Pic des Trois Seigneurs

Pic des Trois Seigneurs is a mountain summit in the Pyrenees standing at 2199 meters where three valleys converge, offering views across the Ariège mountains and landscapes. The peak marks a natural boundary between different ridge lines and allows views spanning the Couserans valley and the surrounding terrain.

The mountain served as a trade route in the 1600s when charcoal from Couserans forests was transported to forges in the Rabat Valley via the Pourtanelle pass. This commercial connection linked forest communities with metalworking centers for centuries.

The peak's name comes from gatherings of three lords from neighboring valleys who would meet there to discuss their territorial boundaries. These meetings show how high places once served as neutral ground for settling disputes between landowners.

The ascent starts from Port de Lers on a marked trail that takes about three hours and climbs roughly 900 meters in elevation. The route passes Lake Arbu, which offers a natural stopping point partway through the hike.

Ice harvesters once collected frozen blocks from a nearby glacier and carried them down to Toulouse over roughly two and a half days. The long journey meant much of the ice melted during transport, making the work surprisingly difficult.