Walk to Freedom across the Pyren

Walk to Freedom across the Pyren Overview

Trek the Chemin de la Liberte the WWII escape route to Spain

The ‘Chemin de la Liberte' was the toughest of several escape routes across the Pyrenees during the Second World War; you can follow in the footsteps of history, from France to Spain, on this wonderful week long trekking holiday. Running from Saint-Girons in the Ariege district of France to near the village of Isil in Spain, the Chemin de la Liberte, or Walk to Freedom, has been an official way-marked walk since 1994 and can be completed as an excellent and challenging 4-day hike. After our first night in a comfortable chateau in Saint-Girons, once the German border forces HQ, our journey begins. Starting out the forested foothills of the Pyrenees we climb to cross the high mountains of the Ariege via the Refuge des Estagnous (2245m) and the Frontier Col (2522m). En route, we will pass safe houses and barns used as hiding places by the escapees and encounter rocky cirques, mountain lakes, boulder-fields and possibly snow-filled gullies, whilst marvelling at some of the finest mountain views in the Pyrenees.  Our journey's end is at an excellent tapas bar in Val d'Aran, where we can celebrate the end of our 'walk to freedom'. Finally, we drive back across the border into France and end our adventure with a two night stay and a free day in the charming spa town of Luchon.