Walks in the Cathar Region. Alan Mattingly

out prominently in the centre, and below is the magnificent arched bridge across the Cesse gorge.

      Return to the road and follow it as it bends to the left. It very soon swings to the right (from where, incidentally, the GR77 on the left heads north, along the side of the Brian gorge). The road then brings you back into Minerve village (1).

Route Description – Short Walk

      Cross the bridge and enter the village of Minerve (1). As you do, note the Chemin de ronde running along the foot of the cliffs below the bridge. Make your way down to that path by turning right when you enter the village, then go right again a little further on. Go down some steps, which take you to the Chemin de ronde.

      There, turn left. Across the valley floor, on the right, is the entrance to the first and longer of two amazing ponts naturels – ‘natural bridges’ – below Minerve.

      You soon come to the point where the Brian riverbed meets that of the Cesse. You will see, just below the Chemin de ronde, the well – Puits de St-Rustique – the destruction of which by Simon de Montfort’s besieging army led to the downfall of Minerve.

      Head straight across the dry riverbed and cross a footbridge, which reaches the foot of the cliff on the other side of the valley. Climb the path, which takes you to the top of cliff. When you emerge you will see, just on your left, a reconstruction of the catapult – the ‘Malvoisine’ – used in the siege of 1210 to bombard the well below (12).

      One of the ponts naturels (natural bridges, or tunnels) close to Minerve through which the Cesse river runs in winter

      You have an excellent view of Minerve opposite, perched on a narrow natural promontory high above the two converging riverbeds. With the valley on your left, and a vineyard on your right, walk along the track past the Malvoisine. After a short distance, branch left where the track forks. Continue on this track for some distance as it runs close to the valley’s eastern clifftop, with Minerve sitting impressively on the cliff opposite.

      Where the track starts to veer away from the valley, take a careful step or two to the left to peer over the edge of the cliff (13). The depth of the valley, with its nearly sheer limestone cliffs, is striking.