La Motte de Saint-Julien-d'Armagnac route

Circular walking loop starting from Betbezer-d'Armagnac in the Bas Armagnac countryside in the Landes region on the border with the Gers. You will pass castles, cross vineyards, wooded valleys and hedgerows, and visit the village of Saint-Julien-d'Armagnac perched on a feudal mound.
This route is marked by the Landes General Council with horizontal signs and direction changes.

Details

96636
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 169 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 169 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 153 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 91 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The route starts in front of Betbezer church on a small road.

(S/E) Go down to the left onto Route du Bas Armagnac, which turns left, then turn right onto Route de Mauezin and continue for about 150 m.

(1) Take a wooded path to rejoin a small road on the right for 100 m.

(2) Turn left onto a path that passes near a pond. Continue to the next junction with a small road.

(3) Continue left for 500 metres and you will arrive in front of the Château de Joutan. Go around it on the left, following a path. Descend to the bottom of a small valley towards a pond.

(4) Leave the path to pass in front of the pond and turn right onto a steep forest path that climbs up to a plateau: open landscape with vineyards. Walk along the left side of these vineyards for 500 metres.

(5) Take a path on the left for 150 m, then turn right onto a small path that winds for 300 m until it joins a more passable path.

(6) Turn left onto this path and then slightly right onto another path
to descend into the Pouthet valley.

(7) After crossing the Pouthet stream, join a road that climbs up to a perpendicular road.

(8) At the intersection, turn left and then 100 metres further on, turn right, which will take you to the heart of the village of Saint-Julien-d'Armagnac, which is also the highest point of Saint-Julien-d'Armagnac.

(9) After passing the church, continue straight on for 700 metres along Route de l'Église to reach the D35.

(10) Follow it to the left for 200 metres, then turn right onto the path that crosses through forest and hedgerow landscapes to reach the hamlet of Reys, passing through Mamousse and crossing the D11.

(11) 200 metres after Reys, turn left for 800 metres, passing Petit Bernin, and continue until you reach a forest path on the left.

(12) Turn onto this forest path for 450m to reach a track that you will take on the right to reach the D35.

(13) Turn left and walk carefully along the departmental road for 300 metres. Turn right onto the path that leads to Château de Paguy 200 metres away. Go around it on the right, take a path behind the château that leads to a large reservoir 300 metres away.

(14) Find a path that takes you to Château de Juliac. Go around it on the left and behind the château, take a path that leads you back to the starting point 300m away (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 117 m - Betbezer Church
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 114 m - Start of the trail.
  3. 2 : km 0.98 - alt. 92 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 2.51 - alt. 129 m - Road junction
  5. 4 : km 3.61 - alt. 94 m - Lake
  6. 5 : km 4.65 - alt. 131 m - Path
  7. 6 : km 5.18 - alt. 116 m - Car-accessible path
  8. 7 : km 6.55 - alt. 103 m - Pouthet stream.
  9. 8 : km 7.53 - alt. 112 m - Intersection
  10. 9 : km 8.08 - alt. 135 m - Church of Saint-Julien-d'Armagnac
  11. 10 : km 9.26 - alt. 143 m - D35.
  12. 11 : km 11.7 - alt. 147 m - Fork in the road after Reys.
  13. 12 : km 13 - alt. 144 m - Forest trail
  14. 13 : km 14.08 - alt. 131 m - D35
  15. 14 : km 15.41 - alt. 100 m - Reservoir
  16. S/E : km 16.41 - alt. 117 m - Betbezer Church

Worth a visit

You can visit the very pretty village of Labastide d'Armagnac, right next to Betbezer. It is one of the prettiest villages in France.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Rémi About
Rémi About

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

"How to start" is unclear both in the information sheet and on the signposting.
An impassable spot: marker 4 on the map. Impossible to cross in front of the pond because of the water flow: no footbridge, no signposting. We had to find our own way to rejoin the route at marker 6.

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33420visorando
33420visorando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied hike with mostly forest paths and trails. Very pleasant. The signposting is excellent. Good footwear is necessary in the low-lying areas, which are still wet after the previous day's rain.

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jeannette cames
jeannette cames

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is signposted in both directions except for one section, which is a shame as you have to search for it.

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propre52
propre52

HELLO,
Waiting for more favourable weather conditions

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mike4054
mike4054

Thank you for your review of my hike. mike4054

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vlerk
vlerk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, with no difficulty whatsoever. Vineyards, woods, valleys, beautiful views.
— Blue markings.
— Hike completed using the Visorando description and map (no GPS).
— Start: opposite the church, turn right. Follow the description. You will pass the hiking sign behind the church.
— Landmark 2, lake below Château de Joutan: some Visorando users mention problems, but the markings guided me perfectly.
— Landmark 8: be careful not to miss the path on the left. The barrier at Petit Bernin is still in place, but you can pass through without any problems.
Many thanks to Mike4054 for an unforgettable afternoon.
---
Vlerk
(I am not a native French speaker. Please excuse me if my rudimentary French leads me to write nonsense or offensive things.)

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zabounet
zabounet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, it's perfect for me. I have an advantage because I'm from the area, but I wouldn't say it's very good because there's always room for improvement.

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Cmarsil
Cmarsil

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The picnic tables in Saint Julien are still there.

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patchrando65
patchrando65

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hike undertaken after heavy rainfall, leaving the trail very muddy in places. Passing through vineyards leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, due to the heavy use of pesticides. Picnic on the tables at Saint Julien. Very hilly landscape, passing through beautiful forests. A lovely walk taking around 4 hours, not including the lunch break.

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Fred-de-Tours
Fred-de-Tours

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The trail is well marked. Note that you can have lunch in Saint-Julien at the picnic tables set up on the feudal mound near the church. In short, a beautiful hike through diverse landscapes.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you

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mike4054
mike4054

I need to redo it to correct these hiking points. Thank you for your comments.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Lesca Jackie, for this information.
Let's wait for the author to read it and tell us what he thinks.

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lesca jackie
lesca jackie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, lovely walk, beautiful scenery.
But beware, there are two pitfalls that need improving... The first is located below Joutan Castle, more precisely below the pond
where, once you turn right facing the pond, you have to cross a small wooden bridge on your left (a small bridge that is not mentioned in the instructions) (this will save you from having to go back up to the castle).
The second pitfall is at point 8, where, in the meadows and hedgerows, you will come across a wire gate on your left. Do not hesitate to open it, despite the sign (private hunting ground). Do not forget to close it behind you.
Enjoy your hike!

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andrebascle
andrebascle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The weather was supposed to be bad, but we had sunshine,
which made it even more interesting!

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