covers 12.2 kilometres and includes 130 metres of ascent. Its stated duration is 3 hours 30 minutes. This gives you a time frame as well as information about distance, elevation gain and difficulty for planning your day. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The “Mauléon Rouge” route is 25.5 kilometres long and has 1,000 metres of elevation gain. In a direct comparison of the figures, it is considerably longer and involves more elevation gain than the Peyremilla hike. The two routes therefore differ clearly in distance and elevation. Before undertaking the Mauléon Rouge route, plan to check the information for updates, as it may change due to trail conditions or updated mapping.
“Les deux Ourse” offers another specific starting point: the route begins in Mauléon-Barousse at the confluence of the Ourse de Sost and the Ourse de Ferrère. This starting point is also a notable connection to water, which features in other nature and cultural heritage experiences as well.
Water as Natural and Cultural Heritage
The Maison des Sources is an ecomuseum about water and the small-scale cultural heritage associated with its use. It provides a cultural focus: water is considered not only as a feature of the landscape, but also in connection with how it is used and the heritage associated with it. The Maison includes a large, tree-lined park. If you plan to visit the park, check seasonal access conditions before your trip.
At the Gouffre de Saoule, water appears in another form. The natural rock bridge is carved into a large block of limestone; beneath it, the Ourse de Ferrère cascades down. Access is via an easy walk suitable for the whole family. After severe weather, check trail conditions locally. This allows you to plan your visit to the natural site with local conditions in mind.
Chapel, Pastoral Landscape and Château
The Chapelle Saint-Blaise is located on the access path to the summer pastures in the upper Barousse Valley. It is dedicated to Saint Blaise, the patron saint of flocks. Its location and dedication give the site a clear connection to pastoral farming: the chapel stands on a path to the summer pastures and is dedicated to a saint associated with flocks. Visitors interested in religious sites and the cultural heritage of the pastoral landscape will find a different focus here than at the hiking routes and water sites.
The Château de Mauléon-Barousse stands on a natural rocky outcrop in a bend of the Ourse. It is privately owned and is not open to visitors. Bear this restriction in mind when choosing cultural sites, and check its visitor status again before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Mascaras, Peyresourde-Balestas, Gèdre, Fréchou-Fréchet, Germ, Villelongue, Bourg-de-Bigorre, Gavarnie
For the overview of the wider area: Hautes-Pyrénées.
