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Tour of the Capcir (Eastern-Pyrenees) |
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Starting from the Les Angles resort, this loop in the heart of the Capcir region offers an immersion in what is often called the "Little Siberia" of the Pyrenees. The trail begins with a climb towards Lake Aude, surrounded by mountain pines, before reaching the protected site of Lake Bouillouses at the foot of the Carlit massif. This high mountain landscape, with its glaciers, the Fontrabiouse caves, and the fortified village of Puyvalador, a medieval sentinel overlooking the valley, is truly breathtaking. Passing through the traditional hamlets of Odello and Réal, hikers discover an authentic pastoral heritage, marked by Romanesque churches. Between dense forests and high plateaus, you might spot mouflon or chamois. The route becomes gentler upon reaching Lake Matemale, a vast expanse of water bordered by a Scots pine forest.
The Capcir, a high plateau in the Pyrénées-Orientales nicknamed the "Little French Siberia," is a high-altitude region with unique Nordic landscapes. Encircled by majestic peaks such as Puyvalador and Péric, it offers a raw natural environment of vast mountain pine forests and sparkling lakes, including Lake Matemale. Its history is marked by centuries of forestry and pastoral traditions, where villages like Formiguères, a former summer residence of the Kings of Majorca, preserve an authentic granite and slate heritage. The harsh climate has shaped exceptional biodiversity, providing refuge for the capercaillie and the mouflon, protected within the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Natural Park.
Nearby paths:
It is advisable to follow the beacons all along your hike and to bring you the 
