Mimosa circular in Céret

de fr

This is a pleasant route in the foothills of Vallespir, above Reynes, where you can enjoy the scent and colour of the mimosas in mid-February and the cork oak forests (suberaies). There are several viewpoints offering views of the Sant-Ferriol Chapel, the town of Céret, the Tech Valley and the Canigou Massif.

Details

n°45740797
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 329 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 329 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 374 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 149 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

2nd paved section
After the concrete staircase

Description of the walk

The start is from the Saint-Paul Chapel.

(S/E) Take the track on the right that passes above the car park and the gym equipment below on the right, towards the Saint-Paul farmhouse until you reach a crossroads.

(1) Leave the access to the farmhouse on your right. Follow the path to the left up a stony track, then immediately to the right, the Sant Ferriol path, which passes above the Mas de Saint-Paul. Continue to the junction with three tracks.

(2) Continue on thefirst track on the right, which makes a double circular loop and leads to a tarmac road.

(3) Continue straight ahead, crossing the Riu Cerdà via the road bridge. Turn right onto a small road to reach the D615.

(4) Turn right, then left onto Rue de l'Oratory. Immediately turn left and climb the concrete stairs (signposted Sant-Ferriol). Follow the path to Chemin du Roc Blanc.

(5) Continue straight ahead until you reach the D615.

(6) Follow it carefully to the right until the next 90° right turn, where Chemin Bigne de la Gouardy begins. Signpost: Sant Ferriol.

(7) Stay straight ahead to take this track, then continue right on the same track. Go to the D615 and follow it for about 100 metres until you reach the start of a track on the left.

(8) Turn left towards Mas Campell and, immediately before the gate, follow the wide path on the left.

(9) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead to the house on the left and its large bend.

(10) Descend to the right towards Còrrec de les Tallades.

(11) Turn right towards the ford.

(12) Follow the track to the left. At the next fork, continue straight ahead on the flat track. Follow the bed of the Riucerdà downstream until you reach the hairpin bend of a tarmac road.

(13) Continue straight ahead to Mas Tauriac, located after the bend in the second ford.

(14) Turn right, cross the stream (dry) and walk up along the fence of the black pig park. Climb up the embankment to find the return path. Walk down it to reach a crossroads.

(15) Turn left to find the path you took on the way there.

(1) Follow it in the opposite direction to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 161 m - Saint Paul car park - Chapelle de Saint-Pau
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 167 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.71 - alt. 222 m - Track
  4. 3 : km 1.59 - alt. 159 m - Tarmac road
  5. 4 : km 2.03 - alt. 158 m - D615
  6. 5 : km 2.66 - alt. 201 m - Chemin du Roc Blanc
  7. 6 : km 4.27 - alt. 270 m - D615 (caution on bends)
  8. 7 : km 4.71 - alt. 279 m - Chemin Bigne de la Gouardy
  9. 8 : km 6.3 - alt. 341 m - Track leading to Mas Campell
  10. 9 : km 6.73 - alt. 332 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 7.15 - alt. 313 m - Turn, descent to the right
  12. 11 : km 7.75 - alt. 251 m - Correc de les Tallades
  13. 12 : km 8 - alt. 233 m - Ford, bed of the Riucerda
  14. 13 : km 9.81 - alt. 189 m - Tarmac road
  15. 14 : km 10.57 - alt. 168 m - Mas Tauriac
  16. 15 : km 10.93 - alt. 205 m - Four-way crossroads
  17. S/E : km 11.49 - alt. 159 m - Park. Saint Paul-Chapel of Saint-Pau. Near the - Tech (fleuve)

Notes

_Please note:
It is not advisable to do the route on Saturdays, when the Céret hunters practise clay pigeon shooting. The section along the Riucerda runs alongside the shooting range.
The route is sheltered from the tramontane wind, but there are no water sources or shelters.
There are no markings from (1) to (6) and from (6) to (S/E), but it is easy to follow with the Visorando app.

Worth a visit

Places to see:
The 12th-century Saint Paul Chapel (1147), a former hermitage consisting of a pre-Romanesque chapel, modified in the 12th century with the enlargement of its nave and the addition of a bell tower and two transepts.
Completed in 1686 during the reign of Louis XVII, it is surrounded by centuries-old olive trees.
It features a 17th-century bas-relief, listed as a Historic Monument.

Places to visit in Reynes: Saint-Vincent Church and Sainte-Marie Church (the vila)
Nearby is the town of Céret.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
Jean Paul Rance
Jean Paul Rance

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that between points 14 and 15, once you have passed the black pig park, very aggressive dogs running loose will chase you. This is a very unpleasant and dangerous situation.

Machine-translated

kplt66
kplt66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The title does not really correspond to reality, as there are mimosa trees but nothing spectacular.
Some sections of the road are not very pleasant to drive on.
That said, it is accessible to everyone, with no difficulty, and remains a beautiful ride to enjoy for the day.

Machine-translated

Doumic
Doumic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A Tramontane storm was forecast, so we chose this route to stay sheltered. Despite this, we still got plenty of fresh air as some parts of the walk are much less sheltered than others. A pleasant, easy route. Lots of tracks, though.

Machine-translated

Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike without any particular difficulties, offering lovely views of the snow-capped Canigou. After going around the pig park, stay alert as the route becomes a little confusing. Fortunately, we had the GPS app.

