Discover the caravels of Faugères on the Pierres Sèches route.

A discovery hike offered by the Pierres Sèches en Faugérois association.
A short hike accessible to most people, following forgotten paths that have been rediscovered by the Pierres Sèches en Faugérois association. It allows you to discover 15 carabelles, the local name for drystone shelters, among the many that can be found in the Faugères area. The route is entirely marked in blue.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 81 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 89 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 418 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 326 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To access the car park, see the directions in the Practical Information section below.
Park in the car park marked with the P sign, 300 m below the mills.

(S/E) Walk up the track towards the mills. Walk around the mills to enjoy the 360° panorama. Retrace your steps for a few metres. Before the track begins to descend, take the steps on the left towards the south-west. Follow the marked path downhill, which runs alongside a low wall on the right. After several changes of direction, you will arrive at the Carabelle Nadine.

(1) Continue along the path for a few metres and descend to the right along a path bordered by a wall on the left. At the end of the wall, turn left for a few metres, then turn left towards the east. About a hundred metres after a circular stone bench, you will reach Carabelle Gigi. Continue through the woods, following the low wall on your left until you reach another low wall in front of you. Go down to the right, following it. After about a hundred metres, turn left. You will arrive at a large Carabelle Mireille.

(2) Go down a small path towards the south. You will arrive at the Chemin de la Marbrière; turn right onto it. As you pass by, discover the Carabelle Sylvie.
Reach the crossroads with the frog. To see the Carabelle l'Aronde, go behind the large rock and follow the small path to the right for a few metres. Retrace your steps. Look for the stone frog.
Take the path on the right in front of the frog sign. Further on, before the path climbs, look to the right and cross the Blue Cross to see the Carabelle Siméon.
Retrace your steps. Go up the marked path. You will come to a track, which you take to the left for a few metres.

(3) After a low wall, climb up a steep path on the right. Following the markings (several changes of direction), you will pass the Carabelles Hortense and Solstice, and Florentine in the bushes on the left.
Climb up to reach the statue of the Ant, the totem of the Pierres Sèches du Faugérois. On the left, climb up onto the platform (view). From there you can see the Carabelle Violette.

(4) Retrace your steps and descend to the left after the Ant, the Dable crossing.
You will reach a track which you take to the left going uphill. To see the Carabelle Lucie, take thefirst track on your left, passing the Blue Cross. After 20 metres, turn right onto the unmarked path that climbs behind the low wall. Go around Lucie and continue along the small path to Arlette. Go back down the track and turn left. When the track finishes climbing, turn right to the Carabelle Micocoulier.

(5) To see Carabelle Campane, go behind Micocoulier, cross the Blue Cross, turn left, and 30 metres further on, you will find a path on the right that leads to Carabelle. Retrace your steps. Follow the path, then turn left after 40 metres to take the path that climbs up to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 402 m - Mill car park
  2. 1 : km 0.7 - alt. 355 m - Carabelle Nadine
  3. 2 : km 0.93 - alt. 349 m - Carabelle Mireille
  4. 3 : km 1.48 - alt. 352 m - Raidillon towards Hortense
  5. 4 : km 1.62 - alt. 378 m - Stone ant
  6. 5 : km 2.26 - alt. 381 m - Micocoulier caravel
  7. S/E : km 2.59 - alt. 401 m - Arrival

Notes

Access to the starting car park:
- from Faugères, turn right onto the D909 and continue until you reach the junction with the small road on the right signposted Moulins de Faugères,
- coming from Bédarieux, turn around at the Vilavigne house to return to the Route des Moulins.
On this road, pass the first track on the right (cistern) and take the next track on the right (red arrow signposted cistern).
Partially shaded hike. Stony paths, moderate ascents and descents. Good shoes, cap, hat, sun cream. The route can be completed by visiting other carabelles on the "les trois tours" route (Chemin des Carabelles).
The route passes through private and communal land. Please respect the area, do not climb on the walls or caravels, take your rubbish with you and do not take anything from the natural environment.

Worth a visit

There is an alternative route of approximately 600 metres offering a beautiful view, no shade and marked with blue dots: continue along the track, which forms a wide circular path. On the right is the Carabelle Résine. When the track has almost finished climbing, turn right onto the path marked by a small cairn to reach La Fourmi, then cross Dable on the left.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
jeanine terral
jeanine terral

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very interesting route. The low walls and caravelle are very well maintained. The route is marked in blue and very well signposted. It is impossible to get lost. A lovely walk.

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bounche
bounche

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Starting behind the church in Faugères, you can complete the circular route of the fifteen caravels, passing by the three-towered mill. Approx. 7 km
The local dry stone association has superbly restored this heritage site and the low walls. Small signs have been placed in each of the caravels with their names. It is a shame that some disrespectful people have damaged them.
Please note that some of the signposts are not easy to see, so pay attention.

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User 11778349

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route with beautiful panoramic views and shaded sections. Well signposted – impossible to get lost.
Be sure to wear good shoes as the paths are stony. Perhaps add a small sign with the name of the caravel?

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Marie-Claire Lalande
Marie-Claire Lalande

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route starting from the mills, following the path that winds through the scrubland, often running alongside stone walls and, of course, discovering the superb caravels. Magnificent panoramic views are also on offer, stretching as far as the snow-capped Pyrenees and the mirror-like Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
Worth doing again in April to pick wild asparagus at the same time.

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Fdudet
Fdudet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Extremely well marked (blue). Impossible to get lost! Beautiful caravels (drystone shelters) along the entire route. Varied hike. Not difficult. Ideal for families aged 6 to 76!

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Gero34
Gero34

Hello, thank you for your comment. I see that there have been issues with the reliability of the description. Could you tell me more so that I can improve it? Thank you.

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puffi
puffi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Truly wonderful!
An extraordinary route with low walls and captains. There are lots of low walls in the south, but those around Faugeres are particularly remarkable.
...I am exceptionally enthusiastic...
Jm Dumas

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theron
theron

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

short and easy hike, very pleasant and pretty

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Géo-Logic
Géo-Logic

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This new route is still relatively unknown, which is a shame.
It is a route that is accessible to all and offers many advantages:
First of all, it is not difficult, and, although it is very short, it will take you along unknown paths to discover many CARABELLES that are often well hidden. The blue markings are easy to follow, even if the signage is not yet complete (starting point sign, additional signage at crossroads, etc.).
A discovery trail to enjoy with the family. And if you're still looking for more at the end of your circular route, you can easily find other carabelles to admire in the immediate vicinity, as there are plenty of them (Célinette, Roméo, Juliette, Jeanne, Philo, etc.).

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