Gorges de la Frau, Canyon in Montségur and Comus, France
Gorges de la Frau is a canyon carved through limestone rock by the Èrç River, with vertical walls that tower on either side of the valley. The gorge extends for several kilometers and creates a natural passage connecting two separate regions, offering visitors a route through towering rock formations.
The gorge served as a smuggling route for traders moving goods between Spain and France during earlier centuries, when mountain paths were the main way to cross between regions. This remote passage became important for commerce that avoided official checkpoints and state control.
The gorges form part of the Chemin des Bonshommes, a 107-kilometer Cathar trail that connects multiple historical castles throughout the Ariège region.
Multiple hiking trails lead through the gorge with options ranging from short day walks to longer excursions. The paths are accessible year-round, though spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for walking.
The name comes from the word for fracture, describing how the river splits the rock formations as it carved through. This geological naming reflects how early people described the land based on what they observed.
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