Between vineyards and forests, a thousand-year-old juniper tree around Castelnau-Valence

A lovely hike, preferably done in spring to avoid the summer heat. A fine balance between shady paths in charming oak forests and open areas mostly in vineyards. The thousand-year-old juniper tree alone is worth the trip, such is its majesty.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 118 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 117 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 170 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 102 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Departure from Place de la Mairie in Castelnau-Valence.

(S/E) Leave the village on Chemin du Château, then turn left onto Chemin des Amandiers, then straight ahead on Chemin du Clos Dou Fan until you reach a crossroads.

(1) At the crossroads with Chemin du Puech de Berthier, signposted "Lebratier", go straight on for ten meters, then turn left onto the grassy path which enters a lovely holm oak wood. Follow the main path to a magnificent wind turbine.

(2) At the wind turbine, cross carefully the road to Saint Dézery (D120) and follow the stony path opposite, which first runs alongside a wall and then vineyards. After a slight climb, it comes out onto a forest track. Turn left for about 20 m and cross a road.

(3) Follow the forestry path to the D186, which you follow for 50 m cautiously to the right, before taking the stony track which leads off to the left before a vineyard.

(4) Follow this path alongside a wood, then through the vineyards, before descending to the Font Bouillant path, which you cross at an angle to the right.

::5: Continue towards "le Pié" and turn left at right-angles before a vineyard onto a path that leads you through the vines to the junction with Chemin de Passereille. Ignore the departures on each side.

(6) Turn left for 20 m, then immediately take the small track downhill on the right. About 200 m before a brick shed, take the path (a little hidden) which climbs to the left. Follow it until it returns to the tarmac road, and continue along this. At a T-junction, turn right, then left after about 100 m towards La Clastre.

(7) Ignore the Mas du Clastre on your left and follow the tarmac road to the right for about 200 m, then turn left towards the hamlet of Les Mazes. Climb the track to the left of the hamlet and continue straight ahead through the forest. Shortly after crossing another path, a slight descent takes you to the "Cade Millénaire".

(8) Continue for 100 m to a tarmac track that runs alongside the Château de Castelnau wall. Turn left to join the D186, which we follow with caution for around 300 m.

(9) At a crossroads, take the unsurfaced track that leaves the D186 on the right, and follow it in the direction of Mas de Quet, which you ignore on the left before rejoining the fork in the road.

(1) Turn left and return to the starting point, Place de la Mairie. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 143 m - Place de la Mairie, Castelnau-Valence
  2. 1 : km 0.67 - alt. 151 m - Lebratier
  3. 2 : km 1.34 - alt. 132 m - Wind turbine
  4. 3 : km 1.95 - alt. 154 m - Road crossing
  5. 4 : km 2.62 - alt. 146 m - Path after the D186
  6. 5 : km 3.65 - alt. 151 m - Chemin de Font Bouillant
  7. 6 : km 5.23 - alt. 139 m - Chemin de Passereille
  8. 7 : km 6.62 - alt. 107 m - Le Clastre
  9. 8 : km 7.44 - alt. 138 m - The thousand-year-old juniper
  10. 9 : km 8.22 - alt. 157 m - Mas de Quiet junction
  11. S/E : km 10.16 - alt. 143 m - Place de la Mairie, Castelnau-Valence

Notes

Start: Departure from Place de la Mairie in Castelnau-Valence.

Worth a visit

Cade is a juniper that is said to be a thousand years old. Nearly 13 m high and 5 m in circumference, it was awarded the "Remarkable Tree of France" label in 2015.
The Château de Castelnau (12th and 13th centuries), which can be seen at various points during the hike, is not open to visitors. However, it can be approached between points (7) and (8) of the hike, and a special itinerary leads to it from the village of Valence.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
ethee
ethee

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent circular route... With some truly beautiful scenery,
Routes with no particular difficulties and very pleasant
The written directions provided in the details aren’t very clear... use the route on the app

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fvanmaele
fvanmaele

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, enhanced by the autumn colours of the vineyards. I didn't use the description or follow the route exactly, as the GPS guidance was accurate and problem-free.
An easy hike that comes highly recommended.

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Cinéfille
Cinéfille

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A few "artistic" blurring between 4 and 7 in terms of the outline... The rest is flawless!

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pseu
pseu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just a note: in point 5, it would be good to add: at the "Le Pié" landmark, head towards "Le Truel"

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Boby47
Boby47

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike along beautiful trails and paths through the woods with few paved roads. The route is very well marked, which compensates for the laconic, sometimes approximate description, which could do with a few adjustments. For further clarification, the magnificent thousand-year-old tree was classified as a "remarkable tree" in 2015, not 2025. Although the foundations of Castelnau Castle date back to the 12th century, the towers and ramparts that can be seen today are restorations carried out in the 19th century. These comments should not detract from the appeal of this hike.

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antoineclavel
antoineclavel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, peaceful walk with beautiful scenery, castles, trees...

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User 10954639

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied hike where we were able to eat wild white figs... An easy hike with no difficulty...

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Brunon
Brunon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is classed as "medium" difficulty, although we obviously only found 2 minor difficulties (very short descents that were just a little steep). There's very little tarmac, and the dirt roads are not too rocky. The scenery is very pretty and varied, so it's a fairly easy walk that's accessible to a wide range of people.

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wihzac-nizhe8-wyntaJ
wihzac-nizhe8-wyntaJ

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

From the halfway point, the description is hard to follow.

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GEPE002
GEPE002

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk with no problems. We recommend it.

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Sylvie Jz
Sylvie Jz

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Other hikers find the signposting perfect, even though the milestones encountered on the route were never indicated in the description? For example, why does it say "Chemin de Font Bouillant" or "Croisement avec le Chemin de Passereille" when there are no signs of the same name? The signposts each have several directions to follow, and none of them are clearly shown in the description!
At No. 6, we didn't understand the little piece of track that you take "200 m before the brick shed", only to arrive ... just after the shed! No point.
The route is described by someone who knows where he's going, not for walkers who are just discovering it.
This is all the more regrettable as we enjoyed the walk in the middle of all this greenery.
In short, now that we've done it once, we'll do it again, but knowing where to go!

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Thomasine
Thomasine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Nice, easy walk on 8 May. The route is partly shaded. The route also takes in the plain between the vines. The thousand-year-old juniper is impressive. Best done in the morning in summer. Thanks to the people who marked the route. It was perfect.

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dougere
dougere

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with no difficulties. Between vineyards and forests, the title is perfect.

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