Circuit around the Vigie at the Chapelle des Auzils

A pleasant hike in the Massif de la Clape with beautiful views and a visit of the Chapel of Auzils and its marine cemetery.

⚠️ GPS tracking is essential for this hike! See reviews.

Details

42622
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Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 167 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 164 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 201 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 44 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Gruissan (11430)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.135012° / E 3.096451°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2546OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the second car park at Chapelle des Auzils (altitude 60 m), located just below the chapel. Marin Cemetery.

(S/E) Head in the direction of the cycle route (a paved road to the right when facing the chapel).
Follow the road for 300 m and arrive at a fork. Continue on the paved road on the right. After 300 m you will go along the vineyards on your left and, at the end of the vines, the road heads right and a path is on the left. Do not take any of the two.

(1) Go opposite where a small path leads into the forest.
Head through the forest for 500 m (it's not difficult and always in a straight line) as far as the paved road and continue on the left. Pass by a building on your left (under renovation) and continue on the paved road on the right. You will pass a large area of deforested land on your left. Continue until you reach a wide path on the left after La Garde.

(2) Follow it to the plateau at an altitude of 170 m. Opposite us is Pech Redon, the highest point of La Clape (214 m).

(3) Turn left onto the narrow path. 150 m away at the first view point. From the edge of the cliff and on clear days there is a magnificent view of the Mediterranean and this is only the beginning. After about 700 m reach the lookout point (vigie). A view from Port la Nouvelle to Mont Saint Clair in Sète. Superb.

(4) We head away from the watchtower by the left path. This path isn’t difficult, just follow it until it leads to a marked hiking trail (Sentier de la Clape). After 750 m pass by the path on the right.

(5) Take the path opposite.

(6) We arrive at the Chapel of Auzils 250 m away. You come to another view point. Head around the chapel on the left, go down the few steps and reach the Auzils Caver located beneath the chapel.
20 metres further down the path is the marine cemetery that brings us back to the car 400 metres below.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 54 m - Chapelle des Auzils car park
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 52 m - Path opposite
  3. 2 : km 1.89 - alt. 63 m - Left fork
  4. 3 : km 4.01 - alt. 170 m - Small path on the left
  5. 4 : km 5.04 - alt. 187 m - Watchtower
  6. 5 : km 8.13 - alt. 145 m - Path opposite
  7. 6 : km 8.43 - alt. 131 m - Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Auzils (Gruissan)
  8. S/E : km 9.02 - alt. 54 m - Chapelle des Auzils car park

Notes

Hats, water bottles and sunglasses are recommended in hot weather.
The Auzils Chapel is not always open, check in advance at the Gruissan Tourist Office.

Picnic tables are located next to the chapel car park.

Worth a visit

Other hiking trails around the site.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 111 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
jeanine terral
jeanine terral

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Unmarked route but easy to follow

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BARRABES
BARRABES

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route. The GPS is very useful up to the Vigie tower. After the tower, the path is well marked. When we arrived at the car park, there were lots of us going to see the waterfall. It is located on the Goutine path. At this time of year, it flows abundantly. From the tower, there is a beautiful view of the sea and the Pyrenees.

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Tata Sab
Tata Sab

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very easy route to follow using the GPS track. Wide path for walking. Fairly busy route between the chapel and the watchtower. Very pleasant route at this time of year. Beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

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User 3167106
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, easy hike with views of the flamingo ponds, Bages and Peyriac.
The route is varied, passing through vineyards under pine trees, and the trail is very pleasant.
I recommend using the Visio rando track to avoid getting lost, as it is not signposted.

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User 25948433

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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JCWIND
JCWIND

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, easy to get to and very well signposted. breathtaking view of the sea and the surrounding area. through vineyards and pine trees. remarkable walk.

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Legrandas
Legrandas

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Negative points: No signposting during the hike. The information in the Visorando paper description is unreliable and incomplete, often difficult to understand up to the Vigie. The Visorando application on mobile phones is necessary. After that, the second part of the route is easier to follow. Point 5 would benefit from a sign indicating the direction of the chapel, because if you continue along the footpath you arrive at the car park at the starting point without having seen the Notre Dame des Auzils chapel.
Positives: Very nice walk, with magnificent viewpoints and splendid pine forest landscapes that make for great photos. Not too difficult a walk.
I'd be delighted to do it again on a not-too-warm day like today, 28 April 2025.

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Marylou38
Marylou38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Splendid views, but very busy, especially around La Chapelle!

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jpr66
jpr66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb scenery!

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rando du vendredi
rando du vendredi

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful views.
However, there were no signs along the entire route and the description was not very reliable.

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Cyril G
Cyril G

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent walk, with superb views!
Beware, however, of a few "typos" in the description of the route to follow (but not serious: you can still find the route by a few simple deductions).

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cece34
cece34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy walk, with pretty views all along the way.
Bring a cap when the weather is fine, as there is very little shade.

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Moulines49
Moulines49

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Beautiful course with superb scenery

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piédane
piédane

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An absolutely beautiful walk. Take time to contemplate the magnificent scenery.

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jean-claude coudert
jean-claude coudert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy walk starting from the marine cemetery and passing by the Auzils chapel (please note opening times). No particular difficulty.

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