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At Sougraigne on the Domaine de l'Eau Salée, the Sals gushes forth, a salt spring with up to 60g of salt per litre, and which historically has attracted many protagonists: glass makers, jet miners, charcoal burners, woodcutters, shepherds, pedlars and of course, salt smugglers and the customs officers on their heels.
La Source Salée
The salt water source At the heart of the Domaine, a source of salmon-pink salt water gives birth to the river Sals. The salinity varies with the seasons. In the time of the unpopular Gabelle (salt tax), this source was the origin of a vigorous salt smuggling activity.
In the time of the unpopular Gabelle (salt tax), this source was the origin of a vigorous salt smuggling activity. Customs officers were posted at the site to try to regulate the salt trade. The former guard house close to the source remains as a silent witness to this troubled period. |
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The site was formerly frequented
by many different characters:
Glass makers, jet miners, charcoal
burners, wood cutters, shepherds,
peasant farmers, peddlers, plus of
course the salt smugglers and the
tax officers of the
Ferme Générale
trying to catch them. You can reach the Domaine via
various footpaths from the surroun
-
ding villages, set in beautiful sce-
nery full of surprises.
The Marche du Sel takes the history of the
Domaine as the theme for an original thea-
trical day out, with actors and storytellers
in period costume, mixing walking with
discovery of the local heritage and of
the Occitan language. The walk starts
each year from one of the surroun
-
ding villages.
The Raid Salée is a trail race star
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ting from Rennes-les-Bains and
taking the runners round the small
footpaths formerly used by the salt
smugglers...
Annual events:
• The “Marche du Sel”, early July
•
The “Raid Salée”, a trail race,
the first weekend in September
All year round:
• Visits to the Domaine
de l’Eau Salée, guided
or unaccompanied
Language(s):
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- Distance
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14,3 km
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- Mini Altitude
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400 meter
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- Departure
- Parking Grand Rue,
Sougraigne |
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- Type
- Loop
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- Max Altitude
- 810 meter
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- Vertical drop
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491 meter |
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- Duration
- 4
Hours
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- Markup
- Yes
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- IGN reference
- 2347OT
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- Difficulty
-
Average
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- Coordinates
- 42.89894,
2.37616
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- Download GPS Track
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Opening
Les Sources de Salz - Sougraigne:
-
01 january to 31
december
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Rennes-le-Château
Rennes les Bains
Maison Déodat Roché - Arques
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Through the department of Aude and through, enables the Cathar Trail hike (or bike) combining the beauty of the landscape, visiting several Cathar castles and athletic relaxation. History and Geography are two inseparable matters when it comes to the Cathar Trail. Put your foot on the Cathar Trail, and you'll be transported 8 centuries ago, in a rich History environment, without the use of a time machine, just by using your feet! The success of the book and movie of the Da Vinci Code has fed a new awakening of interest in the Languedoc and its fabulous Cathar castles. These 'Castles in the Sky', perched on their vertiginous rock pinnacles, are some of the last remnants of the ill-fated Cathar 'heretics' and the legends that linked them to the Holy Grail...
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Shrowded in mystery, myth and legend, the peak of Mount Bugarach majestically dominates the wider area around Rennes-le-Château. The farming village is in the region of the Cathar castles, situated on spectacular rocky outcrops. Regarded as heretics by the Catholic Church, Cathars sought refuge in these castles in the 13th century when Pope Innocent III launched a full scale crusade against them. The village lies next to the Pic de Bugarach, a rocky peak which, at 1230 metres, is the highest point of the Corbières range of hills. The peak is dwarfed however by the nearby Pyrenees and offers splendid views of the range. Made of limestone with galleries of caves beneath it, the peak is a geological oddity, since its top layers are millions of years older than its bottom ones, making it an 'upside down mountain'. The peak of Bugarach has been shrouded in mystery, with various claims that it houses aliens in cavities beneath the rock. The internet abounds with tales of the late President François Mitterrand being curiously heliported onto the peak, of mysterious digs conducted by the Nazis and later Mossad, the Israeli secret services. There is talk of the area, near to the Cathar castles, holding the Holy Grail or the treasure of the Templars. A visit to Bugarach is said to have inspired Steven Spielberg in his film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind – although the actual mountain he used is Devil's Tower in Wyoming...
