Around Montalba-le-Château

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A short walk around Montalba-le-Château to enjoy the diversity of the landscapes.

Details

n°3188761
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 50 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 46 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 487 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 428 m
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Photos

Almond trees against the backdrop of Canigou
A beautiful panorama
Montalba le Château
View of Canigou and horses

Description of the walk

Car park located below Montalba-le-Château castle

(S/E) Head downhill towards the west. At the stadium, continue along the tarmac road and pass three houses, one of which is marked "Le Roc".

(1) At the first vineyard, turn left onto the sandy track until you reach the road.

(2) Turn right for about 100 metres, then take the track that turns sharply left. Stay on this same track, which winds between the holm oaks with Canigou on your right and a view of the village on your left. Join a tarmac road and turn right (elevation 446). This tarmac road becomes a sandy track, which you follow until you reach a fork at the llama enclosure.

(3) Turn left along the enclosure and you will reach a junction with a wider track.

(4) Turn left and follow it to the next crossroads.

(5) Facing the sea, turn left: the village is in sight.
Take the opportunity to stroll through the narrow streets of the village around the castle.

(S/E) Car park located below Montalba-le-Château castle.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 471 m - Car park located below the - Château de Montalba-le-Château
  2. 1 : km 1.09 - alt. 475 m - On the left at the vineyard
  3. 2 : km 1.58 - alt. 477 m - Turn right onto the road.
  4. 3 : km 3.08 - alt. 438 m - Turn left along the enclosure.
  5. 4 : km 3.47 - alt. 428 m - Turn left onto track F 86.
  6. 5 : km 3.9 - alt. 431 m - On the left, the village comes into view.
  7. S/E : km 5.43 - alt. 475 m - Car park located below the castle.

Notes

A short walk that is particularly enjoyable in spring when the broom, thyme and lavender are in bloom, or in February-March when the almond trees are in bloom and the Canigou is snow-capped against a blue sky.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 17 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 28182582

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike on a sunny day.

BUT BEWARE, the path takes you past an unfenced property with two Kengal guard dogs that came running towards us, looking like they wanted to attack... If we hadn't had a big branch lying nearby to defend ourselves with, one of the dogs would have managed to jump on my partner. It was very scary... We only managed to escape them after five very long minutes when the owner called the dogs away...

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Laurent Lapedra
Laurent Lapedra

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with beautiful views

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arbonel
arbonel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

We hiked through the scrubland and its fragrances in the late afternoon. This was a very welcome break after a six-hour bus journey before arriving in Sourniap.

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Nat'Halie
Nat'Halie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 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 with Canigou as a backdrop.
Best avoided in hot weather, as there is very little shade along most of the route.
A very flowery walk this spring, very pleasant!

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franc66300
franc66300
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side, so we didn't get a view of Canigou, but the walk was still enjoyable and very accessible for younger children.

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Michèle KRUST
Michèle KRUST
• Edited:

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

We chose this hike because it was a short, easy walk for a Sunday afternoon, but the map was inaccurate and we had to turn back because we couldn't find the trail. What's more, the start of the route says to head towards the stadium, but there is no stadium in Montalba le Château, just a grassy field with a few playground equipment for children.

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Okapijov
Okapijov

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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bordas
bordas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant and well-marked hike
to be done outside of summer as there is little shade

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Jean TOULOUSE
Jean TOULOUSE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy your peaceful stroll

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gibirando
gibirando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, A pleasant little route that suited my wife and me as we were recovering from minor health issues. What's more, the weather was fine, which is one of the main attractions of this walk: enjoying the beautiful views, particularly the one towards the wonderful snow-capped Canigou. We had a picnic facing it and it was a real pleasure. Within reach of most people.

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300Blover
300Blover

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike offering beautiful views of Canigou and heath. Very pleasant!

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LN66
LN66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike with the scents of the heath and the Canigou in the background. No difficulties given the gentle terrain. We did it as a family with our 3-year-old little hiker.

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natur66
natur66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy short hike

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brunet540
brunet540

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and Canigou was hidden from view. A nice little walk, useful for getting back into shape when you haven't exercised for a long time. We'll do it again in the spring.

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ThiFi
ThiFi

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 : No

A beautiful, well-described and easy hike for getting back into it

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