LAVELANET is a nondescript but not unattractive little town on the banks of the Touyre river, 20km from Foix to the west and 35km from Quillan to the east. However, it has little to offer beyond its bus connections which include a route north to Mirepoix and the easiest access to the famous Cathar castle of Montségur, 12km to the south. If you get stuck there, head for the very clean and modern municipal campsite (closed OctMarch), from which you can just see Montségur nudging over the brow of the intervening ridges. There's a tourist office (July & Aug MonSat 9amnoon & 27pm, Sun 9amnoon; SeptJune MonSat 9amnoon & 27pm; tel 05.61.01.22.20), and a couple of restaurants off the main square.
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