Chemin de la Mâture, Mountain trail in Urdos, France
The path stretches 1200 meters along vertical limestone cliffs, rising 200 meters above the Gave d'Aspe river in the French Pyrenees.
Engineer Paul-Marie Leroy constructed this path in 1772 to transport pine trees from Pacq forest for naval vessel masts manufacturing.
The trail forms part of the GR 10 long-distance footpath, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea through the Pyrenees mountains.
The round trip covers 7 miles with 2300 feet elevation gain, requiring proper hiking equipment and general mountain experience for safety.
The path maintains its original width of 1.2 meters, carved directly into the rock face, allowing visitors to walk the exact route used centuries ago.
Location: Urdos
GPS coordinates: 42.88825,-0.56056
Latest update: May 31, 2025 03:31
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region contains historic and natural sites often overlooked by traditional tourist routes. The area features military castles such as Bonaguil with its seven 13th-century towers, underground churches carved into limestone in Saint-Émilion and Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, as well as caves decorated with Paleolithic paintings like that of Villars. Medieval villages such as Talmont-sur-Gironde preserve their original layout and overlook the Gironde estuary. From Dordogne to the Pyrenean foothills, the region presents rock-hewn forts like Maison Forte de Reignac, Benedictine abbeys established since the 8th century in Brantôme, and Romanesque churches like the Collegiate Church of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. The Vayres and Roquetaillade castles demonstrate the evolution of fortified architecture from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. These sites reflect the military, religious, and cultural history of the region and provide diverse examples of southwestern France's architectural heritage.
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