Refuge du Ventajou

The place

Refuge at 430 m in the Hérault department (Espinouse / Montagne Noire), municipality of Félines-Minervois, near the Cathar Castrum du Ventajou from which it takes its name. Owned by the Félines town hall, maintained by the Association culture et patrimoine de Félines; rarely booked for community events (2-3 days a year at most), so open most of the time. Ground floor: 4 benches, 1 table, fireplace, 5 barbecue grills, dishware, brooms. Upstairs: 4 metal bunks. Poor insulation, upstairs door with a 10 cm gap. Adjoining bread oven. Dry toilets in a separate building. No water nearby; the nearest permanent water point is the abeuradou trough. Access from Félines via the PR du Ventajou (blue markers) in 1h30 on foot, or by car via a heavily used road.