The forges of l’Ouzom, consuming large amounts of charcoal, used some hundreds of hectares of forests every year. Colliers used to work in the forest, as closely as possible to the resource. They built stacks of wood that they burnt, covering them with dirt, so that they could burn without air. During the 19th century, it was the turn of movable metal kilns, which also enabled the recovery of tar. These large, lidded cauldrons were, in the case of those of Monbula, carried up, whole, on men’s backs as well as rolled on logs. Some elders can still remember the exploit!
10 km
|
max. 1581 m
min. 445 m
1192 m
| |||
Start just before a house. At the Col d’Arrangou, turn right. To the left, do not go up in the lovely valley. At the cauldron, go slightly to the left and go up on the right side of the valley. Reach the valley and go out of the forest. The cabin of Monbula is on the right. Continue towards the col (plateau of Monbula) passing in front of the colliers’ cauldron
From the plateau of Monbula turn left, go up staying on the ridge. After a cabin in ruins and some parkland, go slightly to the right. Enter the forest. Stay on the knoll. Pass a clearing and continue on the ridge in the forest. At the charcoal kiln, continue on the ridge turning little by little to the left.
On the flat, after a big sinkhole to the left go towards an ascent. Pass by a small col with two big dips to the right. Continue to go up in the forest going towards large rocks. Pass to the left of them. The ground can be slippery with dead leaves and rocks. Pass near an abyss to the left and continue near the ridge. Be careful, do not go down in the sinkholes and the dips full of leafs. Abyss area. Turn left at a ridge and a big abyss to the right. Slightly go down to skirt around it to the left. Pass above it. Walk more or less on the flat towards the summit, a real panoramic viewpoint at the edge of the forest and of the cliff. Mind the gap!
Summit of Monbula 1583m ( 5193.57ft.). Go down retracing your steps. Back at the point 5) turn right to go down directly to the cabin. Turn to the right of the cauldron, go down. Skirt around a beech thicket to the right and go down straight ahead on the slope. At the end of the forest, go down towards the scree. Go towards the cabin and the end of the small valley, staying at the bottom of the scree with its ruins of low walls. Back on the path at the entrance of the forest, turn right and go down to reach the car park. Allow 2h to go down.
Yellow
Trait
Return
Natural
Fixed telephone : +33 5 59 13 94 99
Office de Tourisme Communautaire du Pays de Nay
Web site (URL) : www.tourisme-bearn-paysdenay.com
Office de Tourisme Communautaire du Pays de Nay