The Dourdou valley, the ridges and the summit of Merdelou

Park in the square by the church in Brusque.

Part of the route is marked in yellow.

(S/E) Head towards the bridge; do not cross it, but follow the River Dourdou along the left bank. At the boules court, take the path on the left. Shortly afterwards, near the stadium, rejoin the road.

(1) Carry on straight ahead, passing the cemetery and then the Grotte Notre-Dame. Follow the river, turn left at the fish farm and head for Mialet.

(2) Turn right, then wade across the stream. Continue through the woods, staying on the left bank of the Dourdou,
pass through Viales and go round Castelnouvel on the right.

(3) Pass under the D12 bridge and turn left to join the road, which you follow carefully to the right for about 800 m, passing Cussettes and the “Mas des fontaines”, a stopover lodge and guesthouse.

(4) At the Croix de Laouzide, turn left onto a dirt track. Cross a chestnut grove, pass close to a karstic cave – a remnant of mining activity (explanatory sign at the side of the track) – then reach a pass at 638 m. Yellow markings are still visible.

(5) Continue to the left and reach a junction at the 706-metre mark.

(6) Leave the yellow markings behind. Pass the Aupiac forest track on your right and the Thérondels track on your left. Take a firebreak between the two, which climbs steeply straight up the slope.

(7) Once you reach the 921-metre mark, continue in the same direction, skirting the wind turbines.

(8) Shortly after the EDF plant and the fire reserve tank, turn right towards another row of wind turbines. Keep heading in the same direction.

(9) At the junction with a forest track, head straight ahead (through a gap in the fence) onto a small path climbing towards the summit of Merdelou

(10) Turn back, following the same route.

(8) Return to the yellow markings and follow them to the finish. Turn right onto another firebreak and head downhill. Join the Thérondels track.

(11) Turn right, go round the first hairpin bend to the left and then the second to the right.

(12) Leave the track and take a path on the left which serves as a shortcut. Back on the track, continue to the left, pass a sheepfold and arrive at the Col des Ayres.

(13) Take a path lined with boxwood, continue along the ridge and reach Brusque at the castle and the tower of the Old Church.

(14) Turn left, then take a narrow lane on the right and continue along Rue de la Poterne. Cross the small bridge over the Ruisseau de Sanctus and return to the church car park (S/E).

A windproof jacket is essential. The ridges and the summit are very windy. It is no coincidence that wind turbines have been installed there.

In Brusque: the castle, the tower of the Old Church and the Dourdou.