Between vineyards and forests, a thousand-year-old juniper tree around Castelnau-Valence

Start: Departure from Place de la Mairie in Castelnau-Valence.

(S/E) Leave the village on Chemin du Château, then turn left onto Chemin des Amandiers, then straight ahead on Chemin du Clos Dou Fan until you reach a crossroads.

(1) At the crossroads with Chemin du Puech de Berthier, signposted "Lebratier", go straight on for ten meters, then turn left onto the grassy path which enters a lovely holm oak wood. Follow the main path to a magnificent wind turbine.

(2) At the wind turbine, cross carefully the road to Saint Dézery (D120) and follow the stony path opposite, which first runs alongside a wall and then vineyards. After a slight climb, it comes out onto a forest track. Turn left for about 20 m and cross a road.

(3) Follow the forestry path to the D186, which you follow for 50 m cautiously to the right, before taking the stony track which leads off to the left before a vineyard.

(4) Follow this path alongside a wood, then through the vineyards, before descending to the Font Bouillant path, which you cross at an angle to the right.

::5: Continue towards "le Pié" and turn left at right-angles before a vineyard onto a path that leads you through the vines to the junction with Chemin de Passereille. Ignore the departures on each side.

(6) Turn left for 20 m, then immediately take the small track downhill on the right. About 200 m before a brick shed, take the path (a little hidden) which climbs to the left. Follow it until it returns to the tarmac road, and continue along this. At a T-junction, turn right, then left after about 100 m towards La Clastre.

(7) Ignore the Mas du Clastre on your left and follow the tarmac road to the right for about 200 m, then turn left towards the hamlet of Les Mazes. Climb the track to the left of the hamlet and continue straight ahead through the forest. Shortly after crossing another path, a slight descent takes you to the "Cade Millénaire".

(8) Continue for 100 m to a tarmac track that runs alongside the Château de Castelnau wall. Turn left to join the D186, which we follow with caution for around 300 m.

(9) At a crossroads, take the unsurfaced track that leaves the D186 on the right, and follow it in the direction of Mas de Quet, which you ignore on the left before rejoining the fork in the road.

(1) Turn left and return to the starting point, Place de la Mairie. (S/E)

Start: Departure from Place de la Mairie in Castelnau-Valence.

Cade is a juniper that is said to be a thousand years old. Nearly 13 m high and 5 m in circumference, it was awarded the "Remarkable Tree of France" label in 2015.
The Château de Castelnau (12th and 13th centuries), which can be seen at various points during the hike, is not open to visitors. However, it can be approached between points (7) and (8) of the hike, and a special itinerary leads to it from the village of Valence.