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Parking by the lake on Avenue du Général Azibert Gruissan.
(S/E) Turn right when you are facing the lake and follow the concrete walkway that runs along the old port of Gruissan. There are lovely views of the lake on your left and the Barberousse Tower on your right. The route along the lake is not signposted but is very easy to follow as you just need to stay as close to the water on your left.
(1) Turn left and cross the channel via the footbridge. Follow a road that has been converted into a cycle path until you reach the D32. Signs around the lake describe the flora and fauna of the region's ecosystem.
(2) Keep left on the cycle path and go past the roundabout.
(3) Continue left on the cycle path. It is more pleasant to walk on the grey dirt road that runs alongside it. Leave the paths and tracks that lead up the hill on your right. You will reach a crossroads at the Ruisseau des Inférêts. On your left is the Étang de Gruissan and an unusual view of the village and its tower.
Continue left along the edge of the lake until you reach another crossroads after La Capoulade.
(5) Turn right, leaving the cycle path and taking a dirt track. This is where the Capoulade trail begins, which is clearly marked in yellow. Follow the path for 1.5 km until you reach the Cabanes de Gruissan. Leave two paths on your right that climb up the hill and follow the Terres Humides on your left. You will reach the Gruissan huts.
(6) After the huts, go through the gate and turn right. A dirt track climbs uphill to the Bertheliés vineyard.
(7) Turn right, the path becomes rocky and the slope steepens. On your left are some beautiful vineyards.
After 600 metres, continue left and leave the path that leads to the Bertheliés estate on your left.
(8) At the crossroads, turn right.
After 200 metres, turn left onto a grey gravel path. Enter the pine forest and climb up to a hunting blind on your right. There are beautiful views of Narbonne, the Clape massif, the salt marshes and rice fields of Gruissan. Ignore a path on the left, one on the right and the last one on the left. Go down a very steep slope. There are steps made from planks on your left. Turn right to reach the junction that leads to the Capoulade estate on the right.
(9) Continue straight ahead; if you turn right, you will head towards La Capoulade. Then turn right to join a larger path. Follow the path for 300 metres and take the path on the right. After 250m, turn right and follow the path for 350m. There is a lovely view of Gruissan and its castle. Turn left onto the path that descends for 300m and joins the path after the Inférêts stream, which is often dry. Descend to the grey dirt road and the cycle path along the edge of the pond that you have already taken.
(4) At the edge of the pond, turn right onto the cycle path.
(5) Continue straight ahead until you reach the metal footbridge.
(10) Turn left towards Gruissan. Follow the dyke path between the pond and the channel, where signs describe the local ecosystem. At the end of the dyke, turn left and take the wooden footbridge to the car park where you started.
Here, you can either end your walk or continue on to visit Old Gruissan, described below.
(S/E) After the footbridge, leave the car park on your left and continue straight ahead, entering Old Gruissan by following Avenue du Général Azibert. Pass the war memorial.
(11) Take the second right, Rue de la République, which is lined with craft shops and original regional products.
At the end of Rue de la République, turn right onto Rue Jules Ferry and continue straight ahead, passing the Town Hall. Turn right onto Rue René Gimie. Follow this street until you reach Avenue de La Nouvelle. On your left is the pretty Place du Général Gibert.
Turn left onto Avenue des Écoles and continue to the port. You can visit the fish market:
Gruissan fish and seafood market. At the port, turn right to pass the war memorial again until you reach Rue d'Espagne, the second street on your right.
Go up this street, turn right and then immediately left onto Rue Roger Salengro, continue straight ahead until you reach Rue Arago with the Château de Gruissan on your right. Turn right onto Rue Arago. Pass the Notre Dame de l'Assomption church on your left. Immediately turn left into the Rue Portes passageway towards the gardens of the Barberousse Tower.
(12) The Barberousse Tower. Please note that the steps are steep but there are metal handrails to help you up and down. From the top, there is an exceptional panoramic view of the whole Gruissan area. Avoid in strong north winds.
You can return from the Barberousse Tower via Rue Respert. Continue straight ahead. Turn right onto Rue Jules Ferry until you reach Rue René Gimie, where you turn right to enjoy one last glimpse of the beautiful Place du Général Gibert. Cross the square and turn left to reach Avenue des Écoles and the car park by the lake (S/E).
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