Avène walks

Avène is not just a cosmetics brand; it is also a thriving spa village in the upper cantons of the Hérault. Influenced by both the ocean and the Mediterranean, the Monts-d’Orb present striking contrasts from one slope to the other. From the Orb valley to the dry Rieussec valley via Peyreguille, the route—lovely and wooded, and therefore often shaded—alternates between south- and north-facing slopes. No fewer than six passes and four valleys are strung together in this way. Added to this is a well-preserved heritage (mill, Saint-André Chapel, etc.).

Here is a brief overview of the Avène Reservoir, starting from Ceilhes-et-Rocozels, first climbing up Mont Redon, south of the village. After the Rouvignac chapel and lodges, the route approaches the left bank of the Orb, which feeds the Bouloc lake, developed for outdoor leisure activities (water sports, camping).

This circuit is very elegant and very sporty, going around the valley formed by the Provères stream. For most of the route, you will enjoy distant views in almost every direction. At the end of the route, the gorges formed by the Bouissescure stream are very wild and have exuberant vegetation.

In a remote and uncrowded area, you will pass through valleys and ridges in the heart of the Monts-d'Orb national forest, renowned for its plantations of Laricio pines native to Corsica.

A beautiful walk through a former mining site, among chestnut trees and terraced vineyards, overlooking a magnificent landscape.

Walk around the former mining site of Camplong, where you will find the Durand Pit headframe and, at the top of the hill, in the middle of a chestnut forest, the restored 12th-century Saint-Sauveur Chapel, which overlooks Camplong, Saint-Étienne-d'Estréchoux and Graissessac. The circular dry stone wall a few dozen metres from the sanctuary is an old cemetery.

This hike starts in Roqueredonde and takes you to the Orb river and the Tibetan Buddhist temple Lerab Ling, where you can take a short meditation break. The route then enters the Escandorgue National Forest, where the charm of the forest paths contrasts with the chaotic dolomitic landscape of the Causse. Finally, the route follows ancient paths worn by passing flocks of sheep.

A very pretty, unmarked hike, taking paths and trails that sometimes run along the hillside and reveal varied landscapes, including the remains of mining activity, in the hinterland of western Hérault. There are a series of ascents and descents, but they do not require significant physical effort. It is a complete change of scenery for hikers looking for diversity.

A lovely walk through vineyards and holm oak woods.

A walk through the hills above the medieval village of Boussagues, amongst the vineyards and ancient terraced fields, which can be extended with a visit to the village.

From Col de la Baraque to Chapelle de Saint-Amans via the ridges, then to Chapelle de Notre-Dame-de-Nize via a chestnut grove.

This hike forms a loop with a 360° view at the highest point, offering a magnificent panorama of the sea, the Carroux plateau and all the mountains to the north and east of this remarkable dome: Mont Marcou. The climb is quite demanding with steep slopes where you sometimes have to use your hands to climb rocky passages. The descent also has some fairly steep sections. This hike may therefore be difficult for some. However, the first 45 minutes allow you to warm up before tackling the tough climb to the antennas. A beautiful route.

This hike in the Roc d'Orque massif takes place largely on the south side, which is pleasant at this time of year. It is a beautiful route at the foot of high limestone cliffs, passing close to a large waterfall at the foot of one of them. A resurgence causes the water that has passed through the mountain from the catchment area formed by the plateau above the cliffs to gush out. It's a sight worth seeing. See Practical Information.

This route is notable for having two climbs, the second of which comes after more than half the route has already been covered, making it harder to tackle. The paths are often of the ‘Caroux’ type, i.e. very stony, but there are still sections of well-surfaced paths as well as tracks. At the top of the Serre de More, a large section has been ravaged by fire, but this in no way detracts from the landscape and the magnificent 360° view.

Starting from the Andabre sports complex, opposite the cemetery, this is a lovely walk in a corner of the Hérault that once lived off coal mining. Although mining ceased in the early 1990s, it has left a lasting impression on the local community. This walk gives you an insight into another type of activity, still practised today, namely agriculture, specifically chestnut farming.

This route passes through the ridges of the Serre de More, which overlooks the Mare and Casselouvre valleys. It crosses the Portail de Roquandouire, a surprising natural gateway.

A short family hike in the upper Dourdou valley, in southern Aveyron, where water meets stone and the slopes are stony. But above all, it is the village of Brusque, from ‘bruscas’ (heather), crowned by the ruins of its9th-century castle on its rocky outcrop, with its winding alleyways.

This hike above Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare will take you up to higher ground in the first half, where you can admire a magnificent panorama. From the Pétète d'en Cabausse, above the Col des Treize Vents, or from the Mouscaillou, you can enjoy a 360° view: the Vissou, the Languedoc plain and the Mediterranean to the south; Serre de More, the Orques cliffs and Marcou to the north. Then it's time to descend through a chestnut grove where, from autumn onwards, the streams that dried up during the summer begin to sing again.

