La Capelle and Masmolène

Passing through garrigue, the shade of holm oaks and vineyards, this hike will allow you to discover an old restored windmill, Gallo-Roman ruins and an XIth century Romanesque chapel with, from time to time, a breathtaking 360° panorama...
Addition Moderator on 05/06/2021 : modifications on the ground since the publication of this hike. Make sure to read the comments and opinions below before leaving.

Technical sheet

819980
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.34 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 256 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 257 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 283 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 167 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start : Park in Place de Verdun in front of the school, La Capelle.

(S/E) Take the Rue de la Bastide on the left. At the first fork, turn left (North) into Place de l'Église in la Capelle and continue straight ahead on Rue Saint-Irieix and Place de la Fontaine. At the fork in the road, turn right and take the first path on the left for about 20 metres.

(1) Follow the Chemin des Casels on the right and stay on this road for about 350m. At the bend, leave this road for a dirt track on the left (North-West).

(2) Turn right (North-East) at the junction. After a few dozen metres, on the right is an old restored windmill (picnic area). Stay on the dirt track, passing the next two tracks on the left and right. At the fork, turn left and stay on this path for 1Km.

(3) Turn right (North-East) at the junction to follow the trail, and continue, ignoring the paths to the left and right. Continue to the Ruisseau de la Veyre.

(4) Turn left (North) (yellow sign "Le Pin, Les Bois") on the shaded path along the Veyre. Pass under a power line, ignore the path on the left and, at the next junction, turn right (North).

(5) At the T-junction, turn right (South-East) and continue, passing the path on the right until another T-junction. Turn left, ignore the path on the left and continue to the intersection.

(6) Go straight ahead (yellow sign "Le Pin, La Jasse du Manuel") until the next junction, take the shaded path (yellow sign "Gaujac, Oppidum et La Gardie") on the right and at the junction, go right.

(7) At the fork, turn right to visit the 'Gardie' (fire watchtower) and the orientation table. Retrace your steps and take the first small path on the right. At the end of the path, turn right to reach a T-junction (yellow sign "Oppidum Saint-Vincent").

(8) Turn left to visit the Oppidum of Gaujac and its archaeological site. On the way back, continue straight on the path, ignoring the path on the left, until you reach the junction you passed earlier.

(6) Go straight ahead and take the first path which climbs steeply on the left (yellow cross and yellow and blue marking on a big stone). Continue straight ahead crossing a path. Reach the fork in the road (crossroads).

(5) Continue straight ahead until the T-junction and turn right.

(9) Turn left, cross the Veyre stream and pass under a power cables. Stay on this path in a westerly direction, then south-westerly and finally southerly, ignoring the paths and tracks on both sides until you reach the D279.

(10) Follow, on the left, the D279 which will lead you to Masmolène.

(11) On entering Masmolène, turn left on Rue de la Gironade. Turn right, continuing on this street, then fork left. 50m further on, mount the steps on the left leading to the 11th century Romanesque chapel and the Tour d'Adelard. Then continue to the asphalt road, turn left.

(12): After about 20 meters, turn right up the Montée Tour d'Adelard - Chemin du Moulin à Vent (signposted "Sentier Botanique"). The asphalt road gives way to a small path passinging fields and a small wood. At the T-junction, turn right to reach the village of La Capelle.

(2) Continue straight ahead, take the same streets as the departure and then turn right, Rue de la Mairie, to reach the starting point (S/E).

.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 192 m - Parking Place de Verdun
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 213 m - Chemin des Casels to the right
  3. 2 : km 0.84 - alt. 233 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  4. 3 : km 1.87 - alt. 199 m - Right at the intersection
  5. 4 : km 2.95 - alt. 167 m - To the left, following La Veyre
  6. 5 : km 4.17 - alt. 197 m - Path junction, right
  7. 6 : km 5.04 - alt. 233 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  8. 7 : km 5.74 - alt. 274 m - Right towards Oppidum Saint-Vincent
  9. 8 : km 6.37 - alt. 238 m - Left to visit the Oppidum
  10. 9 : km 9.69 - alt. 177 m - Left under power line
  11. 10 : km 12.4 - alt. 218 m - D279 to Masmolène.
  12. 11 : km 12.69 - alt. 223 m - On the left, Rue de la Gironade
  13. 12 : km 12.96 - alt. 248 m - Ascent to the Tour d'Adélard - Chapelle romane du 12 ième siècle, Masmolène 30700
  14. S/E : km 14.34 - alt. 191 m - Parking Place de Verdun

Practical information

Start & parking : Park in Place de Verdun in front of the school, La Capelle.

