We had read about this section of the GR10 years ago but never even looked at where it was. Back in Napoleon’s days there was an area of forest with particularly good oak trees for making the masts of ships. These had to be carried out of the forest to the nearest horse drawn transport. To facilitate this engineers dug out a walkway 200m up a near vertical cliff face. The passage is over 1000 meters long and over looks the Fort du Portalet 1842. The Fort itself is also pretty impressive, especially from 200m above.

We chose to do a 3-4 hour loop to include the Chemin de la Mature on the way back from Rioja. We started at Passette on the GR10 and continued on red and white markings to just above Pont des Trungas then double backed to the road on which we had parked. Well worth doing and amazing history, both of the Chemin and the Fort, but probably not one to repeat.

We did however find an amazing little Table d’Hote to stay in about 15 minutes down the road. Fully renovated with lovely hosts. https://www.aubergetoisondor.com/