A superb circular route, climbing up to the Plo des Brus plateau via the Saint-Eutrope ridge, before descending via the Roquandouire Gate. Start at the foot of the Mare, the river that runs through Andabre. Head towards the Notre-Dame de Saint Eutrope chapel, then climb the ridge of the same name towards the plateau. Descend via the Serre de Majous to the Portail de Roquandouire, to reach the village of Andabre in the middle of the broom bushes. There are few markings in the middle of the hike => follow the GPX track carefully.

This large circular route will first take you to the Croix de Marcou, where you can enjoy a sublime view at an altitude of over 1,000 m. You will then set off again to climb up to the Portail de Roquandouire on the opposite slope. The return via Serre de More will allow you to discover the rugged landscape typical of the Caroux. This hike is reserved for experienced walkers who enjoy climbing.

South of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare and on the northern part of Caroux, in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park, this route follows ancient paths through chestnut groves and coppice woods.

The hike combines sections of well-known routes (Haute Vallée de la Lergue, Corniches de Lauroux, Forêt de l'Escandorgue) with unmarked paths. A GPS is highly recommended. In clear weather, the views are superb, overlooking the Cirque de Labeil. There is a wide variety of landscapes and environments.

A lovely walk through rolling countryside, among vineyards and cherry trees, accessible to most people.

A beautiful walk, without major difficulty and well marked, that takes you through scrubland and forests, cliffs and limestone plateaus.

A superb circular route starting from Castanet-le-Haut: can be done in one day or over two days with a stopover at the bivouac in Caissenols-le-Haut. Ascent to the Plo des Brus plateau via the Razigade ridge, passing through the Col de l'Ourtigas, then descent to the abandoned hamlet of Caissenols-le-Haut. Continue towards the Roquandouire gate, heading towards Saint-Gervais along the ridge, before joining the GRP® de la Mare trail and following it upstream along the river towards Andabre and then Castanet-le-Haut.

Through a coniferous forest, we discover the Russian Orthodox Chapel nestled in the heart of the woods, in an idyllic green setting. Time to pause and meditate on this magical place. Superb views. The trail is mainly woodland, which is pleasant in hot weather.

A beautiful hike with 360° views on very good paths. The ridge section is exposed to the wind.

Located on the south-western slope of the Larzac Plateau at an altitude of 530 m, the village of Saint-Beaulize is dominated by a cirque formed by high limestone cliffs (reaching 860 m) commonly known as molaires.

This hike takes you from Brenas to the Saint-Amans Chapel via a fairly easy and varied route.

A memorial to all the writers who fought in the two world wars. The war cross carved with stars by the paths lined on either side with steles bearing the names of writers who fought during those periods. An iconic forest site that immerses us in a haven of greenery and peace. It is also a good idea to visit the top of the Colombières gorges and its climbing spots to get a perspective of the surrounding environment.

The route can be described as moderately difficult. After a short warm-up stretch through the Forêt des Écrivains Combattants to a megalithic tomb, then crossing the hamlet of Madale, this circular route continues around the Serre de la Cabrière via a track that turns into a balcony path offering beautiful views of the Madale and Colombières Gorges and the Moulin de la Fage.

This trail in the Forêt Domaniale des Écrivains Combattants allows you to discover megalithic tombs.

A lovely circular route starting from the hamlet of Rosis, which circles the mountain of the same name, featuring a wide variety of trails, alternating between ledges and viewpoints, gorges and torrents, and passing successively through the cols d’Aussière and de Vente-Vieille, the Mouscaillou ridge, the Serre d’Esparic, the Caramaus ridge, and the gorges of Aussières and Casselouvre. All this whilst passing through the pretty stone-built hamlets of Rosis and Cours-le-Haut.

A lovely circular route starting from the Col de l'Ourtigas, with the Plo des Brus viewpoint and belvedere, the descent from the Serre de Majous, the Portail de Roquandouire pass, the return via the Casseloubre valley, the abandoned village of Caïssenols and the climb back up to the Ourtigas via the stream of the same name in the forest.

On the second day, you can return to Colombières sur Orb from the summit of Espinouse via the Héric gorges.

A very beautiful spring walk (May, if possible) to enjoy the flowers on the Causse, but it is best to avoid days that are too hot. Beautiful green landscapes. The paths are varied, sometimes through woodland, sometimes open. The elevation gain does not seem significant but is spread over two or three steep sections, with the rest following the contour lines more or less.

Halfway up the Caroux Plateau. Please note: this hike is for fairly experienced walkers, but offers spectacular views.

This hike will allow you to discover different aspects of the Caroux area: fields of heather, the Bosc de Madale forest and the more mineral landscape of the Colombières gorges with magnificent views of the Caroux walls. During this circular route, you will see several vestiges of past human activity: the old Delbourg quarries, before reaching the sécadou (where chestnuts were once dried).

