Circular starting from Les Matelles

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This walk takes you through the pretty village of Les Matelles and past two Romanesque bridges. It winds its way through vineyards and pine forests.
Best avoided in summer.

Details

n°41900538
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.23 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 87 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 87 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 135 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 82 m
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Photos

Pont d'Yorgues
View of the village

Description of the walk

Park in the car park behind the Matelles pharmacy.

(S/E) Go to the roundabout and head towards the centre of Les Matelles, signposted Mairie. When you reach Route de Montpellier, turn right and cross the bridge. Cross the road and visit the old village via the Porte du Pont Levis. Stroll through the pretty narrow streets until you reach the bottom of the Rampe de la Palissade.

(1) Follow thePR® andGRP® markings on the left, which is the tarmac road of Chemin de Tabar. When you reach a crossroads with several directions, leave the road and continue left on the GRP®. A few steps further on, you will reach the crossroads of the trails.

(2) Turn right, following the signs for theGRP® Tours dans le Grand Pic Saint-Loup. Walk gently to reach a crossroads with several directions.

(3) Leave theGRP® and take a road on the right (south-east). You will reach the Mouillères buildings.

(4) Turn slightly right and then quickly left, opposite the entrance to the buildings, and walk alongside the vineyards. Continue until you reach the D17E3.

(5) Take the Chemin de la Dairy Farm opposite, being careful not to take the path on the right which leads to private property. Continue along the Chemin de la Dairy Farm, walk alongside a vineyard, then at the end, you will reach a perpendicular path.

(6) Turn right, pass the fork towards Mas du Haut Lirou and continue between the vineyards until you reach the junction with a straight path.

(7) Turn right and follow the Le Lirou stream to reach the Romanesque bridge of Deux Serres.

(8) Cross the bridge, walking over its arches. Reach the road and take the well-marked path opposite, which climbs uphill. Follow the ridge line, enjoying some beautiful views of the plains. Pass the ruins of the Tour de Vias tower on your left. Pass a slightly deforested area to find a small path leading downhill.

(9) Take it on the right at the first crossroads, then turn left along the contour line and then right until you reach a clear path.

(10) Turn right. The path curves to the left and continues between fields. You will come to a ford on the Roucayrol stream.

(11) Cross the ford, continue through the housing estates, then take Chemin des Moulières to return to the car park behind the Matelles pharmacy (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 105 m - Les Matelles pharmacy car park
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 102 m - Rampe de la Palissade
  3. 2 : km 1.33 - alt. 128 m - GRP crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.93 - alt. 116 m - End of GRP
  5. 4 : km 3.52 - alt. 102 m - Les Mouillères
  6. 5 : km 4.1 - alt. 90 m - Pont d'Yorgue
  7. 6 : km 4.88 - alt. 82 m - T-junction
  8. 7 : km 5.74 - alt. 82 m - Straight path
  9. 8 : km 6.45 - alt. 83 m - Pont des Deux Serres
  10. 9 : km 7.62 - alt. 126 m - Downhill path - Tour de Vias
  11. 10 : km 8 - alt. 104 m - Vineyards
  12. 11 : km 8.52 - alt. 93 m - Ford
  13. S/E : km 9.23 - alt. 105 m - Les Matelles pharmacy car park - Église Sainte-Marie (Les Matelles)

Worth a visit

(5) Pont d'Yorgues: before crossing the departmental road, walk onto the bridge to see the ruins of this Romanesque bridge.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
andeler thierry
andeler thierry

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very well

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Glider
Glider

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The path is not marked and requires the use of GPS. Much of it is in open terrain, so avoid it in hot weather!

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Alex2
Alex2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Super hike. I've done it several times with lots of different people and everyone found it beautiful, enjoyable and accessible to all.
The start in the village centre is superb, and the rest of the hike is just as enjoyable. The only slight downside is that the second part of the hike involves a few more sections alongside roads.
But I highly recommend this hike ☺️

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Mijo34
Mijo34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike. A few sections on quiet minor roads between heath and vineyards.

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roselynec
roselynec
• Edited:

A very easy and enjoyable walk.
The appeal of this route, for those of us who have often hiked around Les Matelles, is that it takes us up to the Vias Tower, where we can enjoy a fascinating view of Les Matelles, Notre Dame des Champs and St Jean de Cuculles.
We missed the Yorques bridge at point 5. I suggest that the author include the content of the footnote concerning this bridge in the section on point 5. (In fact, you don't necessarily read the notes during the hike and you realise afterwards that you've missed one of the two Romanesque bridges).

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Pedibusien
Pedibusien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant family route thanks to its surroundings.
Care should be taken when crossing the bridge as the stones can be slippery.
The only drawback on Wednesdays is the presence of hunters on wild boar hunts.

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yvessc
yvessc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2024
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 no difficulties. Varied terrain, including through woods.
Be sure to follow your GPS carefully, as there are no signs indicating the route towards the end.

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CouturierPat
CouturierPat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We thoroughly enjoyed this bucolic hike in the silence of nature. The only sounds were birdsong 🎶.
The double bridge is fairly easy to cross in dry weather but could be slippery in the rain.
There are no particular difficulties in following the route using the GPS on the app.

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Bernard Maugiron
Bernard Maugiron

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A route with a lot of tarmac and two or three straight sections that can be a bit tedious in the sun.

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Veetty
Veetty

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy route through vineyards and wooded areas outside built-up areas. One criticism is the inadequate signposting, especially at the numerous crossroads. Without a GPS, your route map lacks detail.

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jcdauphin
jcdauphin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is interesting, with only one difficulty: crossing the Roman bridge is tricky in wet weather, and the end section has a lot of tarmac.

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Reisman
Reisman
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

If I hadn't had GPS directions, I would have had a lot of trouble finding my way to point 3..4. A little too much tarmac. Very peaceful walk. No traffic noise or other disturbances. You need to be careful, especially with small children, when crossing the old bridge, as the stones are slippery when wet.

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Walking Circuit around the Pic Saint Loup

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↔9.22 km ↗+604 m ↘-592 m ◔6 hrs ▲Very difficult
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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.