From Targassonne to Estavar

de fr

This route will take you into Spanish territory, to Llívia, the only foreign enclave located on French territory, with a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail.

Details

n°3197407
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 507 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 516 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,659 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,218 m
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Photos

Waterfall

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the town hall in Targassonne.

(S/E) From the town hall, head towards Saint-Saturnin Church to join theGRP® Tour de Cerdagne (marked in red and yellow). Follow this trail until you reach an intersection, where you will leave it.

(1) Leave theGRP® and turn 180° to the left onto the yellow-marked trail towards Estavar. Stay on the marked trail until you reach a footbridge over the Égat stream.

(2) Cross the stream, staying on the marked trail. You will arrive at a pass where you will need to take the path uphill to the right, just before a fence. Keep following the markings and enjoy the magnificent views, particularly of Targassonne and its Thémis solar power plant. Join the D33f road.

(3) Follow it to the right for a few dozen metres before leaving it to take the beautiful climb on the right, which will lead you to an intersection.

(4) Leave the road and take the marked path opposite, which descends. Be careful, as the descent is steep and even very steep in places.
You will arrive in the charming village of Estavar, where the yellow markings will lead you to Cami de la Fontaine del Sofre.

(5) Follow it to the right. Cross the D33 road, taking the path opposite. Further on, you will cross the Estauja stream and come to a track junction.

(6) You will enter Spanish territory. Take the track on the right towards Targassonne.
A few dozen metres further on, you will find a beautiful spot where the Font del Sofre (which has sulphur in its waters) is located.
A little further on, you will find a ferruginous spring (the Font del Ferro), which requires a 10-metre round trip. You will also see a small aqueduct bridge during this detour.
Continue along the yellow-marked route until you reach a beautiful waterfall.

(7) Continue along the track, ignoring any side paths. You will come to the red and yellow markings ofthe GRP® Tour de Cerdagne.

(8) Take it on the right and walk along the campsite. You are now entering French territory. You will come to the intersection where you started.

(1) All you have to do now is follow theGRP® to the town hall to finish your hike (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,592 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 1,577 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.89 - alt. 1,566 m - Footbridge over the Égat stream.
  4. 3 : km 4.52 - alt. 1,510 m - Route D33f
  5. 4 : km 5.36 - alt. 1,516 m - Intersection
  6. 5 : km 8.36 - alt. 1,218 m - Estavar Cami de la Font del Sofre
  7. 6 : km 9.22 - alt. 1,234 m - Intersection of tracks
  8. 7 : km 11.14 - alt. 1,359 m - Waterfall
  9. 8 : km 13.8 - alt. 1,559 m - GRP Cerdagne
  10. S/E : km 14.96 - alt. 1,592 m - Town hall car park

Notes

Picnic area at Font del Sofre, a few dozen metres after (6).

Worth a visit

The Thémis solar power plant in Targassonne.

Complete the circular historic trail from Estavar to Llívia.

Llivia Castle.

The Yellow Train station in Bajande (hamlet of Estavar).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Christelle1488
Christelle1488

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Quite a pleasant hike, not much shade, so make sure you protect yourself in hot weather.

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FrancisCougard
FrancisCougard

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, but best avoided in the heat of the day, especially between points 4 and 8, which are exposed to the sun.
Between points 2 and 3, starting from the descent, trees have been cut down this year and almost all of the yellow signs have disappeared. New trails used for logging have been dug, sometimes wider than the original trail. Even if these new trails are used, it is not too much of a problem because point number 3 is visible from a distance and these trails also lead there. The old trail has small stones, while the new trails are dirt.
From point 3, it is advisable not to take the departmental road, but to stay on the path that runs parallel to it on the right, which then starts to climb.
Be aware that there are many processionary caterpillar nests in the conifers from point 3 onwards.
Between points 4 and 5, in one of the last hairpin bends before Estavar, the path descends to the right after the last house and is very difficult to see: it starts with some damaged steps, so be careful not to fall!

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Lionel7126
Lionel7126

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, done in reverse, for lunch in Estavar (fairly significant elevation gain: 600 m measured).
A pleasant route.

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ETIENNE40
ETIENNE40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike when done in the direction indicated. The descent to Estavar is steep and should be done in dry weather. After Estavar, the route follows a stream and you can even have a picnic just above point 6 (tables).

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Judith
Judith

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, well explained and interesting.
Thank you very much!

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Picton79
Picton79

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route starting from Llivia. Visit to the castle ruins at the start. Very few water sources. Few people on the route, especially along the stream.

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lolo36
lolo36

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello and thank you for this hike.
I started from Estavar (5) and did it in the opposite direction. It seems easier to me because I prefer to do a "significant" climb where the effort is easier to manage (5 to3). Especially since the descent from (8) to (6) is then very gentle.
In any case, it is a very beautiful route with some stunning views!
In terms of visitor numbers, I encountered more people around the Targassonne campsite, the picnic area near Font del Sofre and Estavar, but this was perfectly acceptable given the current health situation and nowhere near as crowded as some other more popular routes!

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Rayderr
Rayderr
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The circular is made entirely from the church in Estavar in the direction indicated.
Departure at 9:45 a.m.
Beautiful climb through the Llivia area with its waterfalls and views of Cerdagne as you gain altitude.
Beautiful plateau at the top of Llivia with views of the Pyrenees and Thémis. Then we cross a forest to approach Targasonne in the chaos (granite rocks, sometimes enormous).
Before reaching these chaos, we had a picnic with a view of La Molina.
The Targasonne stream is difficult to cross, and one person preferred to take off their shoes, as the stream is flowing abundantly at this time of year (a footbridge would be welcome).
To reach the top of Estavar, the trail climbs up and down the valleys.
After the D33 and the climb and descent in the forest, we reached the section that had been described as difficult. Using walking sticks helps and is reassuring.
Then descend via tracks and the narrow streets of Estavar.
Arrival at 5.30 p.m.
The hike is well marked throughout.
Sometimes you may be tempted to shorten the winding tracks by cutting across them.

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