Discover the Cathar country and Fenouillèdes on board the Little Red Train

Nicknamed the Little Red Train because of its colour, its exact name is the Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes (TPCF for those more familiar with it), because of the areas it passes through: the vineyards of Fenouillèdes and the Cathar castles.

The route covers some sixty kilometres, between Rivesaltes in the Pyrénées-Orientales and Axat in the Aude, passing through a number of medieval villages in the Cathar region, including Lapradelle.

Which route to choose?

There are 3 routes to choose from, depending on the landscapes you want to discover and the time you have to stroll around.

This 35km route forms a loop from Rivesaltes to Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet. It takes half a day to complete and offers a wonderful sample of the region's vineyards, watched over by the cliffs of the Corbières.

The Parcours des Vignes itinerary :

• Rivesaltes
• Espira de l'Agly
• Cases de Pene
• Estagel
• Maury
• Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet

These are the 2 shortest routes on offer (10 and 15 km), but certainly the most beautiful, given the magnificent views from the railway viaducts. They only start from Axat, in the Aude department. On the way, there's an hour's break in a charming village for the more curious, before returning to the starting point.

The Viaduct Routes :

• Axat - Caudiès - Axat ( 15 km)
• or Axat - Lapradelle-Axat (9 km)

This route is the longest, and combines all the other 2 possible itineraries. It takes you through a large part of the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Corbières, and takes in a number of Cathar castles. Between vineyards and mountainsides, the landscapes follow one another but are never the same.

The Grand Parcours route :

• Rivesaltes
• Espira de l'Agly
• Cases de Pene
• Estagel
• Maury
• Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet
• Claudy de Fenouillèdes
• Saint Martin Lys
• Axat