Saint-Martin du Canigou Abbey

de fr

A very classic walk to Saint-Martin du Canigou Abbey, an easy route, but very popular.
The route is shaded and very pleasant. It is suitable for vehicles and pushchairs.
The abbey is nestled in a beautiful setting and is well worth a visit.

Details

n°1208275
Creation:
Last update:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 260 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 260 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,062 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 795 m
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Photos

Saint-Martin-du-Canigou Abbey
Saint Martin du Canigou
Saint Martin du Canigou Abbey

Description of the walk

The route is described from the last car park in the village, after the cemetery.

(S/E) Retrace your steps, pass in front of the cemetery and walk about 350m to reach a chapel.

(1) Turn left, along the chapel, onto a narrow road blocked by a barrier.
This regulates access to Saint-Martin du Canigou Abbey and allows authorised 4x4 vehicles to pass.

(2) Continue along this road with its wide hairpin bends until you reach Saint-Martin Chapel, which is not open to visitors.

(3) Continue towards the abbey.

(4) When you arrive, you will see a visitor centre on your left with a shop and lots of information.
The tour of the abbey is very interesting and lasts about an hour.

(5) Don't miss the viewpoint, which offers breathtaking views of the abbey and is a great spot for photos.
Return via the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 802 m - Car park after the cemetery
  2. 1 : km 0.42 - alt. 803 m - Start of the reserved road
  3. 2 : km 0.68 - alt. 842 m - Before the hairpin bends. Passage near the - Cady (rivière)
  4. 3 : km 1.28 - alt. 933 m - Chapel of Saint-Martin le Vieux
  5. 4 : km 1.95 - alt. 1,017 m - Abbey reception
  6. 5 : km 2.23 - alt. 1,062 m - Viewpoint
  7. S/E : km 4.28 - alt. 802 m - Car park after the cemetery

Notes

No shelter on the route, water available at the abbey.

Worth a visit

The old Saint-Martin Chapel is very beautiful, as is the viewpoint located a little above it, which is not to be missed

Saint-Martin du Canigou Abbey

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Fabrice Passat
Fabrice Passat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

great!

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User 3931700

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very beautiful excursion, very moving place

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lisegauvry33@gmail. com
lisegauvry33@gmail. com

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route for active walkers.
Be careful in areas with large boulders.

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MONGE
MONGE
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, well marked. We took the forest trail back, under the trees to avoid the heat, but it is a bit more rugged.

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Mamiso56
Mamiso56

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A magnificent hike, albeit very steep, with unique views and a beautiful chapel at the end. There are benches here and there to rest on between climbs!

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Fatoche
Fatoche

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Indicate that there are benches for resting along the way up.

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Thiech
Thiech
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

You really must take the guided tour of the abbey and visit the two viewpoints, especially the one overlooking the site. The other (which is easy to reach) offers a beautiful view of the valley. You can return via another path through the forest, passing to the left of the abbey. It is well marked except for one spot where we were a little unsure, and it rejoins the starting point of the outward path in the village.

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lallaire
lallaire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a circular route is possible for the return journey by taking the path behind the abbey

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Sylvie Claverie
Sylvie Claverie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful short hike early in the morning to reach Saint Martin du Canigou Abbey in an hour and take the 10 a.m. guided tour (not to be missed, with a fantastic guide who kept us enthralled for an hour and a picture-postcard view of the abbey)
The trail is completely shaded between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Be aware that it was no longer shaded at 12:30pm when we came back down. While it's no problem to be in the sun for the descent, which is relatively quick, it's not the same if you're going up at that time (winding road on tarmac)
As you will have understood, the real appeal of this hike is not the path itself but the beautiful reward of the abbey when you arrive.

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titi670
titi670
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with no difficulty whatsoever. The main attractions are obviously the abbey itself (which we visited, and it's really worth it) and the lovely view at point 4.

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youmbou
youmbou
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a very pleasant walk with no difficulty whatsoever.

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EtienneF38
EtienneF38

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

This "hike" is actually a common access road to Saint-Martin-du-Canigou Abbey and, as such, is well marked and signposted. The route through the forest is of little interest, as it is a concrete path that is sometimes quite steep. The main attractions are obviously the abbey itself, a jewel of Romanesque architecture, and the beautiful view that can be enjoyed after walking for about 15 minutes to overlook the site on its rocky outcrop.

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crayote
crayote

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
A very pleasant short hike with a gem waiting for you at the end!
A brief informative comment about Saint Martin's Chapel would be a useful addition to the information sheet.
Thank you for this user-friendly website.
Kind regards
J.SCHOTT

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Picton79
Picton79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

visit to the abbey €6; Interesting

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