The Coll del Miracle Circular

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This route will take you to the heart of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, capital of the Haut Vallespir and largest commune in the Pyrénées Orientales, with a magnificent finale in the underground passages of Fort Lagarde, a Vauban fortification listed as a historic monument.

Details

n°3114948
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 744 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 745 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,436 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 732 m
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Photos

Oratory

Description of the walk

Park in the car park on Place du Foirail in Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste.
This car park is often full. Cross Prats-de-Mollo via the road bridge over the Tech. At the roundabout, turn right onto the D115A towards La Preste. Park immediately on the right in the car park, which is set up as a rest area, below the right bank of the Tech.

(S/E) Head towards the roundabout to pick up the red and white markings ofthe GR® T83. Continue straight ahead, then climb the stairs and you will reach a crossroads near the cemetery.

(1) Go to the signpost and follow the extremely well-marked Miracle route, which has some beautiful climbs. Go to the crossroads at Castilló. Turn right to see the dolmen. (See § During the hike or nearby).

(2) Return to the intersection and continue climbing to reach Coll del Miracle. Here, a sign indicates an oratory.

(3) Take the path on the left to reach this oratory.

(4) Turn back and return to Coll del Miracle.

(3) Leave theGR® T83 and take the track on the right marked with yellow and white markings. After about 300 metres, take the path that climbs left towards Puig de Les Lloses. Follow the yellow and white markings. Continue uphill and cross Còrrec del Pas de les Vaques. Then begin a short descent. You will reach the signpost at the Puig de les Loses crossroads.

(5) Continue downhill along a small grassy track. Be careful not to miss the path on the left 250 m further on (the white and yellow markings are not visible from the track) and turn left at the next intersection. Be careful, as some sections are quite steep. Keep following the yellow and white markings.
You will cross a fence, which you will need to follow to the right to reach a track.

(6) Turn left. Stay on this track, ignoring all the side paths, until you reach the Col de Cabanelles crossroads.

(7) Leave all the tracks and turn right at the corral. Then, cut across a track and continue downhill opposite. At the intersection with a new track (elevation 863), turn left to reach Fort Lagarde.

(8) Take the underground passage through the fort, if access is permitted*, otherwise follow a path and return to the first crossroads you passed on the way there.

(1) Turn left and retrace your steps to return to the car park at Place du Foirail (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 733 m - Parking Place du Foirail
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 758 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 2.64 - alt. 1,134 m - Dolmen intersection
  4. 3 : km 3.87 - alt. 1,270 m - Coll del Miracle
  5. 4 : km 4.14 - alt. 1,264 m - Oratory
  6. 5 : km 6.98 - alt. 1,389 m - Signpost for Puig de les Lloses
  7. 6 : km 7.78 - alt. 1,195 m - Track
  8. 7 : km 8.81 - alt. 1,106 m - Col de Cabanelles
  9. 8 : km 10.54 - alt. 860 m - Fort Lagarde
  10. S/E : km 11.2 - alt. 732 m - Parking Place du Foirail

Worth a visit

(2) Castilló: at the intersection, leave the path and turn right. If the path has been cleared, you will reach the dolmen a few metres away. This dolmen is one of the last megalithic remains discovered in Catalonia.
From here, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Mir Tower, Costabonne and Esquerdes de Rotjà.
(4) Oratory: it houses two statuettes of Saints Juste and Ruffine. Saint Ruffine gave her name to the village church, which is listed as a historic monument. Here, too, you can enjoy a superb panorama.
(8) * Paid visit to Fort Lagarde
La Tour del Mir
The hamlet of La Preste, a spa resort less than 10 km from Prats-de-Mollo.
Please note that I made a video of this hike, which can be found at the following link

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 27876720

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

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Cosmosrando
Cosmosrando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike

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Cosmosrando
Cosmosrando
• Edited:

Hello, friends
After point 7, just before point 8, "you must turn left to reach Fort Lagarde" according to the description!

At a small stone wall, the GPX route turns left, while the path goes straight ahead, crossing this wall... No signs, no landmarks, no path to the left.

it should have been specified:
Turn left before a low wall on your right, FOLLOW IT down into the scrubland WITHOUT A PATH, then cross a ford "over tree trunks" before climbing back up to Fort Lagarde.

So I followed the GPX track that goes left before the low wall, INTO THE SCrubland, going downhill to quickly reach a ford followed by a short climb, which leads to Fort Lagarde... "no problem".
A superb hike, I recommend it, the landscape changes with every step.

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JPB.33
JPB.33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that is relatively easy and accessible to everyone. No difficulties encountered. Varied and very pleasant landscapes enhanced by the company of a few animals: cows, goats, sheep and even a deer at the edge of the woods. The 5½ hours, including a lunch break, fly by without you even noticing. Very few people were there when we visited.

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VERO LA CATALANE
VERO LA CATALANE
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed on 28/03/24.
A few tricky spots on the climb for those who are prone to vertigo, but nothing dangerous.
At point 7, at the cow enclosure, follow the path along the electric fence.
Between point 7 and point 8
when you reach a small wall, the VISORANDO route asks you to turn left.
There is no path and you have to cross a ravine.
We therefore advise you to follow the path after the low wall and you will arrive at the same place, namely Fort Lagarde Castle.
Otherwise, it's a very pleasant hike with superb scenery!

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annemarie
annemarie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike in the hills above Prats de Mollo. Very well marked trail. No problems, highly recommended.

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gigi66
gigi66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike. Splendid views towards Costabonne and the border ridges. Mostly uphill in the shade and downhill
mostly in the sun.

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Patrick Terrier
Patrick Terrier
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did not complete the entire hike due to one participant feeling unwell. We cut it short by taking the downhill track at Col del Miracle to point 6. So we didn't climb Puig de les Lloses. Despite this, we enjoyed the scenery and mild weather, with moderate temperatures. This hike is recommended when other areas of the department are experiencing high temperatures. Of course, a visit to the village of Prats de Mollo is particularly interesting.
Access to the underground passage is completely free of charge.

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alpini.friuli
alpini.friuli
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike marked by a steady climb to the Oratory, and from there to Puig de las Lloses, alternating between beautiful beech and pine forests inherited from the reforestation carried out by the ONF after the war, following the terrible episode of the Aiguat in October 1940. The rest of the hike is less appealing, firstly because of the steep slope on grassy ground shortly after Puig de las Lloses (not recommended in rainy or stormy weather), and secondly because of passages through "grey areas", i.e. between tracks and private cattle enclosures, although the return to Fort Lagarde and the village of Prats-de-Mollo offers more interesting scenery (passages through the undergrowth and close to Fort Vauban with its imposing ramparts). Direct arrival in the village, where you can quench your thirst in one of the friendly bistros with terraces!
Saluti a tutti!

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Tulear1956
Tulear1956

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike on a superb summer's day without the frequent afternoon storms typical of this season; no real difficulties apart from the steepness of the path after Pic de Les Lloses; the signposting is perfect and the paths are well marked and maintained.

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