This is the first circuit in a "pentalogy" of routes along the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very mineral environment consisting of ledges and ridges. The loop starts from the hamlet of La Fage and follows the upper part of the Colombières Gorges, before heading horizontally below the Caroux plateau, at the foot of the climbing cliffs. The climb back up to the plateau is near the orientation table, before returning via the south-eastern edge of the plateau.

The Caroux is a mountain range with steep slopes and significant elevation changes. The plateau is dotted with purple heather and peat bogs. It overlooks the Orb valley and the Colombières, Héric and Bardou gorges. The 360° panorama stretches from the Montagne de l'Espinouse to the Pyrenees with the Gulf of Lion in the background. This is the most beautiful stage of this itinerary due to its location in the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park.

Having found traces of this local road No. 13 on the 1827 land registry, I went in search of it. It starts at La Lieude and climbs up through the Las Moles valley. This hike is reserved for experienced hikers who are familiar with the terrain and enjoy getting off the beaten track. The path is not always easy to follow in the ruffes (red earth). Return via Mas Bousquet and Mas Valos le Vieux and Valos le Bas. No markings - GPS very useful.

Walk on the Caroux plateau, which offers magnificent views of the Orb valley, the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees.

This hike takes you across the Caroux plateau, from the Gorges d'Héric to the Gorges de Colombières, overlooking the area of small mountains south of the Balcon du Caroux towards the sea. On a clear day, this hike offers impressive views as far as the Pyrénées Orientales mountain range, from Cap Béar to Pic du Carlit via the Albères and Pic du Canigou.

A snowshoe hike on the Caroux plateau, which is not often possible. Of course, you need to have your own snowshoes, as it is almost impossible to hire them on the way there. But it was very pleasant to be able to walk with snowshoes on that day. The slight incline allows people who are not used to this activity to discover the pleasure of hiking in the snow in areas that are, in part, untouched. GPX track required in some places.

A very beautiful, wild and difficult hike for experienced hikers in the Caroux, the mountain of light. Avoid on rainy days or if it has rained in the previous days. See the Practical Information section before setting out on this hike.

A circular bucolic route through the hills surrounding Douch: La Tourelle, La Combe d'Estrets, La Rousselle, and above all Roc Laurès, offering a view of the surrounding mountains from a height of over 1,000 metres. Be careful, however, as there are no markings, so you have to follow the directions and the GPX track, which gives this route a bit of a fun/orienteering feel, without any major risk of getting lost for too long.

This very pleasant loop allows you to discover the work of our ancestors who, in order to communicate, cultivate and live, had created paths that hikers are now delighted to walk along. For our ancestors, sustainable development had not yet been imagined, they had simply created it. They were all a bit like Monsieur Jourdain.

This is the third day of the Haut Languedoc journey, which will allow you to discover the Carroux plateau, deliberately abandoned by man. Landscapes as far as the eye can see in characteristic purple heather. Looking at the route on the map, it is possible to shorten or adjust the hike, but a good sense of direction is essential.

A variation on the classic Caroux plateau hike, allowing you to discover the diversity of the Haut Languedoc's flora and fauna at an altitude of 1,000 metres: deciduous and coniferous forests, streams, peat bogs, and heathland covered in broom and heather. You can also take advantage of an orientation table and sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. During the second part of the hike, you will discover the mineral world of the north and west faces of the plateau, which are wilder and less frequented, near Roc Caroux and the mouflon populations.

Access from the village of Douch to the plateau and Roc du Caroux, then a semi-climbing route and balconies around Roc de la Siejo, to go around the peaks and enjoy a 360° view of the Héric Gorges below. Return via the plateau to the village. ⚠️ Poor mobile phone reception in the rocks of the peaks. The circuit is challenging, so make sure you tell your loved ones about your route.

A bucolic circuit starting from Douch, passing through the Col de l'Airole and Col du Tirondel, offering beautiful views of the Gorges d'Héric and Gorges du Salis, and stunning panoramas of the hamlet and surrounding mountains (Roc Noir, Espinouse).

This iconic hike on the Caroux plateau allows you to discover the diversity of the Haut Languedoc's flora and fauna at an altitude of 1,000 m: deciduous and coniferous forests, streams, peat bogs, orientation table, and heathland covered with broom and heather. You will enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

This is the second day of the Haut Languedoc trip.Loop hike around the Montagne d'Aret.Depending on how much time you have, the hike can be shortened from (1) directly to (4). Updated by the author on 10 June 2025, as the OFB reports that after (6) it is a Caroux-Espinouse hunting and wildlife reserve. Unauthorised entry is a 4th class offence punishable by a €135 fine. The route and description have therefore been modified.

In a varied landscape of rocks, broom, old farms and ruined hamlets. A discovery on the plateau: mouflon traps (not for hunting, but for monitoring populations).