Sauveterre-de-Comminges (Occitanie, France)
It takes time. Everything needs time. I know it and yet I don’t give myself that time. I judge far too quickly and therefore far too harshly. We haven’t even been here a whole week and I’m paying attention to the things I don’t like.
The dilapidated buildings outside our windows. The rotten, unpleasant-smelling wood, the gray weather. All of that is part of this place. But there’s much more here. A warm, sunny day. Fog in the early morning, gliding between the houses and over their roofs. My eyes open to it.
And I realize so much more on my first walk. The beauty screams in my face, I can’t ignore it. And I have to throw my first prejudices overboard. I am happy to do so.
We start from our accommodation and walk along the main road to the next part of the village, Reston. From there into the forest. First we go up the hill. Then, when it levels out again, we have to make our way along a muddy path.
As we descend again, the path becomes wider and firmer, full of foliage and rocky. We reach a clearing from where we have an unobstructed view of the breathtakingly beautiful mountains. Then further down to the next hamlet, Barry.
And this one surprises me with the charming beauty of the houses and gardens, but above all the view of the mountains. At the end of the village is a house from which nothing blocks the view of these mountains. What a dreamlike place, what a fairytale property. So restrained and yet so full of elegance, order, naturalness and freedom.
Activity: Walk the Ilhan Route North.
Distance: 5,5 km
Elevation: 150 m
Total Time: 1 h 24 min
Start/End: 43°01’57.1”N 0°41’32.3”E