Circular of Castelnau-de-Lévis

This pleasant short walk will introduce you to the old village of Castelnau, its tower, its church and other elements of its architectural heritage. You will also discover the ridges among the vineyards, which offer panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and the city of Albi.

Details

882087
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.29 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 173 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 169 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 273 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 163 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the car park below the town hall.

(S/E) When you leave the car park, turn left. Cross the street and take the road that goes up to your left. Walk along the cemetery and continue straight ahead. At the three-way junction, turn right.

(1) At the hairpin bend to the right, leave the road and take the small grassy path on the left that passes between two houses. Go downhill and cross the stream, then go back uphill to a small road. Follow this road to the left for about a hundred metres.

(2) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. At the fork in France, continue to the right.

(3) At the Saint-Marty crossroads, keep left and continue straight ahead on the road, ignoring the paths on the right or left.

(4) At Fonfrège, continue along a path and keep going uphill. After a hairpin bend to the right, ignore a turn-off on the right and continue to a road. Follow the road to the right and, at the fork immediately ahead, turn right.

(5) Before a left-hand bend, leave the road and take the dirt track on the right overlooking the valley. Continue along the ridge for 1.3 km, heading south-east (beautiful views).

(6) When you reach an electricity pylon, descend to the right to rejoin the road. Follow the road to the right and turn left with it.

(7) Before a right turn, leave the road and take the dirt track on the left. Go downhill, cross the stream and go back uphill. At the junction with a road, turn right towards the castle.

(8) At the crossroads, after the village sign, take the dirt track on the right and pass below the castle. Back on the road, turn right to quickly reach the crossroads of the circular route.

(1) Follow the outward route in reverse to the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 166 m - Car park under the town hall
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 191 m - Hairpin bend - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 190 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 1.5 - alt. 208 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 2.69 - alt. 220 m - Fonfrège
  6. 5 : km 3.82 - alt. 268 m - On the right, take the dirt track
  7. 6 : km 5.13 - alt. 231 m - Electric pylon
  8. 7 : km 5.53 - alt. 221 m - Crossroads
  9. 8 : km 6.62 - alt. 200 m - On the right below the castle
  10. S/E : km 7.29 - alt. 166 m - Car park under the town hall

Notes

Toilets and water point next to the town hall.

Worth a visit

A visit to the Castelnau tower and the castle ruins is a must.
Don't leave without taking a tour of this pretty village and Saint-Barthélémy Church.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
lascazes
lascazes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular to do in dry weather. Beautiful views, especially on the way back to Castelnau De Lévis. No particular difficulties.

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Fred00005
Fred00005

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with magnificent views.
We highly recommend it.

It took us 1½ hours (instead of the advertised 2 hours 25 minutes!), even though we are only "weekend" hikers! We only go on about one hike per month, and only when the weather is good...
The other people we met were walking at roughly the same pace as us. So I don't think the time estimate is really accurate.

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bernardmercier
bernardmercier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A detour to the castle is recommended

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LoloFred
LoloFred

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views along the ridge path and from the Castelnau Tower, a must-see. Lots of detailed information on this well-explained website. I recommend it.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Not really enthusiastic. In any case, don't do it in winter, it's dreary and very muddy.

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diogo martine
diogo martine

Very good!!!!!

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mariegiraud
mariegiraud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

not a very busy route, but with a few individual hikers. A very pleasant route, much appreciated by the 18 people in our group. Confirmation that it should only be done when it has not rained for at least 8 days, plus the problems of slippery ground and a difficult stream to cross, unlike what I experienced when I scouted the route.

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mystic12
mystic12

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike

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ericvial
ericvial

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely way to explore the village surroundings

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michel canoe
michel canoe

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Do not do this after rain or in wet weather, as the ground is slippery and very sticky

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durand jacques
durand jacques

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

easy hike with beautiful views, but the path is quite muddy after the stream at this time of year

the tower and castle are worth a visit

thank you

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patl64
patl64

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Good evening,
An easy route through the countryside, with no particular difficulties. Nice views of the Albi countryside and the town of Albi.
Thank you.

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boutalbi81
boutalbi81

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

After scouting it out, we will do it again with a group of more than 30 hikers. Beautiful panoramic views, but be careful when passing under the pylon after rain. Very slippery

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annemarie1945
annemarie1945

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful hike, beautiful views, watch out for slippery descent under the pylon

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no club
no club

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

From description no. 7, "Descend towards the stream and climb back up", do not do this in rainy weather as it is very slippery on clay soil. It is almost dangerous, even with Nordic walking poles. Take the road instead.

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