Argelliers walks

Vailhauquès, surrounded by its ruins, is an iconic place where the village, marked by its past and looking towards its future, proudly embraces its history. Discover unusual and surprising places, notably its dolmens on a north-west dial, which will spark the curiosity of history buffs.

A getaway to discover unusual places, notably the Rocher de Pampelune and its oppidum, as well as the Dolmen A at Mas Reynard. These iconic sites transport us to a distant past, allowing us to discover them. Some effort will be required to reach them, involving crossing paths, trails, streams, passages through undergrowth and coppice, and a few technical sections suitable for all. There are plenty of surprises in store for those who take the time to explore.

Reach the banks of the Hérault from Puéchabon. There are various routes, but not from this village with its hidden mysteries. The area you will be crossing will surprise the novice. Discover the flora and fauna, which has many surprises in store. Swimming is possible on the Hérault river. Everyone will be enlightened in their own way and will take away memories that may reinforce their choices and visions. Nature offers many surprises for those who are willing to linger.

Hiking on tracks and trails. This outing, sometimes in the undergrowth, sometimes under the pines, does not present any particular difficulty for occasional hikers. In good weather, there are beautiful views from Puech Bartelié or over the Séranne.

A pleasant route on trails that are rarely used in winter: a blue lake at the bottom of an old red bauxite quarry, a hermitage lost in the heart of the forest and a panoramic view from the top of the Puech Bartelié antenna.

Part of the hike is unmarked, following an old railway line and then tracks or paths. The return journey takes you through beautiful wild valleys, along a dry stream. Technically, the hike is not difficult. However, given the multitude of crossroads, a GPS is essential. Not recommended for novice hikers.

(Warning) Part of the route is closed by municipal order. See comments posted on 15 February and 12 May 2025. From the Montcalmès plateau, near Puéchabon, you can see the exit of the Hérault gorges with a breathtaking view of the legendary village of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. This small plateau, once grazed by sheep, is home to some beautiful sheepfolds, some of which have been abandoned. Below, the Saint-Sylvestre-des Brousses chapel is worth a visit, as is the famous Pont du Diable (Devil's Bridge).

From the Roussières departmental estate to the prehistoric village of Cambous, this route takes you on a journey of discovery through Neolithic sites (tombs, dolmens, village) and the Termenou fountain, following ancient drovers' roads (paths used by sheep during transhumance). Crossing varied landscapes, ridges, undergrowth and meadows where asphodels abound in April, this hike also offers magnificent panoramic views of the Pic Saint-Loup, the Hortus and the Cévennes. This hike may be closed depending on the fire risk. Remember to check the map.

From Champ de la Croix, at the start of the DFCI track, explore the foothills of Saint-Paul-et-Valmalle. An inspiring and surprising outing thanks to the places you’ll visit. Cross the Bois de Mascla and the Boscas ridges. Head to the Croix de la Gardie. Discover the ruins of the Tour d’Arthus. Wade across the Ruisseau du Coulazou. Walk along the old railway line. This leaves a lasting impression and immerses us in memories of times gone by.

Starting from the Argileum Museum in Saint-Jean-de-Fos, this walk follows the mountain paths overlooking the Hérault valley. The gradual ascent allows you to discover the typical landscapes of the Mediterranean heath, amongst holm oaks and pines, with unobstructed views of the surrounding hills. The route then reaches the Castellas de Montpeyroux, an ancient hilltop fortified site offering a remarkable panorama of the valley, the vineyards and the foothills of the Larzac. After this stop, the route continues in a circular fashion along other heath trails, passing by thousand-year-old olive trees before descending gently back towards Saint-Jean-de-Fos.

The Infernet cirque in all its splendour, with many viewpoints and many climbs too. Following a fire on 5 April 2023 on the heights of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Saint-Jean-de-Fos, the route remains passable but the Fenestrettes PR® is affected, as is the Arles route (GR®653). Please check with the Saint-Guilhem – Vallée de l'Hérault Tourist Office for information on the passability of the route.

Le Mas Dieu, situated in the centre of this small heath, was a stop on the Way of St James but also on the salt-traders’ route, who transported salt from Frontignan or Villeneuve-lès-Maguelonne towards Auvergne. With the decline of these two activities, by the end of the 19th century it was nothing more than a sheepfold, although the Montpellier–Lodève railway line ran through it. Having become a hunting lodge for local hunters in the 20th century, it nearly disappeared in 1991 when Montpellier considered converting it into a final waste disposal site. After numerous projects to save it, a complex of buildings fitted with rooftop solar panels was constructed there. Unfortunately, there is no road infrastructure connecting it to the motorway or the railway; only the ballast remains. It is also possible to start from the car park of the former Saint-Paul-et-Valmalle wine cooperative, following the old railway line to crossing point number 3.

Mythical rocks, shaped over centuries by nature. Today, with a little effort of course, we can see these places steeped in history. The inhabitants are no longer here, but let us cherish a personal memory as we pass through the hamlet of L’Estagnol and the Mas d’Agre, whilst soaking up the atmosphere of days gone by; cross the Estagnol de Lacan plain and the Pont d’Agre, go round the Roc de la Jarre and the Mas de l’Arbousier, then head back down via Combe de Légeaux and part of Combe Malafosse.

A wooded climb along a path, which gets a bit steep towards the end, through a thicket of oaks and arbutus trees, towards the Mas de l’Estagnol. Cross the Combe Malafosse then climb towards the Mas de l’Arboussier.A short detour along the slope of the Combe de la Blande to visit the Baume Cellier, then back towards the Mas de l’Arboussier to reach the Baume de l’Olivier and its neighbour, the Baume Charlotte, with a brief detour to the Aven des Trois Trous. The return journey is via the Combe Malafosse.

This hike, which mainly follows shaded paths through the Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert National Forest, will allow you to discover magnificent landscapes over the Hérault Valley on the way there and beautiful panoramas of the Séranne Massif on the way back.

This trek works its way up from the Hérault valley to Roc de la Vigne. Leaving the village, off the beaten tracks, you'll explore Forêt Domaniale de Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert on cobblestone roads. Along the way, the remains of old farms, caves, a semi-troglodyte retreat and a breath-taking view from the top of Roc de la Vigne.

Starting from this beautiful route, you will discover the surprising Source de l'Avy along the banks of the Mosson. You will then reach the panoramic viewpoint of the Croix de Guillery. After crossing the old agricultural and wine-growing plain, the circuit will take you along the path once used by salt caravans to the top of the partially wooded rocky plateaus, where you can admire beautiful panoramic views of the Pic Saint-Loup and the surrounding mountains.

The route consists of two circular paths of roughly the same distance. You can start on the east or west side, as you can leave your picnic in the cars if you do one circular path before midday.

This leisurely stroll offers superb views of the village and the Montpellier area, the sea, the city and the hinterland (Pic Saint-Loup).

A hike north of Montpellier through vineyards and fig trees, enhanced by a visit to Vignogoul Abbey.

A wild and extremely demanding alpine route to the summit of Pic Saint-Loup. This route via the West Ridge is intended exclusively for experienced hikers. Warning: those prone to vertigo must absolutely refrain from attempting this. A complete lack of markings, numerous rock-climbing sections on vertical faces and significant exposure to the void characterise this ascent. The return is via the normal route.