Between Port-Vendres and Collioure via Fort Sant-Elme

Parking available along the Port-Vendres cemetery, Rue Ernest Beltra.

(S/E) Follow the street to the end, following the yellow-marked^PR® trail.
At the right-hand bend, leave the road and head down to the left via some steps where the coastal path begins behind a gate.
Follow this steep path, which is marked with yellow signs at intervals. Be careful, as the rock is particularly abrasive.
Walk along the coast eastwards to Cap Gros, passing close to various military ruins, and reach Fort de la Mauresque.

(1) Head down to the right and join a track above Anse de la Mauresque. You’ll reach a signpost marked “Sentier littoral – Anse de la Mauresque”.

(2) Take the path that descends to the left towards Port-Vendres. Follow the^PR® and, after a short climb, descend towards the port of Port-Vendres. Follow Rue Arago to the right, which runs alongside the port, then take Quai Jean Moulin to a large square occupied by a car park at the end of the marina.

(3) Cross the car park and climb up to a promenade overlooking the harbour via a grand staircase. Cross the promenade and head up Rue des Paquebots, still following the^PR®. After a few flights of steps, you’ll reach Route Stratégique at a bend.

(4) Head up to the right towards the Col de la Creu Blanca and Fort Sant Elme. Follow this road, lined with recent buildings carved into the rock on the hillside. Reach the Col de la Creu Blanca at a hairpin bend to the left.

(5) Continue the climb along the Strategic Road, which offers a lovely view of Port-Vendres.
Follow the road to an unnamed pass at the foot of Fort Sant Elme (closed until early 2024 due to works).

(6) Enjoy the beautiful view of Collioure, particularly through a photogenic metal frame (you’ll see others in Collioure), then descend via the^PR® towards Collioure via Pams Hill.
The path soon turns to the right, then runs alongside vineyards and arrives at a magnificent windmill in a beautiful olive grove just above Collioure.
Pass the mill and descend via the steps on the left to reach Collioure at the Collioure Museum of Modern Art. Join the road to Port-Vendres and walk along the square above Port d’Avall beach to the Tour d’Avall.

(7) Enter the narrow streets of Collioure via Rue de la Convention behind the tower. Then turn left onto Rue Marceau. At the end of this street, first turn left then right to head down Rue Camille Desmoulins, which joins Avenue du Général de Gaulle.
Head up to the left until you reach the roundabout near a temple. Go down to the right via Rue de la République and reach the old town after crossing the Douy (el Duí), a small channelled stream forming a surprising car park.

(8) Enter the old town via Rue Pasteur (or Carrer Nou). Then turn onto Rue Saint-Vincent and pass under a pretty archway decorated with religious statuettes.
Turn right twice onto Rue de la Fraternité, then Rue de l'Égalité, then take the steps on the left up Rue de la Butte. Follow it to the top. It leads onto Avenue du Mirador opposite the Compagnie d'Instruction Nautique.
Follow Avenue du Mirador to the right.

(9) At the end of the avenue, go down the steps on the right leading to Rue du Mirador. Continue to the Church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges, which stands against the famous Collioure lighthouse.

(10) Go round the church to the left and reach the Chapelle Saint-Vincent via a footbridge, then continue along the jetty to enjoy a beautiful view of Anse de la Baleta. Return to the church, perhaps walking along the beach.

(10) Follow the road running alongside the beach on the other side of the church and cross the Douy (el Duí) via a footbridge at the foot of the Royal Castle. Continue to the left, passing by the foot of the castle, and head to Port d’Avall beach near the tower seen earlier.

(7) Continue along the quay on the other side of the beach, then follow a small coastal path. When you reach a hotel, head up to the right via a staircase to rejoin the road to Port-Vendres.

(11) Now, head back to the starting point by following the road along the left-hand pavement. This section isn’t particularly pleasant, but it completes the circular route as you reach the roundabout at the entrance to Port-Vendres, near the cemetery (S/E).

The walk is a bit technical at the start (up to (1)) but then presents no difficulty.

Best avoided in the height of summer due to the heat.

Fort Sant-Elme is closed for renovation until early 2024.

In Collioure, you can visit the Royal Castle.