Gallician - Prés du Cailar - Banks of the Vistre

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A beautiful outing between the Rhône Canal in Sète, Les Fruitiers and Les Costières, as well as the meadows where Camargue horses and bulls live peacefully.

Details

n°1956263
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 51 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 50 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 33 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Vauvert (30600)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.638311° / E 4.298117°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2943OT
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Photos

the joys of spring
Horses
on the other side of the nautical stop
Lentils on the stream, a little "green Venice"

Description of the walk

Departure from the car park at the Gallician nautical stop.

(S/E) Join the Rhône Canal in Sète and turn right along it. Continue for about 1.8 km and find a path on the right.

(1) Turn right and cross the small bridge, then follow the path to a road.

(2) Continue to the left and follow the road. At Mas Tessier, follow the dirt track and continue straight ahead, crossing the Canal Philippe Lamour. Stay on the main track, ignoring the tracks to the left and right, and you will reach Mas du Bourry.

(3) At the road, turn right and continue straight ahead downhill.

(4) At the fork, take the path on the left that leads into the forest, cross the bridge and continue straight ahead.

(5) At the 90° left turn, continue to the memorial erected in memory of two herdsmen who drowned while trying to save a herd during floods.

(6) After the memorial, turn right, cross the bridge and follow the bank on the right between the two streams (Rhony and Vistre). Be sure to close the gates behind you. Follow the path, cross a bridge and continue straight ahead along the Vistre. Join the road and continue along it.

(7) Climb the hill to enjoy the meadows where you can see bulls and horses.

(8) At the metal footbridge, cross the Vistre and continue straight ahead along this beautiful tree-lined path. At the road, cross and continue straight ahead, then take the path on the left that runs alongside a large farmhouse in a place called Les Clochettes. Cross the cycle path and the bridge.

(9) Turn right onto the path that runs alongside the Philippe Lamour canal. Follow it for about 2 km until you reach thesecond bridge. Cross the canal again and, just after the cycle path, take the path on the left. Continue along this path, ignoring the paths on the left and right.

(10) At the road (D779), turn right to enter the village of Gallician, continue to the crossroads with Rue Saint-Sébastien.

(11) First turn left then right in the village to reach the car park at the water sports centre via Route des Étangs (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2 m - Gallician nautical stop. Join the - Canal du Rhône à Sète
  2. 1 : km 1.78 - alt. 2 m - Small bridge on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.99 - alt. 7 m - Road on the left
  4. 3 : km 4.74 - alt. 20 m - Road on the right
  5. 4 : km 5.18 - alt. 4 m - Path on the left
  6. 5 : km 5.75 - alt. 1 m - 90° turn to the left
  7. 6 : km 6.63 - alt. 1 m - Stele and bridge - Vistre (fleuve)
  8. 7 : km 9.05 - alt. 2 m - Climb up the embankment
  9. 8 : km 9.56 - alt. 2 m - Metal footbridge on the right
  10. 9 : km 11.1 - alt. 21 m - On the right after the bridge - canal du Bas-Rhône Languedoc ou canal Philippe-Lamour
  11. 10 : km 14.08 - alt. 9 m - Road, on the right
  12. 11 : km 14.52 - alt. 3 m - Crossroads, left then right
  13. S/E : km 14.91 - alt. 1 m - Parking at the water sports centre

Notes

Variation of "Gallician and the Meadows of Cailar" by Les 4randonneurs, which allows you to follow the banks of the Vistre.

No water, be careful during periods of heavy rain as the meadows are impassable due to flooding.

Worth a visit

The small village of Le Cailar (2 km from the metal footbridge along the stream), an authentic Camargue village. Stop for a bite to eat at the local café before the nautical stop.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 20 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 1125749

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route with plenty to discover: reed beds, canals, fruit trees, vineyards, and more. The route was a bit long for us, but there are plenty of ways to shorten it (which is what we did!) and there are plenty of signposts to help you find your way.

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Bernard MARTINEZ
Bernard MARTINEZ

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This route was a change from our Cévennes.

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Julien Prieur
Julien Prieur

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

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REVIENDREZ
REVIENDREZ

Sorry, we cut the planned walk short because one of the walkers had a physical problem that day, but at this time of year the peach trees are in bloom and it's beautiful! It will still be like this for a few more days...

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Stephan et Sylvie
Stephan et Sylvie

Thank you very much for your reply. I did indeed consider going there and asked a local resident if it was possible. He coldly dissuaded me, insisting that the land was private. I admit that I was put off by his reply, which did not encourage me to try...

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Jean-Bernard
Jean-Bernard

Sorry, but these things happen. In principle, the gates are closed because there may be horses, but it is entirely possible to pass through. Thank you for your feedback

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Stephan et Sylvie
Stephan et Sylvie

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Between points 6 and 8, we were unable to follow the suggested route because barriers blocked the way. We had to follow the D289 and make a detour via La Cailar to rejoin the route at point 8. There was no way to find it before that.
This was a bit of a shame, as it meant we had to walk along the road and this section was not very interesting. The detour added 5 kilometres to the route and in total we walked for 4½ hours.
The rest of the route is pleasant.

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Karotte07
Karotte07
• Edited:

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 superb hike that allowed us to see lots of birds (and even a stork's nest!), horses, bulls, rabbits, and absolutely magnificent landscapes, both in intimate settings by the water and in the open air with vineyards and ponds in the background. I highly recommend bringing binoculars to watch the birds!

The route is very well marked and presents no particular difficulties. As mentioned above, I would not recommend this hike in hot weather, as some sections are completely unshaded.

It took us about 3½ hours to complete this hike.

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Sylviemat
Sylviemat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and beautiful walk among the bulls
We saw storks, ibises, flamingos...
On the downside, there were lots of mosquitoes!!! But hey, that's the Camargue for you 😀

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Rolande 30
Rolande 30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike surrounded by bulls and birds. The trail is well marked. Beware of mosquitoes

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Manu d'Aix
Manu d'Aix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very peaceful hike. Varied landscapes and rich wildlife. Thank you

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Cinéfille
Cinéfille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, varied walk, from the marshes along the banks of the Vistre with bulls and horses, to the orchards and vineyards of the coast! To be repeated in spring! Thank you for this route.

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m30
m30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with bulls and horses waiting for you. To be repeated in the spring
Thank you, Jean Bernard Whistle.

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jeammichel
jeammichel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very pleasant hike; vineyards; orchards, Camargue bulls, good variety of landscapes

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schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in the Petite Camargue, with varied landscapes. No difficulty.
Even on a Sunday, there was hardly anyone around, except along the Via Rhôna, and even then...
It's a shame not to bring binoculars, as storks and bulls are easily identifiable, but there are lots of smaller birds to see.
Thank you for this hiking suggestion.

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