Hiking in Py

The HexaTrek is a trail of 3,034 km and 136,000 m of elevation gain connecting 14 of the most beautiful French natural parks and crossing France from the Vosges to the Pyrenees.

The GR®10 is a marked long-distance hiking trail that crosses the Pyrenees from West to East, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.With a total length of about 900 km, it is a magnificent classic for hikers.

The legendary long-distance hiking trail GR10, which connects the Atlantic with the Mediterranean along the Pyrenean ridge, makes the hearts of passionate long-distance hikers beat faster. You traverse one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world.

The route will take you along the peaks of the Eastern Pyrenees, crossing the borders between France, Andorra, and Spain, while staying at the heart of the Pyrenean range.

The plan is a 6-day journey through the wilderness of Catalonia followed by a return to the starting point with the cog railway le Canari train jaune.

Two mountain passes with little solitudeFrom Mantet, the Col de Mantet (1,760 m), located along a road, is quickly reached. After a descent through dry, lush vegetation, we reach the little village of Py. Here, it’s time once again to restock our supplies and gather strength for the upcoming stages. The next major town, Arles-sur-Tech, is still a long way off. The bustling Col de Jou (1,125 m) is followed by the beautiful, yet strenuous, climb to the Refuge de Mariailles (1,718 m). The refuge, which is now once again much more comfortable, rewards us with a breathtaking view of the sheer cliffs.

A approximation of the GR10

Loop passing through the ridges around Pic des Sept Hommes

Summit route on the border between two nature reserves The path to the Cime de Pomarole runs along two nature reserves: the 3930-hectare Réserve naturelle de Py and the slightly smaller Réserve naturelle de Mantet. Both reserves are part of the regional natural park Pyrénées Catalanes, which was established in March 2004. It covers a total area of 138,000 hectares with 64 municipalities in the Cerdagne, Capcir, and Haut-Conflent. This park aims to promote gentle tourism and the sale of local products. The »Réserves naturelles« also originated from areas with a history of tourism, livestock, or forestry. However, the reason why very few pine trees can be found above 2000 meters on the Cime de Pomarole is not due to logging but to a fungus that infected their roots. Reforestation is being advanced with larches and other conifers. Hikers, of course, appreciate both: walking in the forest and in the open countryside, with views across the mountain ranges into another country and far out to the Mediterranean.

This path traces the route taken by thousands of refugees between January and February 1939 on their flight to France via the Malrem Pass. At the same time, it restores paths that connect areas linked by a shared history and culture.