Machine-translated

vda
vda

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

We were looking for a route in the Albères mountains to stretch our legs on a day when the tramontane wind was blowing, and this one was perfect.
We enjoyed a leisurely, sunny walk at lunchtime, with a variety of landscapes, alternating between clear firebreaks, farm tracks and woodland paths, dry river beds and short stretches of busy tarmac.
An old grumpy but harmless dog at the entrance to the black pig farm (he's just doing his job!).
Four hours of walking sheltered from the wind, thank you for the route.

Machine-translated

Gourdasse
Gourdasse

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We did this 11 km circular on 20 August in 31°C heat, and the first part didn't have much shade. So we had to take breaks. After that, there was a bit more shade and less climbing.
Otherwise, we didn't see much of Canigou because it was shrouded in fog.
It took us 3½ hours to complete the circular.

Machine-translated

canetois66
canetois66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

pleasant and not too difficult route; accurate data and easier than simply reading an IGN map

Machine-translated

VALMON G
VALMON G

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike without any particular difficulty. Done in strong tramontane winds, but fortunately much of the route is sheltered from the wind. Beautiful view of Céret and its surroundings.

Machine-translated

LEON VEAUTE
LEON VEAUTE

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The only problem with the hike was at point 13. I crossed the stream and climbed over the fence of the pig park, but when I went to climb the embankment, I couldn't find the path I had taken on the way there. I found another solution: I went back to Mas Tauriac and followed the tarmac road to point 3, where I found my way again. It was a bit longer, but no big deal.

Machine-translated

Eliane66
Eliane66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a route that follows the end of the Céret canal route and the reverse of the return route from the Sant Ferreol chapel in Céret. I really enjoyed discovering the route from number 8 onwards.
However, it should be avoided in heavy rain as there are several sections in the river bed.
Be careful on the steep slope to reach St Paul's Chapel at the end.
Thank you for this discovery.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Saint-Paul circular

Visorando member
↔4.19 km ↗+150 m ↘-149 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Reynès (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A short walk around the Chapel and the Mas de Sant-Pau. Beautiful panoramic views of Reynes and Céret. First part along the tarmac road (very little traffic) then along the paths.

Walking From the Pont du Diable in Céret to the Château d'Aubiry

Visorando member
Du Pont du Diable de Céret au Château d'Aubiry
↔7.22 km ↗+251 m ↘-256 m ◔2h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Céret (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A short, easy family walk that takes you from the beautiful Pont du Diable bridge in Céret to the Château d'Aubiry and its grounds. The imposing Canigou massif dominates the Têt valley in the distance. The château was built by Jean Bardou (founder of the JOB brand) for one of his children.

Walking Former talc mine from Pont de Reynès

Visorando member
↔11.14 km ↗+541 m ↘-545 m ◔4h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Reynès (Pyrénées-Orientales)
An easy hike through the woods on good paths, mostly signposted, which will take you to the remains of the old talc mine.

Walking Roc de Frausa - Col del Pou de la Neu - Pic de Les Salines from Pla Bulat

Visorando member
Roc de Frausa - Col del Pou de la Neu - Pic de Les Salines depuis Pla Bulat
↔18.07 km ↗+1,255 m ↘-1,255 m ◔7 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Céret (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A challenging but safe hike along the France-Spain border ridge. The ridge passages should be avoided in strong winds. Short detour into Spain to visit the church and refuge at Les Salines. Classified as very difficult due to its length and elevation gain. This hike can be adapted to suit your ability and the weather (see Practical Information). Modification of the description. See practical information 28 April 2021 * The descent from (5) to Coll de Cirerers (5) is prohibited.

Walking The Chemin de Vivès and the Sentier du Liège from Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts

Visorando member
Le Chemin de Vivès et le Sentier du liège depuis Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts
↔14.88 km ↗+360 m ↘-359 m ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts (Pyrénées-Orientales)
From Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts, these two marked trails lead up to Vivès and then Llauro*.E beautiful hike on wide, comfortable paths and tracks, which can be split into two.The markings are visible in the direction described.The return from Llauro is along a ridge path and then from the (12) along a DFCI track.Not recommended for those who do not like tracks and wide paths.Fortunately, the landscape makes up for this monotony. The starting point is accessible by "€1 bus" from Perpignan or Argelès via Le Boulou, for example.

Walking Circular route from Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts to Sant Ferriol

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔12.54 km ↗+290 m ↘-288 m ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A pleasant hike starting from Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts, especially during the mimosa season, to reach the Hermitage of Sant Ferriol via the Serra del Mas d'en Janet ridge. On the way back, visit the exterior of Aubiry Castle. Several viewpoints over Céret and the Canigou massif. Tracks, paths and dirt trails, with a tarmac road on the return journey. No difficulties along the route.

Walking Circular loop of the Coll d'en Ric via a ridge line from Amélie-les-Bains

Visorando member
Coll d'en Ric en boucle par une ligne de crête depuis Amélie-les-Bains
↔13.12 km ↗+894 m ↘-891 m ◔6h 20 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This is a challenging hike due to the elevation gain and short distance. This hike is only suitable for people who are used to walking off the beaten track. The scenery is spectacular, as numerous gaps in the fairly low vegetation offer views of the surrounding wooded mountains. In addition, the border ridge is clearly visible throughout the ascent. The Roc de France is in sight. The return journey is via stage 39 of the Haute Route Pyrénéenne.

Walking Montalba d'Amélie and the Engracia Chapel from Amélie-les-Bains

Visorando member
Montalba d'Amélie et la Chapelle Engracia depuis Amélie-les-Bains
↔13.31 km ↗+805 m ↘-797 m ◔6h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This hike takes place in the woods, but offers beautiful views of the Vallespir (Roc Saint-Sauveur) and Canigou. Avoid when it is too hot.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.