Étang du Diable et sa légende (massif de Tabe)

Montségur

The étang du Diable occupies a hollow of the Tabe massif, in Ariège, at 1,971 m above sea level, in the commune of Montségur. 19 m deep, it is surrounded by cliffs and slopes of rhododendrons, and its very dark blue waters give rise to the Lasset, a tributary of the Hers-Vif. It lies in the regional nature reserve of the massif de Saint-Barthélemy. Its name comes from the many legends that feature Satan there. In the neighbouring villages, it is claimed that one must not throw a stone into the pond: the storm would break out within the minute and the imprudent person would perish under the violence of the elements. Wikipedia also indicates that a legend of the étang du Diable was reported by P. Olhagaray in 1609, taken from older authors (Hélie in 1540, Belleforest in 1575). I could not read this text: the full account is therefore not reproduced here, and nothing proves that it is the one about the thrown stone. In the same massif, large iron rings and chains found on the ridge, at the col des Cadènes, gave rise to other ancient legends; these remains, now vanished, are said to have been old boundary markers from the Carolingian period.

Getting there: The simplest path climbs from the étang des Truites. Visorando offers a route from Montferrier (14.7 km, 833 m of ascent, about 6 h 35) and a circuit via the pics de Soularac and de Saint-Barthélemy from Montségur. Mountain hike, check the weather. Coordinates: Wikipedia, consistent with Visorando (42.824; 1.778).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound