{"id":6228,"date":"2017-02-17T10:00:41","date_gmt":"2017-02-17T10:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/?p=6228"},"modified":"2017-02-18T14:55:37","modified_gmt":"2017-02-18T14:55:37","slug":"on-the-cathar-way-coudons-to-axat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/2017\/02\/on-the-cathar-way-coudons-to-axat\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Cathar Way: <br>Coudons to Axat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/2013\/10\/four-days-on-the-sentier-cathare-cathar-way\/\">Cathar Way<\/a> is a 250km footpath in the French Pyrenees. \u00a0It runs between Port La Nouvelle on the Mediterranean coast to the historic town of Foix.<\/p>\n<p>I walked this section of the trail with my friend, Brendan, in summer 2016.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=14B0SgP5Vh4ptJdRrdf-fRWLIgMQ\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>We were given a lift from Quillan to Coudons (about 4k) and joined the trail up into the heavily wooded hills. \u00a0After a couple of hours hiking we reached a plateau and rested before the descent to the village of\u00a0Quirbajou.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mt-insert\"><\/p>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_6233\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6233\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6233\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1.jpg\" alt=\"On the way to Quirbajou\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6233\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the way to Quirbajou<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><\/figure>\n<p>The weather was perfect. \u00a0Warm and sunny with a light breeze.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wc-gallery\"><div id='gallery-1' data-gutter-width='5' data-columns='2' class='gallery wc-gallery-captions-onhover gallery-link-none gallery-masonry galleryid-6228 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full wc-gallery-bottomspace-default wc-gallery-clear'><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-1 gallery-item-attachment-6245'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"400\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.1-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.1-300x413.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-2 gallery-item-attachment-6246'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"400\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.2.jpg 400w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.2-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert1.2-300x413.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTrail marker\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>At Quirbajou we stopped for food and long, long glugs of water. The name of the village reminded me of the Pixies song, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3sW3zoANMp4\" target=\"_blank\">Caribou<\/a>, which I promptly began to sing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6235\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2.jpg\" alt=\"At Quirbajou\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/2-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>From\u00a0Quirbajou we began the steep descent into the valley and the village of\u00a0Marsa.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mt-insert\"><\/p>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_6236\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6236\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6236\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/3.jpg\" alt=\"Towards Marsa\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/3.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/3-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6236\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Into the valley, towards\u00a0Marasa<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><\/figure>\n<p>In Marsa we had our photo taken on a bridge crossing the river Rebenty.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6237 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/4.jpg\" alt=\"Marsa\" width=\"900\" height=\"624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/4.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/4-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/4-768x532.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The next village,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.casacailla.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\">Cailla<\/a>, has a beautiful 10th century\u00a0church and churchyard that\u00a0we spent some time admiring.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"mt-insert\"><\/p>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_6238\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6238\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6238\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/6.jpg\" alt=\"Cailla church\" width=\"900\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/6.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/6-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/6-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6238\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cailla church<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wc-gallery\"><div id='gallery-2' data-gutter-width='5' data-columns='2' class='gallery wc-gallery-captions-onhover gallery-link-none gallery-masonry galleryid-6228 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full wc-gallery-bottomspace-default wc-gallery-clear'><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-1 gallery-item-attachment-6243'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"400\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2.1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2.1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2.1-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2.1-300x413.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><div class='gallery-item gallery-item-position-2 gallery-item-attachment-6244'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"400\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2.jpg 400w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/vert2-300x413.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On leaving\u00a0Cailla we continued the descent into the valley and onwards to Axat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6239\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6239\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6239\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/7.jpg\" alt=\"Leaving Cailla\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/7.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/7-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/7-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6239\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leaving Cailla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>An hour or so later we were standing above the historic town of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Axat\" target=\"_blank\">Axat<\/a>, watching a train chugging across a viaduct over the river Aude.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6240 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/9.jpg\" alt=\"Approaching Axat\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/9.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/9-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/9-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Axat is a lovely town, well worth exploring.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6241\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/10.jpg\" alt=\"Axat\" width=\"900\" height=\"1436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/10.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/10-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/10-768x1225.jpg 768w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/10-642x1024.jpg 642w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/10-300x479.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We found a shop and purchased beer, bread, salami and chocolate.<\/p>\n<p>Supping beer\u00a0on the banks of the river Aude. The perfect note on which\u00a0to end a beautiful\u00a0day on the Cathar Way.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6242 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/11.jpg\" alt=\"A beer or two in Axat\" width=\"900\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/11.jpg 900w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/11-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/11-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can see <a href=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/2013\/10\/four-days-on-the-sentier-cathare-cathar-way\/\">other hikes I&#8217;ve done on the Cathar Way<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cathar Way is a 250km footpath in the French Pyrenees. \u00a0It runs between Port La Nouvelle on the Mediterranean&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12,15],"tags":[154],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6228"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6284,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228\/revisions\/6284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}