Circular walk to Fort de Bellegarde from Le Perthus

At the entrance to Le Perthus, on the D900, turn left onto the D71 (Route de l’Albère) towards L’Ullat; there is a large car park with 180 spaces.

(S/E) Cross the D71, continue along the path which joins a cul-de-sac leading to the D900, then turn left towards Girona. Walk up this street on the left until you reach the Perthus Gendarmerie, then turn right onto Rue de l’Église, heading towards the cemetery. At the church, follow the signs for Fort de Bellegarde to the left. At the three-way junction, keep to the right towards the tennis courts on Rue de Mas Rimbaud and head for No. 11.

(1) Turn left, walk past a car park and continue straight ahead along a path through the woods until you reach a road.

(2) Turn right onto this road and carry on straight ahead until you reach a track on the right.

(3) Carry on to the right along this track until you reach the next junction.

(4) Turn left; the track winds its way for about 2 km, passing the Font del Pedres Blanques on the right and the Font del Colomer on the left.

(5) At the fork, carry on straight ahead along the track until you reach a road.

(6) Follow it to the left, passing the Font dels Miquelets on your left, and arrive at the Roman ruins of Panissars.

(7) Continue along the road until you reach the Col de Panissars, boundary marker 570.

(8) Walk past a small cemetery and take the path that climbs to the left into the woods. Arrive at Bellegarde Fort for a visit.

(9) Go round it on the left and join a road; follow it to the left for a few metres.

(10) Take a path on the right, rejoin the road you came along and follow it to the right for a few metres.

(2) Take the path on the left and follow the route back along the way you came until you reach the car park. (S/E)

Fort de Bellegarde.
Roman ruins at Panissars.
Shops in Le Perthus.