Castries Aqueduct Supply Canal

This walk allows you to discover the canal that fed the Castries aqueduct. For several years, the Friends of Castries Castle have been clearing and restoring this remarkable heritage site. This aqueduct captures water from the Fontgrand Spring, located 6 km from the village. Marquis René Gaspard de la Croix called on Pierre Paul Riquet, who also built the Canal du Midi, to construct this hydraulic structure.

Details

2718924
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 21 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 21 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 83 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 58 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Castries (34160)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.68683° / E 3.98522°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2843OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in front of the Castries dojo.

(S/E) Take the path that starts at the end of the car park on the right and walk alongside the tourist residences on your right. At the corner, turn left.

(1) When you reach the wide path at the foot of the aqueduct, turn right and walk along it, staying at its foot. The path rises very slightly and the arches of the aqueduct become lower. You will come to a small hydraulic structure that marks the beginning of the canal.
Continue straight ahead to follow it. At the junction with hill 74, continue straight ahead.

(2) On your left, 4 or 5 metres from the canal, you will see a small structure that was probably used as a drinking trough. Continue along the canal.

(3) The canal disappears underground. Continue to the right on the wide path. The canal reappears briefly and then disappears again. At the fork a hundred metres further on, take the path on the left that runs alongside a truffle oak plantation and a pasture with Camargue cows and join the road.

(4) Turn around and take the same path back.

(3) Instead of following the canal, continue straight ahead and join the Grande Traversée de l'Hérault trail (green signpost marked Hérault).

(5) Turn left and keep going in the same direction, following the signs and ignoring the paths branching off on either side. You will come to a T-junction.

(6) Turn left at a 90° angle and you will soon reach a large crossroads not far from the path you took on the way there (cote74).

Turn right onto the track that leads to the aqueduct. Pass underneath it and follow the same path as on the way there to return to the Castries dojo car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 62 m - Castries dojo car park
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 63 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.67 - alt. 78 m - Watering hole
  4. 3 : km 2.33 - alt. 79 m - End of brush clearing
  5. 4 : km 3.06 - alt. 76 m - Turn around
  6. 5 : km 3.95 - alt. 71 m - Grande Traversée de l'Hérault trail junction
  7. 6 : km 4.74 - alt. 73 m - T-junction, left
  8. S/E : km 6.02 - alt. 62 m - Castries dojo car park

Notes

The section that follows the canal is shaded, which is very pleasant in summer.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
RODIER
RODIER

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Pleasant route.

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belhadj
belhadj

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, interesting walk...!

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Newmoon34
Newmoon34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike in bright sunshine. Starting around 9:00 a.m., it offers magnificent views of the aqueduct at sunrise during this season. The rest of the hike along the canal is more monotonous but takes place under a beautiful canopy of greenery. I think it's best to avoid this hike in the middle of summer because the risk of fire is quite high despite the many firebreaks.

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Safrica988
Safrica988

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A short, flat walk, ideal for small children as you can shorten the route if necessary. The aqueduct is of heritage interest. Intersection of several popular trails in the area.

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ggasb1
ggasb1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A nice little stroll

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Isa-rdn
Isa-rdn

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely moment, especially with a 4-year-old girl. Lots of beautiful things along the way.

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Bernard RICCI
Bernard RICCI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk, enjoyed with our family and our three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
You can shorten or lengthen the walk as you wish, with some lovely spots for a picnic
And following the canal gives the walk a purpose, which encourages the little ones to keep going!

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