Note : Yellow markings in the village and on a part of the route but GPS and the Visorando application are advised.

Terrain: Most of this hike is on good paths but some rocky passages require good walking shoes.

Facilities : Picnic area and dry toilets at the mill.
Shelter in case of rain at the mill and in the Romanesque chapel.
No drinking water available.

In the nearby area

(2) Windmill
(7) Fire watchtower - Orientation table
(7) Oppidum of Gaujac
Between (11) and (12) : Romanesque chapel XIth century (Chapelle Saint-Pierre) - Tour d'Adélard.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 56 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
REVIENDREZ
REVIENDREZ

Hello, I deliberately didn't do the whole route because I wanted to find a small pond I discovered 20 years ago near the old mines south of La Capelle.
But the village is very picturesque, the boulders in "chaos" are spectacular, the archaeological site is interesting, the chapel of St Pierre and the tower are magnificent...

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bart30
bart30

Very nice walk, no particular problems
Very nice views, lovely historic sites
Highly recommended

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REVIENDREZ
REVIENDREZ

Hello, I deliberately didn't do the whole route because I wanted to find a small pond discovered 20 years ago and located near the old mines to the south of La Capelle.
But the village is very picturesque, the boulders in "chaos" are spectacular, the castle is impressive, the archaeological site is interesting, the chapel of St Pierre and the tower are magnificent...

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bart30
bart30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk

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oligeri
oligeri

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

I didn't use the detailed description, I only worked with the IGN map.

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely, easy walk through the heath and woods. The mill has been very well restored. The Gallo-Roman remains are impressive, as is the desecrated 11th-century chapel. Superb panoramic views from the oppidum path.
beautiful paths through the colourful arbutus trees full of fruit. Beautiful castle at the starting village.
This short walk is ideal for short winter days.
PP and MM

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LE ROUX jean
LE ROUX jean

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I appreciate the descriptions of your walks and it's great to be able to print out the corresponding map.
I wish you all the best in the future.

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Cedric R5.
Cedric R5.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk. Be sure to follow the signs, as you could make a mistake.

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Jean-Marie GALMES
Jean-Marie GALMES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful walk in the heath between La Capelle and the Oppidum Saint Vincent.
Easy route.
On the way back, we took an alternative route between Masmolène and La Capelle, allowing us to admire the rock-climbing crags.

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Solea
Solea

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : No

Very disappointed by the interest of this hike apart from the starting point at La Capelle, which is a superb village, the very nice Moulin and the Gaujac Oppidum. Make a diversion via the climbing site and don't expect any remarkable scenery on the way to the oppidum, as the route mainly takes place on DFCI or very wide paths buried in the heath or thick undergrowth; especially in the first part where I wondered if I wasn't going to turn back. It's a long, long way to get views... I won't be doing this walk again! But thanks all the same to the person who wrote the description; however, some of the markings have been erased and without the mobile app, I think it's easy to get lost, especially without landscape markers.

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vero4030
vero4030

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Long but easy walk, lots of cool undergrowth, with several superb viewpoints, and of course the oppidum, a wonderful discovery of a fairly important and well-preserved historical site.

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Bidule34130
Bidule34130

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk with no particular difficulties. The top is, of course, the Oppidum. Access to the viewpoint from the village of Le Pin is rather difficult, as the ladder no longer has a reliable fixing point. All in all, a pleasant day. Thanks to the author of the track.

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viaplata
viaplata

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Well-detailed tour. We had to make a diversion because there were hunters.

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nona84
nona84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

An easy and very pleasant walk. Several points of interest along the way. We had a picnic at the Gaujac Oppidum, a much-appreciated stopover in the sun, sheltered from the wind and with a magnificent view. We were lucky enough to meet the archaeologists who are continuing the excavations and gave us an insight into the history of the site. On the way back, we got pleasantly 'lost' in the chaos of La Capelle. I recommend this option, which is not included in the description of the hike, as this rocky site is well worth a visit.

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Tartarin
Tartarin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

No attendance, but it's January!

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