Lauret walks

Circuit on the eastern slopes of the Causse de l'Hortus visiting its sites of interest: Lafous mill, Embruscalles lake, Mas Neuf, the archaeological site of the Causse rock with a view of the entire Gard plains and the pre-Alps beyond, Mont Lozère, Aigoual and more...

This hike will take you to the shores of Lake Matane and allow you to discover varied landscapes and beautiful panoramic views. You will appreciate the orientation table at Rocher du Causse, which offers a splendid view.

A beautiful hike with views from above, running along the ridges of the causse that overlooks Valflaunès and Lauret. There are beautiful views to the east and south throughout the circuit over the villages of the wine-growing plain and the Pic Saint Loup vineyards. In the distance, the hills fade into a beautiful shade of blue.

Departure from Mas Baume, where the Asphodèles trail begins.

A very pleasant hike starting from Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, which will take you along the picturesque Lac de Cécélés while offering magnificent panoramic views of the two local giants, Pic Saint-Loup and Hortus.The hike is very accessible but there are a few steep sections.

This short hike will take you to a remarkable site off the beaten track. From the charming Saint-Étienne de Gabriac chapel, the trail takes you to the banks of the Lamalou before reaching impressive strata of white limestone. These very thick strata have staggered ridges and form a huge staircase, hence the name of the site. This hike must be done in sunny weather to admire the dazzling whiteness of these rocks.

Pic Saint-Loup is a classic spot with a superb panorama: on one side, the view stretches as far as Mont Aigoual, which rises above the Cévennes, and on the other, the plain stretches to the blue Mediterranean. Starting from Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, this route begins in the opposite direction, allowing you to enjoy more peace and quiet and follow the sun's path. Some sections are vertiginous, see reviews

Pic-Saint-Loup, the legendary peak in the Montpellier hinterland. Here, I suggest approaching it from the east via Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers. This shaded, less frequented route through the woods takes you past the ruined castle of Montferrand. At the summit, you can enjoy views of the Alps, the Pyrenees, Mont Ventoux, the Cévennes and the Mediterranean.

A beautiful walk for the whole family that leads to a spring through the heath.

A pleasant loop with no real difficulties, starting from Cazevieille and west of Pic Saint Loup. Most of the route is in the woods, making it pleasant even in summer. Take into account the possible paths between (1) and (2) as well as the note at (6).

There are several very interesting walks in the Pic Saint-Loup area near Montpellier, with distant views of the Cévennes to the north and the sea to the south.

This hike is best done on a sunny afternoon, so that you can contemplate the view from the summit, which can be truly breathtaking if the air is dry. This hike may be prohibited depending on the level of fire risk. Please consult the map.

A hike along varied paths (heathland, undergrowth) starting from Montaud (Hérault) and passing along the edge of Saint-Bauzille-de-Montmel. It offers views of the ruins of Montlaur Castle nearby.

A hike in the heart of the heath with panoramic views of the sea, Pic Saint-Loup, the Cévennes and Mont Lozère In April, the path between (3) and (5) is lined with dwarf irises, asphodels and beautiful wild orchids!

Du charmant petit hameau de Montlaur, on chemine parmi le vignoble et les oliveraies entrecoupés de bosquets. Depuis la crête de Coste Bertine, la vue s'étend au Sud vers le littoral et jusqu'au Ventoux à l'Est. On termine par la visite des ruines de ce fantastique château.

In the Cardonille massif, south of Ganges, this lovely hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Cévennes, Mont Aigoual and the Thaurac plateau with its Grotte des Demoiselles. It then approaches the banks of the Hérault via shaded paths and trails, offering a real haven of coolness in the summer. The circuit, which sometimes runs along a balcony, offers beautiful views of the river and its meanders before reaching the picturesque Moulin de Clauzel.

A journey through both geological time and history, exploring the medieval village of Sauve and the chaos of the Mer des Rochers.

In the heathland hinterland between Sommières and Quissac, this wild, wooded hill dominates the Vidourle valley and offers a beautiful view to the south, all the way to the sea.

