La Bastide walks

A beautiful hike in the open air with the aim of climbing Santa Anna dels Quatre Termes. First, a climb to Coll Palomeres, then a very beautiful ridge path to reach Creu del Turon (crossroads on the hill). Then a steep climb to reach the ruins of the chapel located on the cadastral boundary of four municipalities (hence its name). The return via the Chemin Rural from Creu d'en Turon is very interesting. Marked path on private property: please respect the areas you pass through and close gates and fences behind you.

The route consists of two circular loops. This hike can therefore be adapted as desired. However, it would be a shame not to complete the whole route. Discover an old railway line used for iron ore extraction at an altitude of 1,200 metres, former stations on this line, old iron mines, tunnels, a signal tower, a superb ridge, a summit, a mountain hut, and much more. A good sense of direction and following the GPX track will be very useful.

A lovely walk exploring the mining history of the Vallespir. A long railway line once ran here at an altitude of 1,200 metres.A good sense of direction and the GPX track may prove useful in some places: there are many crossroads and junctions. Allow around 7 hours to enjoy these surroundings.Please stay on the marked and safe paths.It’s easy to imagine what working conditions must have been like; winters weren’t always as mild as they are today.Some truly beautiful scenery.

A very beautiful hike with views of the eastern slope of the Canigou Massif and a visit to the Pinosa mining site (a listed historic monument) which bears witness to the work and living conditions of miners in the 19th and 20th centuries. A beautiful 360° panorama at the summit of Pic de l'Estelle over the Corbières to the north, the sea and the Albères to the east, Spain to the south and the slopes of Canigou to the west. The Batère Tower on the descent from the peak is reminiscent of the system of signal towers erected in the Middle Ages, which formed a communication network: at night using fires and during the day using smoke.

An exceptional heritage walk at one of the major sites of the Canigou iron mines, which is also a key site commemorating the Resistance. Once at the site, heritage signage provides an insight into the area’s rich history.

A superb heritage trail starting from Coll Palomeres, plunging into the heart of the industrial golden age of the Pyrénées-Orientales. The route passes through ancient mining ruins, evidence of a rich past, before reaching the imposing Tour de Batère, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

Mountain passes, the Els Menerots open-cast mines, old miners’ buildings, a roasting furnace, hoppers, a former mining railway line, mine trolleys, a tunnel, and finally, a Roman road and a snow pit.All these points of interest punctuate this beautiful and unusual route through this Catalan mountain range, which was long exploited for its iron ore.The route consists of a mix of road and track.The signposting is in good condition, but the GPX track will be a real help in some places, despite the accurate IGN base map.

A discovery walk in the Aspres. From Saint-Marsal, a descent through the forest along a path to the ruins of the Molí d’en Just (watermill) and an ascent to Taulis. The rest of the route to Coll de Formenta is based on the ‘Coll de Formentera’ walk starting from Taulis, by Hubert Gites-Vallespir. From the Coll de Formenta, a picturesque return route along the old railway line (tunnel). A descent to the Pla de l’Abbella, then a walk along an ancient Roman road to the Collada del Pou (small pass of the snow well). The route then follows a firebreak track to Saint-Marsal. The scenery, the passage through Santa Creu (Holy Cross) and the Rochers de la Fustera (carpenter’s forest) add charm to the otherwise monotonous track. The route description, map and GPX track are essential.

The suggested walk takes you up to the ridge, where you can enjoy a superb panoramic view.Serrabona Abbey, on the route described, is well worth a visit. This site, which is in excellent condition, is currently being refurbished.An additional route starting from Serrabona can be added to this hike. *The walk will be moderately difficult (sense of direction required) and will take an extra hour and a half.Please note. Observed on 14 January 2024: after the (6), the track has been widened, the pastures cleared, and trees felled. The original path is very difficult to follow: the markings and posts have disappeared! The GPX track is very useful from this point onwards.

A short, easy walk offering beautiful views of the eastern face of the Canigou massif from the Tour de Batère. You can also see the seaside resorts of Argelès-sur-Mer and others as you head north along the coast.

Ascent to Ras de Prat Cabrera, then a path overlooking the valley via the Balcon du Canigou, to the old iron mines at La Pinosa. Finally, an easy descent to Valmanya.

The aim is to follow the pretty Pla Mitjà ridge, then take the sloping path beneath Puig dels Becis to reach Ras de Prat Cabrera. Do not underestimate the long descent through the Bosc de Patriques, which is a classic route in this part of the Canigou. Much of the outward route is open and offers beautiful views.Classified as difficult due to the section from (7) to (9), which is completely out of the questionin even moderate snow: a steep slope with absolutely no room for error. The descent through the woods from (10) to (14) is no walk in the park.

This is a beautiful round-trip hike that can be done in summer as it takes place mostly in the woods and on the northern slope for the most part. The trail markings, which were recently redone (PR® Yellow), make it easy to follow the path from Taulis to the Col de Formentera. The Tour de Batère, at the end of the hike, crowns the outing with beautiful 360° views.

This walk connects the village of Taulis directly to the Coll de Formentera, from where you can set off on several other walks. Please note that this is a new route currently being signposted, most of which does not appear on the various base maps.

A very beautiful but challenging hike (steep ascents and descents) featuring the Anciennes Mines de la Pinosa, the small pass of Pei, the Puig Sant Pere, the Coll de Cirera, the Balcon du Canigou path (GR®10) and the Maison Forestière de l'Estanyol. Then a steep descent to reach the car park at Valmanya. This hike can be done in either direction, with the highest point being halfway along the route.

A short but challenging walk that takes you past a forest ranger’s house and a shelter and, above all, along the Balcon du Canigou.(!) Please note: the section between (8) and (10) is very dangerous when covered in snow. Recommended period: mid-March until the first snowfall. It may be considered in summer, as it runs largely through woodland.  Please note: there are two different sets of markings. The white and red markings of the GR®36 and GR®10, which take precedence over the GRP® Tour du Canigou, and an old set of yellow markings from a PR®.  The route is fully signposted, but requires a good sense of direction and the GPX track on the app or a GPS device.Classified as difficult due to its steep gradient.

Glorianes is a small village in the Conflent region, tucked away in the mountains, and the road ends here. This fairly strenuous hike will take us to a summer pasture, with the Canigou range, Vinca and its lake as a backdrop; Glorianes is known for its old gold mines.

Second stage of the clockwise Tour du Canigou in 8 days.A fairly long hike that starts with a descent.This route follows old paths connecting pastures and valleys.

This is the easiest way to climb Pic Gallinàs from the Batère refuge. Please note that this is a fairly challenging hike with over 1,000 metres of elevation gain over 4.5 km. The path is clearly marked. The 360° view from the summit offers a stunning panorama of the Catalan mountain ranges.