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Atelier Verrier Forestier |
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At Sougraigne on the Domaine de l'Eau Salée, the Sals gushes forth, a salt spring with up to 60g of salt per litre, and which historically has attracted many protagonists: glass makers, jet miners, charcoal burners, woodcutters, shepherds, pedlars and of course, salt smugglers and the customs officers on their heels.
The Salines forest glassworks is a remarkable archaeological site not far from this spring, with the remains of its two heating structures being particularly well preserved: a melting furnace more than 6 metres long, with a double hearth. These furnaces operated from the mid-seventeenth to the mid-eighteenth century.
The site was formerly frequented by many different characters: Glass makers, jet miners, charcoal burners, wood cutters, shepherds, peasant farmers, peddlers, plus of course the salt smugglers and the tax officers of the Ferme Générale trying to catch them. You can reach the Domaine via various footpaths from the surrounding villages, set in beautiful scenery full of surprises...
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Le Jardin de la Sals is located in the heart of lush greenery, in the small picturesque village of Sougraigne in the Haute Vallée de l'Aude, the territory of the Corbières Vertes. You will find wild and untouched nature and the starting point of a large number of hiking trails. Nicole and François welcome you to an old house from the 15th century, with a warm and family atmosphere. The establishment has existed for more than 35 years and was known under the name Ecluse au Soleil (Sluis = Ecluse). First in Chambre d’hôtes, then in a hotel with restaurant, labeled "Logis de France". We acquired the establishment in 2005 and have continued on the same path, striving for a formula that is less conventional than the hotel sector. Anxious to offer a less conventional welcome than the hotel sector, we also wanted to reduce our activity, improve our services and integrate the living forces of the village (beekeepers, breeders, gardeners, etc.)...
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In the heart of the village stands the birthplace of Déodat Roché (1877-1978), the historian of Catharism. To commemorate the village's illustrious son, the house today contains a permanent exhibition devoted to Catharism. It offers visitors 4 approaches to this religion that go beyond the purely religious: first, a historical approach; second, a spiritual approach; third a political approach; finally an approach devoted to everyday life among the Cathars. On the first floor a sound recording enables visitors to find out about Déodat Roché's life...
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La Renaissance: centre for renewal and well-being. Enjoy an original, rejuvenating holiday in the middle of Cathar country... For one minute, half a day, a day, a weekend or 6 days... Treatments, activities, accommodation, everything is included... We will draw up a made-to-measure agenda for you. To relax, recharge your batteries or detoxify, let yourself be pampered by our team specially trained for your satisfaction.
La Renaissance offers a stop in the Cathar country of calm, sweetness and serenity, to find the joy and good humor. The healing and well-being center designed to help you regain form and joie de vivre, by offering you treatments, wellness activities around a Spa, stays in the heart of the Pays Cathare in Rennes-les-Bains.
In La Renaissance you will find non-therapeutic care exclusively for a search for well-being, relaxation and self-harmony...
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At the heart of the Corbières Bugarach Janou Farm welcomes
you in an exceptional setting far from the bustling city in a protected nature.
Our operation is focused on poultry meat, duck fat and a vegetable production
heirloom. Our hostel is located at the place of our operating Bugarach, we
welcome you in a warm around a fireplace or on our terrace you can enjoy our
poultry as well as many local dishes Languedoc...
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Hostellerie de
Rennes les Bains |
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Hostellerie de Rennes les Bains situated in Cathar
Country. Enjoy your stay at this welcoming, comfortable and very peaceful hotel.
The hotel has 6 rooms and 1 suite available, all rooms have private WC, and
bathrooms with shower/bath. Adapted for handicapped guests (lift available). The
Restaurant provides excellent service and cooking. Rennes les Bains is a spa
resort of Roman origins, made famous by Blanche de Castille. Visit the
archaeology museum, with objects and remains from the Roman baths (2nd and 3rd
centuries)...
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