Heading for the Pyrenees or looking for the shortest route to the Mediterranean part of the GLR Network? The GLR 14 is the best route to take. From the lower plains of Carcassonne to the Pyrenees in Biert, this route will navigate you via the best roads. Although the region around Carcassonne isn’t suited for off-road riding, I’ve found the most decent roads to navigate by. Your journey starts in Carcassonne. From this ancient city, you’ll make your way down to Mirepoix where you encounter the few off-road sections of the route. Some green lanes later, you’ll find yourself on the twisty roads heading towards your destination Biert. Take the GLR 14 if you want the shortest way from and to the Pyrenees. The 152 kilometers are doable in one day, due to the high amount of on-road sections. If you’re looking for a Trans Pyrenean Adventure, I would recommend looking at the GLR 13 in the Connections section.

Ariège is named after the Ariège River which crosses its landscape. The department is predominantly known for its rural landscape and can be divided into three main areas. The northern part consists of glowing plains and light hills. Agriculture dominates the landscape and you’ll find yourself riding between the corn and grain fields. From the north further down south you find yourself among the foothills of the Pyrenees. These Pre-Pyrenean hills will lure you further into the mountains. The landscape starts to change and the granite mountains start to appear. Especially the highest peaks of the department Pica d’Estats (3142m), Montcalm (3077), and Pic de Sotllo (3072m) are visible from quite a distance. The southern area of the department consists of the high mountains. This is also the most tourist-focus area, as the landscape is dotted with ski-resorts, mountain huts, and holiday accommodations. Although this area knows many trails, most of them are off-limits for motorized traffic. As most of the GLRs in the region are at moderate altitude, I recommend to keep an eye out for the weather forecasts. The north face of the mountains are most of the time the coldest and wettest, and in the Pyrenees, this is no exception. Precipitation is evenly distributed, with April and May as the wettest months. Snow may occur as early as October!