Discover the caravels of Faugères on the Pierres Sèches route.

A discovery walk organised by the Association des Pierres Sèches en Faugérois.
A short walk accessible to all, following forgotten paths rediscovered by the Association Pierres Sèches en Faugérois. It offers the chance to discover 15 carabelles – the local name for drystone shelters – among the many found in the Faugères area. The route is fully signposted in blue.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 1.62 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 302 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 312 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,368 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,070 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

To access the car park, see the directions in the Practical Information section below.
Park in the car park indicated by 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° view. Retrace your steps for a few metres. Before the track begins to descend, take a staircase on the left heading south-west. Walk down the marked path 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, then head down to the right onto a path bordered by a wall on the left. At the end of the wall, turn left for a few metres, then turn left again, heading east. About a hundred metres past a circular stone bench, you’ll reach the Carabelle Gigi. Continue through the woods, following the low wall on your left, until you reach a low wall directly in front of you. Head down to the right, following it. After about a hundred metres, turn left. You’ll arrive at a large Carabelle Mireille. Head down a small path towards the south.

(2) When you reach the Chemin de la Marbrière, take it to the right. As you pass, discover the Carabelle Sylvie.
Head to the ‘Frog’ crossroads. To see the Carabelle l’Aronde, go behind the large boulder 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 this path climbs, look to the right and cross past the Blue Cross to see the Carabelle Siméon.
Retrace your steps. Climb the marked path. You’ll come to a track; take it to the left for a few metres.

(3) After a low wall, climb a steep slope to the right. Following the markings (several changes of direction), you’ll pass the Carabelles Hortense and Solstice; in the undergrowth on the left, you’ll find Florentine.
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 head down to the left after the Ant, towards the Dable crossing.
You’ll reach a track; take it to the left, heading uphill. To see the Carabelle Lucie, turn left onto thefirst track you come to, passing the Blue Cross. After 20 m, turn right onto the unmarked path that climbs behind the low wall. Walk round Lucie and continue along the narrow path to Arlette. Head back down to the track and turn left onto it. When the track finishes climbing, turn right towards the Carabelle Micocoulier.

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

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,319 ft
  2. 1 : mi 0.36 - alt. 1,217 ft - Carabelle Nadine
  3. 2 : mi 0.63 - alt. 1,093 ft - Chemin de la Marbrière
  4. 3 : mi 0.97 - alt. 1,220 ft - Florentine Carabelle
  5. 4 : mi 1.09 - alt. 1,168 ft - Traverse Dable
  6. 5 : mi 1.45 - alt. 1,234 ft - Carabelle Micocoulier
  7. S/E : mi 1.62 - alt. 1,316 ft

Notes

Access to the start car park:
- from Faugères, turn right onto the D909 and follow it until the junction with the small road on the right signposted Moulins de Faugères,
- coming from Bédarieux, turn round at the Maison Vilavigne to return to the Route des Moulins.
On this road, pass the first track on the right (water tank), then take the next track on the right, signposted ‘Flèche Rouge’ (red arrow) to the water tank.
Partly shaded walk. Stony paths, ascents and descents of moderate difficulty. Sturdy footwear, cap, hat, sun cream. The route can be extended with a visit to 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 onto the low walls or carabelles, 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 m offering a beautiful view, no shade and marked with a dotted blue line: continue along the track which forms a wide circular path. On the right is the Carabelle Résine. When the track has almost finished its climb, turn right onto the path marked by a small cairn to reach La Fourmi, then take the Dable traverse 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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