Citou circular loop

Park on the main road through the village (D620), coming from Caunes-Minervois, on the right at the foot of a large stone wall, opposite a bus shelter and just before a group of fountains.

(S/E) Follow the road for about 50 m and take the narrow road that climbs to the right in the opposite direction. After about 20 m, follow the concrete road sloping to the left, then the path to the right that climbs to the ruined castle: yellow marker topped with a green M.

(1) Take the^first path that climbs to the right (marker). This path, which is still marked, climbs steadily to reach a track. Follow it for a few dozen metres.

(2) Turn left onto a vague path that we have marked with cairns as it is not very visible at the start. From here, there will be no more markings until the end. Descend the Requinaut stream valley. The path descends into a small meadow and becomes clearly visible after a hundred metres when you enter the woods. Follow a stream and you will come to a footbridge: on the left is a pretty yellow-painted arched bridge, which you will use on the way back to reach the district road and your car. Cross the footbridge and you will immediately come to a track that climbs uphill. Turn right.

(3) When you see the gate to a private property, take the very good path that climbs to the right. The climb is steady, following the hillside in the same direction until you reach a valley.

(4) A few metres further on, change direction just as the path seems to descend: take a left-hand bend, return to the level of the valley above the previous spot and arrive at a ruined house. The path continues to the right via a bend and continues along the mountainside. The path disappears, so to cross the woods and reach the track above, we have marked the route with numerous cairns, always following roughly the same direction. Join a grassy track .

(5) Turn right until you reach the intersection with another track, this one gravel.

(6) Turn left and continue along the track until you reach a bend to the right. Ignore the track on the right that you come across along the way.

(7) Leave the track at this bend and take a very pretty path along the ridge, marked by huge cairns/towers. The view of the surrounding mountains and the plain to the south is magical and seems to allow you to catch your breath before re-entering the forest. On a clear day, you can see the Pyrenees mountain range: Canigou, Madres, Carlit, etc. The descent begins after the highest cairn and, after a few metres, enters the forest.

(8) Turn left, leaving the path leading to the antenna opposite, and continue downhill until you reach an intersection.

(9) Leave the path to Lespinassière on your right and continue straight downhill. Cross a few steep sections and you will reach a flat area lined with pine trees and a stream running alongside the road connecting Citou to Lespinassière.

(10) Walk along the left bank of this stream on small terraces to reach a fenced-in meadow. Walk along the left side of the fence and you will come to a large field planted with walnut trees. Cross it to return to the stream. When you can no longer follow the stream on the left bank, climb a small steep slope on a stone wall and turn right onto a path that leads to a hillock and descends on the other side. Climb over a low wall to reach the junction near the footbridge you crossed on the way there.

(3) Turn right, cross the yellow bridge and arrive at the RD620.

(11) Turn left and carefully follow the road to the village of Citou to return to the car park (S/E).

There are fountains at the start and finish, but no water along the route. Picnic tables at point (2).
80% of the hike takes place in the woods.