Castériou route in Orignac

Orignac has a rich history, as evidenced by the Castériou site, believed to be an ancient Roman fortified camp.
The 12th-century church, built on a hillock and surrounded by a circular cemetery, indicates the existence of a defensive enclosure in the Middle Ages.
A lignite mine, south of the village, was in operation until 1947. Animal fossils have been found there.
These include mammals, the oldest from the Tertiary period, including the gracile hipparion, ancestor of the horse.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.03 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 600 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 623 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,804 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,309 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the church, head south and follow Cami deth Cap Deth Vilatge. At the second intersection, turn left onto the D120, following the sign for Cieutat. Pass a horse riding centre.

(1) Leave the road and take the path on the left that enters the woods. At the fork shortly after, turn right to reach a crossroads.

(2) Go down the path on the left to follow a bend in the Arrêt. Continue to a small ford. A few metres further on, turn left at the fork to Cami de Mousturou. At one point, the passage may be blocked by a gate between two meadows. Pass underneath after lifting the electric wire with an insulating material (e.g. rucksack, piece of dry wood).

(3) At Cami de Mousturou, continue straight on to the Salle des Fêtes.

(4) Turn right, then left onto a path leading up to the Castérieu site. There you will find the earthworks of the oppidum.

(5) Return to Cami Deth Casteriou towards the village centre.

(4) Continue straight ahead.

(6) Turn right onto Carrerot Deth Lavade. Continue to Cami Debat and turn left. Then turn left again onto Cami Dera Sablera and continue to Cami Deth Casteriou.

(7) Turn right towards the church and walk alongside it, then turn right onto Cami Deth Pelegris.

(8) At the crossroads, make a quick first turn left then right to take the dirt track to the high-voltage power line. On the left, in the woods below, is an old lignite mine.

(9) Return to the junction with Cami Dera Croutz Deth Cantet.

(8) Turn right and return to the starting point by turning left at Cami Deth Cap Deth Vilatge (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,801 ft - Église Saint-Martin (Orignac)
  2. 1 : mi 0.87 - alt. 1,640 ft - Path through the undergrowth on the left
  3. 2 : mi 1.36 - alt. 1,345 ft - Crossroads, on the left
  4. 3 : mi 1.92 - alt. 1,411 ft - On the left at Cami de Mousturou
  5. 4 : mi 2.66 - alt. 1,768 ft - Cami Deth Casteriou
  6. 5 : mi 2.95 - alt. 1,785 ft - Le Castériou oppidum
  7. 6 : mi 3.4 - alt. 1,781 ft - Carrerot Deth Lavade
  8. 7 : mi 4.03 - alt. 1,785 ft - Town hall, school, on the right
  9. 8 : mi 4.41 - alt. 1,742 ft - Crossroads, left-right
  10. 9 : mi 4.58 - alt. 1,667 ft - Power line
  11. S/E : mi 5.03 - alt. 1,801 ft - Église Saint-Martin (Orignac)

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

3.3 / 5
Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5
Route interest
3.4 / 5
Marianne et Heidi
Marianne et Heidi

Hello, I am also a fan of these short half-day hikes. There are several of this type around Capvern, and also around Bagnères de Bigorre on Visorando.

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SiobanS
SiobanS

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route was nice, but BEWARE: a pack of dogs joined us shortly after number 1 and followed us almost all the way to number 3, including two adults and five puppies. One of the adults was extremely aggressive and chased us, barking, growling and baring its teeth over a very long distance, forcing us to walk backwards to counter its regular attacks (the rest of the pack followed this aggressive dog). They may not be there all the time, but we felt seriously endangered, isolated in the woods.

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Marianne et Heidi
Marianne et Heidi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

In Orignac, apart from the church with its beautiful bell tower, we didn't find the rest very interesting. The walk in the woods is nice, no problem if you use GPS. Very pretty views of the mountain range, the Pic du Midi and Montaigu on this stormy late afternoon. The "Cami" are actually small roads, and we found it a bit of a shame that there was a lot of walking on roads, even if they were very quiet, so on the way there, we climbed up to point (7) and cut across to (1) to avoid walking on the road. We also enjoyed the little detour between points (6) and (7) on the way back, which leads to a lovely view of the surrounding countryside. In short, a very pleasant walk to occupy a hot and stormy afternoon.

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alfonsoagf
alfonsoagf
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A pleasant little walk, often under trees, not very busy and with some nice views.
The GPS track is not always accurate, particularly between points 2 and 3 where part of the trail has disappeared (one might even wonder if the track was created on a computer rather than in the field). For this section, a (barely visible) carriageway that makes a small detour allows you to rejoin the route suggested by the author.
For this and as always when hiking, a map, a GPS and a minimum of knowledge in map reading and orientation in the field are strongly recommended.
Thank you, Mondia65, for taking the time to publish this hike, which allowed me to enjoy a day in nature on a day when fog prevented me from going higher up the mountain.
See you soon on the trails!

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PATRICE31800
PATRICE31800

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone.
I did this hike in good weather and was a little apprehensive about the path between points 2 and 3. As mentioned in previous comments, I had no problems because I used the Visorando GPS app and there is indeed a road suitable for vehicles that leads to point 3. What's more, the ford has been "transformed" into a "bridge". As for the old lignite mine at point 9, it has been covered by trees and marshes since it ceased operations in 1947. In short, there is nothing left to see.
Otherwise, there is a magnificent view of the snow-capped Pyrenees!!!!!

