Circular mountain bike route starting from the Grand Castelou Nature Trail

At the Grand Castelou estate (a former wine-growing estate with huge, derelict-looking buildings), you can park and pick up a leaflet on the interpretive trail (from the leaflet box) along with an information board.
N.B.: There isn’t always someone there to provide information (especially out of season, but the trail is open all year round).

(S/E) Follow the start of the trail along a wide path that begins at the south-east corner of the building and heads due east. Signs mark the trail all the way along (red and yellow)

(1) Take care at the first junction; the markings (red and yellow) are not very clear. Take the right-hand fork at the junction.

(2) You’ll be leaving the short route to take our alternative route. Take the footbridge on the left; the path is narrow and there are a few brambles that will tickle your calves.

(3) Once you reach the tarmac, turn right and head towards the edge of the pond along a long straight stretch (the path coming from your left will be the return route for the circular route). All along this little road between the salt marsh and the pond, we admired storks and herons.
Follow the tarmac road which, after a right-hand bend, leads to a junction.

(4) Carry on straight ahead, passing Bikini and Gutenberg, until you reach Saint-Raphaël.

(5) In Saint-Raphaël, you can head down to the lake’s edge for a view of Bages and Port La Nautique, but the route turns right to take you back to the entrance gate of the Grand Mandirac estate.
Go past the entrance and continue towards Grand Mandirac (magnificent buildings, a shipyard specialising in the restoration of historic boats), then turn right to reach the banks of the Canal de la Robine. Please note that this section of road is very busy!
Carry on to the Mandirac lock (you can watch the boats passing through).

(6) Views of the buildings at Petit Mandirac (a former wine estate). Continue along the road that runs alongside the canal (without changing banks) to the Tournebelle estates.

(7) Turn right, cross the railway line and take the gravel track on the right alongside the railway line. At the end of the track, leave the path and turn left onto a track that follows the edge of the pond (views of various bird colonies). At the end of the straight stretch, cross the Canelou (a small canal linking the Canal de la Robine to the Étang de Bages) via a footbridge. Turn right onto the tarmac road.

(3) At the left-hand bend, leave the road and turn right onto the path leading back to the Grand Castelou estate (S/E).

The Narbonaise Park has mapped out numerous walking routes across its territory. The Grand Castelou interpretive trail also offers the chance to discover the flora and fauna of the Sigean Lake wetland.

As we wanted to do a bit of mountain biking, we added some variations to the original 2km circular route to extend the route whilst retaining its exploratory nature.

(4) You can return to Grand Castelou by crossing a footbridge and taking the path that cuts straight through the salt marsh towards the estate.

- bring water and mosquito repellent
- No refreshment kiosk; catering available in the area (the Mandirac Lock café is closed).
- A leaflet with the route is available on site (in summer); otherwise, pop into the Maison de la Clape or the Tourist Office.

- Grand Castelou Wine Estate
- Bages Lake – Sigean
- Mandirac Lock
- Grand Mandirac ship restoration yard
- Option to continue on to Port la Nautique