From Caunes to Citou (circular)

From Narbonne, take the D6113 towards Lézignan-Corbières, turn right at Villedaigne to take the D611 towards Homps. Head towards La Redorte (D610) and continue on the D11 to the hamlet of Tinal d’Abrens. At the exit, turn right onto the D115 which leads to Caunes-Minervois. In the centre of the village, at the Stop sign, turn right towards the town hall to park in a large shaded car park.

(S/E) Take the steps leading to Avenue de l’Argent Double. Turn left to follow this road, continuing onto Avenue Jean Jaurès, which leads to the western exit of the village.

(1) At Rue du Roc (on the left), turn right into Rue du Château d'Eau, which continues as Route Forestière de Villegause. After the last houses, in a wide left-hand bend, look out for the inconspicuous start of a path on the right that heads north.

(2) Take this path, which is very quickly well-marked (elevation 305m). It leads up to a grassy track and immediately becomes a path again. You’ll reach another track, still heading north, and follow it until you rejoin the Route Forestière de Villegause. Turn right for about 50 metres until you reach a hairpin bend to the left.

Local signposting

(3) Leave the forest road and turn right onto a new path, marked in yellow with a sheep symbol. This beautiful path winds through the undergrowth, where a few trees have been blown down across the path by Storm Nils but do not obstruct the way. Descend in hairpin bends to the right before reaching a stony track at a place called Bibaud. Turn right, cross the bridge over the Argent Double before climbing up to the tarmac road (D620).

(4) Cross carefully to take the track that climbs opposite to the first hairpin bend, where a secondary track begins; take this track now, heading south. At the next three-way junction (end of the track), take the path on the left and, after the next hairpin bend, ignore the path branching off to the right to eventually rejoin the disused track further down at a hairpin bend.

(5) Take the path that runs alongside the end of this track, leading to some houses (elevation 301m). Pass to the right, above these buildings, ignore the next path that climbs to the right and continue climbing gradually up the mountainside on a well-marked path. Reach a junction.

No signposting

(6) Continue straight on to reach a wide stony track (Route Forestière de Rives Hautes), turn left and walk for about a hundred metres. Look out for the inconspicuous start of a path through the vegetation on the left (small cairn), and follow this lovely forest path which runs along the slope of the Argent Double valley and leads back to the road (D620).

(7) Continue along the road which climbs gently towards the village of Citou: there are very few cars, but the winding road calls for caution. Walk straight through the village and, after a cluster of fountains (whose water is, unfortunately, marked as undrinkable), reach the junction with a street leading in the opposite direction to your route.

(8) Turn right onto this uphill street, then immediately left onto a concrete ramp leading to a house with a swimming pool. Take a sharp right onto a track that becomes a path to pass above the village. After a steep climb, rejoin the Route Forestière de Rives Hautes, which you should follow to the right until you reach a nearby junction of tracks featuring a large shelter on the left: a hunting lodge with benches and tables for lunch.

(9) Turn left onto the track heading north-east and continue to the Col des Bious (566m).

(10) Leave the track and take the path through the undergrowth which branches off to the right at a 90° angle. It follows the Ruisseau des Escaliers (dry) along the left bank on a gentle descent, then climbs again before rejoining the stony track you left earlier after a short, somewhat steep descent.

(11) Turn right to begin a long walk along this wide track, at the end of which there is a metal barrier preventing motor vehicles from passing. Join the junction with the Route Forestière de Rives Hautes.

(12) Turn left until you reach the junction with another track, located in a left-hand bend.

(13) Head right to follow this ascending track leading to the hamlet of Ausselous: a fenced-off pasture with caravans and other remnants of civilisation that visually spoil the area. Go round all this on the right, ignore the path on the right and continue south-west. Pass the next path on the left (400m elevation) to reach a signposted path.

(14) Turn left. Take the path on the right, which serves as a shortcut, and turn right at the next junction towards the Grotte du Figuier.

(15) Head right again to rejoin the tarmac road at Rue du Petit Nice. Walk down this street, take Rue du Casserot on the left, which leads back to the village centre and joins Avenue du Minervois. Turn right, cross the bridge over the Argent Double and walk down the slope on the left, which leads back to the car park (S/E).