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pblaque_picdujer
pblaque_picdujer

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Like the others, we got lost between points 2 and 3 due to logging ruts.
We ended up on the road to Cieutat... No matter, it was a beautiful walk anyway.
We'll try to do it again, but I doubt we'll manage it. Maybe we need a hiking GPS?

Patrick

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wentzinger
wentzinger

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

The route could have been good if the forest rangers hadn't cracked down. The section under the trees with lots of vehicle tracks is difficult to access when it comes to spotting ?We gave up
:

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squale1953
squale1953

Hello
I'm joining this discussion even though I'm not from department 65 (I'm from 83), but I was able to do this short hike in August 2019 (see my previous comment).
I did indeed find myself facing a pile of wood across the path, but thanks to the Visorando app, where I had previously downloaded the GPS track, I was able to find a way around it and complete the hike without any problems.
In my department, I have posted x public hikes on Visorando and I have received multiple comments from people complaining about the lack of markings, and I give the same response every time. (See my responses).
As for the removal of public hikes, this is the responsibility of the author, who is in a position to assess whether to keep or remove them for various reasons (owner, etc.). This has happened to me twice because the trails cross private property (Sillans la Cascade, Les trois Borrels in Hyères).
The hikes described on Visorando are created by volunteer hikers like me with the sole aim of sharing their passion for their region and its landscapes with everyone.
Finally, comments are useful for authors because trails change without their authors being aware of these changes.
In any case, thank you for your comments, which are always useful.
See you soon on our trails!

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flo650
flo650
• Edited:

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Mr henri57,
In response to your comments, which have already been copied and pasted many times.
You: It's very simple, you've lost your bearings, you've lost yourself.
Please note that I have not lost my way.
You: For your information, the maintenance of paths, signposting, etc. are not the responsibility of the author or Visorando.
Thank you, I am aware of that.
You: Only the author can delete HIS hike because it belongs to him.
So, if I understand correctly, you are not responsible for the hikes you publish and, above all, you cannot delete them.
So apart from responding with stock phrases, what is your purpose?
If you don't take people's opinions into account, I don't see any point in asking us for them.
You: A hike has to be organised.
I go hiking almost every day, whether in the mountains or on the plains. Don't look down on people, but go and check this one out and then we can talk.

.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

this hike is impracticable, too much woodcutting prevents a proper reading of the terrain. It is difficult to find landmarks. There are many paths leading in all directions.

It's very simple: you've lost your bearings and you're lost.

For your information, the maintenance of the paths, the signposting, etc. are not the responsibility of the author or Visorando.

Visorando provides a description and a 1:25,000 IGN map. The description and the route map can be separated. These two tools are necessary AND sufficient.

For Visorando users who have some difficulty with orientation, Visorando provides, in addition to the description and the 1:25,000 IGN map, virtual signposting: a GPS application.

The walk is not worth the trip.

That's for you to decide.

It would be more prudent to remove it from the Visorando website.

Only the author can delete HIS hike because it belongs to him.

And don't talk to me about your app (Mr Moderator), it wouldn't have changed anything.

If it had allowed me to answer four questions:

1. Where am I?
2. Where did I come from?
3. Where should I go?
4. Which route should I take?

And make a decision

What is the best solution (route) for retreating?

A hike needs to be organised.

Trunks and branches block all the paths; go out into the field and you will see.

I'm out in the field EVERY day and, with the current deforestation, I can see, just like you, that trees are blocking the paths, the paths are being destroyed by forestry machinery, the animals are frightened...

See you soon.

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flo650
flo650

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hello, this hike is impracticable, too much woodcutting prevents a proper reading of the terrain. It is difficult to find landmarks. There are many paths leading in all directions. The walk is not worth the trip. It would be more prudent to remove it from the Visorando website.
And don't talk to me about your app (Mr Moderator), it wouldn't have changed anything. Tree trunks and branches block all the paths. Go and see for yourself. Kind regards.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback.

I got lost because of the enormous damage caused by forestry machinery.

You didn't get lost, you just couldn't make the connection between the map and the terrain.

Avoid this route for several months.

No, but a route to be redone with the Visorando app in order to understand the reasons why you lost your bearings.

The app will answer the following questions in real time:

1. Where am I?
2. Where did I come from?
3. Where should I go?
4. Which route should I take?

A+

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Ricard franchem
Ricard franchem

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Like others, I got lost because of the enormous damage caused by forestry machinery.
Route to be avoided for several months

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

As the signposting does not depend on the author or Visorando, "Route on map" does not refer to evaluating the signposting, but rather the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

Markings would be essential

Neither Visorando nor the author are responsible for the markings. Markings are often included in the description when they exist on the ground, but otherwise, the description and map are supposed to be sufficient for orientation.
Visorando does not mark the suggested walks.

Visorando provides a detailed description (which can be improved) and a 1:25,000 IGN map. And if markings are essential for you, Visorando provides virtual markings: a GPS application.

This tool, offered free of charge by Visorando, allows you to validate waypoints and thus remove any doubts you may have about your orientation.

See you soon!

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bbrunelet
bbrunelet

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Paths that are difficult to find and follow, impassable in winter after very rainy days.
Markings would be essential.

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