The long climb has brought one up to a lofty heathery moorland, commanding grand views in all directions. On this high plateau, where the River Gers has its source, is the little town of Lannemezan. The church dates back to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and has a fine Romanesque doorway. Pinas, a small slate-roofed village, has picturesque gateways to its farmhouses, and before reaching Montrejeau (pronounced Mont Rejeau), one sees on the left M. le Baron de Lassus’ huge modern Château de Valmirande, built between 1892 and 1898. It commands a magnificent view into a valley leading up to the main mountain chain. MONTREJEAU is a small and picturesque town, with red roofs, brightly painted shutters, arcaded streets in the Italian style, and a sixteenth-century Hôtel de Ville, supported on pillars, with the market beneath. The Church of St. Jean has a great octagonal belfry, originally built as the castle keep. The situation of the town on a hill above the beautiful Garonne is delightful. Montrejeau was one of the _bastide_ cities founded in 1272 by the Sénéchal de Toulouse, and was built on a regular plan, as one may see to-day. A straight and level road by the Garonne leads to St. Gaudens, which is described in the next section. SECTION XIV ST. GAUDENS TO CARCASSONNE, 105 MILES (169 KILOMETRES) DISTANCES ALONG THE ROUTE Kil. Miles. =St. Gaudens= to St. Martory =19= 11¾ =St. Martory= to Mane =8= 5 =Mane= to St. Lizier =19= 11¾ =St. Lizier= to St. Girons =2= 1¼ =St. Girons= to Le Mas-d’Azil =23= 14¼ [=St. Girons= to Foix =43= 26¾] [=Foix= to Pamiers =20= 12½] =Le Mas-d’Azil= to Pamiers =28= 17¼ =Pamiers= to Mirepoix =22= 13¾ =Mirepoix= to Fanjeaux =20= 12¼ =Fanjeaux= to Montréal =10= 6¼ =Montréal= to Carcassonne =18= 11¼ NOTES FOR DRIVERS =St. Gaudens to St. Martory.=--Nearly level. =St. Martory to Mane.=--The road crosses a steep ridge of hills. =Mane to St. Girons.=--Level. Do not cross the River Salat until St. Girons is reached. =St. Girons to Le Mas-d’Azil.=--A well-engineered road through a hilly country. =Pamiers.=--A dangerous winding descent to the town. The rest of the way to Carcassonne the road is undulating, without any dangerous hills, except on the east side of Fanjeaux, where the descent has a sharp turn. PLACES OF INTEREST ON THE ROUTE =St. Gaudens.=--A small town with a fine Romanesque church; richly carved capitals and carved choir-stalls. =St. Martory.=--Though a small place, has two imposing eighteenth-century gateways. Gendarmerie built with stone from Abbey of Bonnefont, from which ruin comes the Romanesque door of the church.