Hike to Lake Thésauque, in the heart of Lauragais

Discover Toulouse Ariège & Pyrénées

At the crossroads of Haute-Garonne , Aude and Tarn , the Pays du Lauragais abounds with splendid landscapes : for a long time dubbed the Grenier à Blé du Languedoc , it was also the land of culture of Pastel , a dye plant that has is the wealth of the region in the sixteenth century. But nowadays, the jewel of the Lauragais is undoubtedly the Canal du Midi which crosses it.

A hike in the Lauragais, accessible to all the family

Landscape Lauragais: fields as far as the eye can see

An accessible and well indicated hike

Today, I take you on a walk : a 12-kilometer hike to Lake Thesauque , feasible in one afternoon (about 3:30 at a family pace), and accessible to all since it only has 58 meters vertical drop. Lac de la Thesauque is a recreational base in Montgeard . In summer, it is a very pleasant place to escape from the heat of the urban center, come to dive and have fun on the inflatable water park . A campsite is available nearby, for those who wish to stay a few days.

Click here to see the map of the hike

Catch your backpack and your gourd , let's go! The departure is from the village church of Seyre . You can park your car easily in the parking lot of the Town Hall. All the way is marked by small yellow signs , so no risk of getting lost.

Yellow markup of the hike

We can not get lost I tell you, but I will still look at the map to be sure ...

Throughout the walk, we discover the surrounding countryside by small dirt roads. If you take this walk in summer, you will cross entire fields of beautiful sunflower flowers, as there are so many in the area.

If the view is clear, you can even see the landscapes of the Black Mountain, in the Tarn and Pyrenees !

Wind turbines and sunflowers, two Lauragais specialties!

Lake Thesauque: a pure moment of relaxation in the heart of nature

At the end of the walk , a nice surprise awaits you: Lake Thesauque .

Arrival of the ride - Lac du Thésauque

This small haven of peace located between the pretty villages of Nailloux and Montgeard offers a lot of activities for young and old :

An interpretive trail runs all around the lake on a course of about 5.6 kilometers and offers the opportunity to discover the local flora on foot or by bike . You can also rent canoes, paddle boats or paddle boards at the Aquaparc Lauraguais leisure center .

Pedalos on the lake of Thésauque

Lake Thésauque Interpretive Trail

Wildlife is not left in the area since I met donkeys, ducks and geese, but the biggest advantage of the lake is undoubtedly the variety of fish found in abundance . Notice to fishing enthusiasts! But beware, fishing license required (on sale at Camping de la Thesauque ).

This hike has digged my stomach!

To restore you on the spot , you can:

plan a picnic to share with your family in a green setting
taste good terroir cuisine at Ferme de Champreux. On the menu, of course, foie gras , duck , cassoulet and other regional house specialties .
eat at the sunny Bitter Sweet restaurant terrace , with lake view ( salads, burgers, and appetizer boards)