Circular route through the Parlatges forest to the Pas de Cabane

Parking is available on the central lawn in Parlatges, Place Émile Bellet.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, walk to the roundabout and turn right uphill along Rue de la Fontaine; at the end, it turns right to reach the bridge over the stream. Cross the bridge and turn left immediately after about twenty metres.

(1) Take the path leading uphill on the right (marked PR® yellow). It winds its way up to join a track. Follow this to the left for about 300 metres before joining another path that climbs to the right.

(2) The path climbs steadily through the pine trees before joining a wide track.

(3) Turn left and stay on this track to climb more gently through the forest. Pass the first signpost, then continue along the track to the right until you reach the signposted track junction at Pas de Cabanes.

(4) Take the wide track to the left, signposted GRP® Red and Yellow and PR® Yellow towards Saint-Pierre-de-la-Fage. Continue to a new junction some 500 m further on.

(5) Leave the red and yellow GRP® markings, which continue straight ahead, and follow the yellow PR® trail to the left (a short cut avoids the junction). Shortly afterwards, you’ll reach a right-hand bend in the track, followed by a crossroads.

(6) Leave the track and turn right onto a path that descends. It heads due west, leaving the Plan de Saint-Pierre on your right. You’ll reach the junction for the Fontaine des Oiseaux (a round trip for those who wish to explore the spring). Continue along the path, which winds its way uphill, until it joins a wide track.

(7) Follow the track to the right (still marked with yellow PR® signs); it turns southwards back towards Parlatges. Stay on the track until you reach a Fork in the road (IGN elevation 540)

(8) The “La Fagette” signpost points towards Parlatges; continue along the track, which now turns eastwards, until you reach the junction with a less clearly marked descending track.

(9) Head down to the right along this track, which eventually runs alongside the first buildings and turns sharply back towards the village. Follow the yellow markings until you reach the tarmac road.

(10) This leads to the village chapel (unfortunately closed) and winds down through narrow streets to the car park (S/E).

Drinking fountain and drinking water at the car park and at the church in Parlatges

A forest of Austrian black pines planted in the late 19th century, with superb views towards the ‘end of the world’ and the foothills of the Larzac.