This ambassador helps you discover the hidden treasures of Aude

Henriette Mandament resides in Ariège, in Verniolle, near Pamiers, but lives most of the year in Gruissan where she has a house. In her associative activities in Ariège – she is notably the president of the popular university of Verniolle (REV, for reflection, exchanges in Verniolle) and leads a group of walkers, with meetings every Thursday – she organizes numerous outings cultural and hiking, with the particularity that it systematically provides them in Aude: along the Robine canal, in Somail, in the Haute Vallée, at the Tournebelle manade or even at the Narbo Via museum. Also around Gruissan where it is “in love”. “Gruissan is the sea, the ponds, the cliffs and the caves in La Clape, the vines, the scrubland.”

This retiree from National Education (professor of eco-management) is so fond of the Aude soil that she became an ambassador for Aude, the Southern Soulthe name of the department’s tourist destination. “I love Aude for the variety of its landscapes and its sites: sea, ponds, mountains, castles, vineyards, scrubland. I love its authenticity, but also its gastronomy, its wines. So I spontaneously, as I did in Ariège, applied to become an ambassador. Aude is a very varied department, I have known it for 30 years. Its nature and culture are always renewed. Henriette Mandament, passionate about culture and hiking, is a dynamic ambassador of Aude. At 66 years old and “in great shape”, this lifelong sportswoman (tennis, padel, golf, basketball in Toulouse throughout her studies, hiking in the Hautes-Pyrénées) regularly organizes outings which allow you to discover the hidden treasures of the region, “corners where there is no one, but which are worth the detour”. Whether through the winding paths of Corbières, the sunny plateaus of Minervois or the lush forests of Lauragais, each excursion is an invitation to delve into the history and magnificent landscapes of Aude. His top 3 most beautiful hikes? Difficult to choose, but since you have to play the game, Henriette quotes “the castles of Lastours in the Minervois with family or more sporty walks, the walk from the Château des Goules in Gruissan or the walks around Lagrasse with magnificent water spots, waterfalls and pools in the Orbieu. La Haute Valley is also nice around Axat for example”.

In addition to her skills in organizing hikes, this tireless member of several cultural and sporting groups also shares her vast knowledge of local heritage. Participants in her outings – notably correspondents from CASDEN Banque Populaire for which she is a departmental delegate – can expect fascinating anecdotes about Cathar castles, wine-growing traditions and local legends which enrich each walk. His contagious enthusiasm and love for the region make each outing an unforgettable experience, captivating the interest of nature lovers and the curious.