A visit to the Grand Devès site from Guzargues. This hike will take you around Serre Rond, a hill combining heath and history, which was home to a German observation post from 1942 to 1944, the remains of which can still be seen today. Along the way, you will find the grave of the tracking dog Youki. You will then continue on your way towards Montaud and the source of the Cadoule before returning to your starting point.

From Les Matelles, a pretty medieval village, this circuit provides access to the path on the crest of a ridge. The Tour de Vias (watchtower) was once built on this promontory. It offers beautiful views of Pic Saint-Loup, the village and the former convent of Notre-Dame-des-Champs before descending towards the Romanesque bridge of Deux Serres, which crosses the Lirou. Afterwards, the trail faces Notre-Dame-des-Champs and returns to the village, winding through a forest of pine, juniper and holm oak trees. This hike may be closed depending on the fire risk. Remember to check the map.

Hike in the foothills of the Cévennes in a heath landscape with beautiful views of two characteristic hills: the Rouquette and Saint-Chamant peaks. The difficulty can be adjusted: each summit can be climbed on a short round trip. I recommend taking a break for a snack at the summit of Saint-Chamant.

Located between Nimes and Montpellier, the village of Saussines has a quite exceptional heritage: a listed 12th century church, a castle, beautiful mansions, old washhouses. The gorse scrubland is close by with six capitelles (1), a nature trail, a picnic area with tables and is close to a spring at the high point of the circuit, plus there is a beautiful view of the Pic Saint Loup and the Cevennes. Important note: Ignore the numbers marked on the ground and stick to the VisoRando instructions instead

From the village of Laroque, take a tour of the Thaurac plateau and its many karstic caves.

This walk devoted to the discovery of Roman ruins will introduce you to two medieval Languedoc villages.The scrubland will bring you the fragrance of thyme and the landscapes will enchant photographers. Enjoy without moderation. Note: To help with orientation, "tricky" sections have been highlighted with blue dotted markers.

From the Roussières departmental estate to the prehistoric village of Cambous, this route takes you on a journey of discovery through Neolithic sites (tombs, dolmens, village) and the Termenou fountain, following ancient drovers' roads (paths used by sheep during transhumance). Crossing varied landscapes, ridges, undergrowth and meadows where asphodels abound in April, this hike also offers magnificent panoramic views of the Pic Saint-Loup, the Hortus and the Cévennes. This hike may be closed depending on the fire risk. Remember to check the map.

A walk through the wild countryside around Castries, not far from Montpellier. You will discover quarries and some particularly interesting sculptures. You will walk through the undergrowth. An amazing route with many surprises in store.

This peaceful walk partly follows the Castries Aqueduct, built by Paul Riquet (architect of the Canal du Midi) and completed in 1676. This structure supplied water to the Château de Castries via 7 km of tunnels, trenches and aqueducts. This hike also allows you to discover the ruins of the Pont des Tourilles bridge over the Cadoule, a remarkable little chapel, the Fondespierre departmental estate and a small drystone shelter nestled in a dry stone wall.

This moderately difficult hike offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and Saint-Roman de Codières from the ridge of the Montagne de la Fage.

The hamlet of Cézas, in the commune of Sumène, clings to an altitude of 650 m between the Cagnasses and Fage mountains, in the heart of a national forest. This short mid-mountain route alternates between numerous shaded passages and views of the Cévennes and beyond. On the way, a visit to the 12th-century Priory of Saint-Martin is a must, offering a peaceful spot for a picnic.

This circular hike takes you through the Combe Chaude Nature Reserve, a nesting area for birds of prey and bats in the numerous caves. This limestone barrier overlooks the Rieutord valley and offers a beautiful view of much of the Cévennes in the Gard department. Don't miss the unusual crossing of the Baume Clauside, the climb up the Ranc de Banes offering a 360° panorama from Pic Saint-Loup to Mont Aigoual, and a short tour to discover the village at the end of the circuit.