History of the club: media from 2000 to 2022 rediscovered! To see in the gazetteGo to info

Saturday 2 May: Grand-Est regional meeting at Col du HaagGo to info

Bulletin de l'Amicale des Cyclos Cardiaques N° 166Go to info

Commemorative gathering at the Alsace balloon: presentation and new articlesGo to info

55 passes on the roads of the Haut-Languedoc

Pierre Gasc* offers us a superb ride in the Haut-Languedoc region. There are fifty-five passes along the 300km route, which takes place on very quiet roads, far from the hustle and bustle of motorised traffic. The route can be done in two or more loops, to discover a magnificent region of contrasts, from the heights of Espinouse and Somail to the wine-growing plains of Saint-Chinian, via the treasures of Olargues and Saint-Pons-de-Thomières. Three departments are visited: Hérault, Tarn and Aveyron.

Editor's note: this article was updated in 2026 to include new passes on the route. From the original 50 passes, the route now contains 55, not counting the multitude of nearby passes listed in the route table. You can find most of these passes in the form of day trips in the hiking section.

In this pack you will find :

  • a summary map showing the location of the passes and the main points of interest.
  • the profile of the route and the OpenRunner track.
  • a summary profile of the circuit.
  • A route table: a description of the route, including in particular the names of the passes crossed (as well as those in the immediate vicinity, 79 passes in total), including the 2 OpenRunner tracks.
  • a «tourist» section covering accommodation and useful addresses (tourist offices).

If you want to go further than the mountain passes, you'll also find a guide to one of the region's specialities: the «statue-menhirs». But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy more earthly fare, such as Lacaune charcuterie!

Enjoy your trip
René POTY

* Pierre GASC: Cent Cols n°1531
1 rue des Tambourins
34690 FABREGUES

Former manager of Cent Cols Languedoc.
Former Chairman of the Languedoc-Roussillon League.

Don't forget to send Pierre a postcard as you make your way from pass to pass in the Haut-Languedoc!
... and a report for the Cent Cols annual review!

Map of the original circuit

Circuit profile
Circuit board
From mountain passes to menhirs

Col du Poirier
Roc d'Orques - Croix de Mounis
Lake Vezoles
Bouissou Pass

Tourism and accommodation

Olargues
Medieval town, one of the most beautiful villages in France. Hotel, restaurants, campsite,
tourist office Place Alexandre Laissac, 34390 Olargues, France

Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare
Hotel-restaurant

Murat-sur-Vèbre
Gîtes, campsite, museum of megaliths,
tourist information office 10 rue de la salle des fêtes, 81320 Murat-sur-Vèbre

Lacaune-les-Bains (usually Lacaune)
BCN-BPF Tarn, IGP cured meats, hotels, restaurants, campsites,
tourist information office 6 rue de la Balme, 81230 Lacaune, France

La Salvetat-sur-Agout
Campsite, gîtes, hotel-restaurant. Nearby, the Tolosane route leads to Santiago de Compostela. Information tourist. Office of’tourism information rue des consuls, 34330 La Salvetat-sur-Agout.

Fraïsse-sur-Agout
BCN BPF. Hotels, restaurants and campsites nearby,
office’tourism information 6 allée des cerisiers, 34330 Fraïsse-sur-Agout

Courniou
Grotte de la Fileuse de Verre la Dévèze (potholing museum), and sentier des Capitelles.

Saint-Pons-de-Thomières
Hotels, restaurants. Museum of prehistory. Saint-Pons-de Cimiez Cathedral. Tourism in the city of marble.
House of Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park 2 Grand rue - BP 9, 34220 Saint-Pons-de-Thomières

Saint-Chinian
Hotels, restaurants. Tourist information office: 8 allée Gaubert. 34360 Saint-Chinian.
Tourism Canal du Midi

Berlou
History, heritage and wine cellar.

Tarassac
Hotel, restaurant, campsite in Mons la Trivalle.