rpc. Not sure about some of the smaller cities mentioned.But the major cities sound convenient to trains.Local trains are bike friendly. No packing required. From what I saw. The ride out from the coast to the Cathar chateau's is pretty gradual. Aude is pretty much a rolling plain.. Won't Google maps give you that information. The climb up to the Cathar's is not gradual. Take you an hour or more to climb the those cliffs. Don't think there is anything like the Pyreenees up there. Some big sized hills, maybe.