The Brahunal Balcony

From Aigues-Vives (D907), turn right towards Agel (D20) then left to reach Paguignan. On leaving the hamlet, look for a small road on the left that descends towards Cailhol. Follow it and park behind the Paguignan cemetery.

GRP® Around St-Jean-de-Minervois (yellow-red markings)
This GR® de Pays is one of five circular routes grouped under the name “Tours en Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Faugères”, forming a 232-kilometre route through the wine-growing regions of western Hérault.

(S/E) From the cemetery, return to the road and take it to the right heading north-west, crossing a first bridge. Cross another small bridge (green railing), and continue uphill to the hamlet of Cailhol.

(1) At the wayside shrine on the left, leave the road and head down to the right into the hamlet via Rue du Centre. Drinking water point on the low wall. Walk right through the hamlet. On leaving, cross a small bridge and turn left onto the dirt track that climbs uphill.

Leave the GRP®

(2) At the entrance to a house (chain), take the unmarked path to the left of a fig tree opposite. A^first tree blocking the path requires you to go round it on the left. The others will soon follow! (see warning).

(3) Then look out for the small, barely visible path (small cairn with a trace of paint) on the left, which leads downhill. Cross the Combe Naurèle and climb back up a fairly steep and stony slope.

(4) Pass several vantage points as you walk along the edge of the cliff, above the Ruisseau de Brahunal, a tributary of the Cessière. You will come to a plot of uprooted vines. Go round the fallow plot on the left.

(5) Look out for a path ‘marked’ by a bucket hanging from a tree on the left. Cross several steep sections of the Champs des Champez before returning to the edge of the cliff. Head north.

(6) At a fork, take the left-hand path to stay as close as possible to the edge of the plateau.

(7) At the crossroads, you’ll come across the signposting for an “oenorando” (post). Turn right onto a more comfortable path. Walk alongside the walls of an old building, and head east before veering slightly to the right. Ignore two successive tracks coming in from the right, before a^third junction.

(8) Turn right and pass between plots of vines, whose vines grow on white pebbles but which have made the reputation of the "Muscat petits grains" grape variety. Arrive at a triangular junction.

GRP® Around St-Jean-de-Minervois (yellow-red markings)

(9) Join the GRP® on the right and head southwards. Ignore the track as it bends to keep straight ahead on the GRP®, weaving through a narrow path. Wander through low vegetation before reaching a track at the start of the Combe Naurèle.

(10) At the T-junction, turn right, then head back south, staying on the GRP® for a while. Leave it when it veers off to the right, staying on the track lined with trees felled by the storm. Pass beneath a mobile phone mast, and eventually reach the Paguignan cemetery (S/E).

Warning:
During the recce (22/03/26), the path along the cliff edge between points 2 and 6 is blocked by several pine trees that were uprooted during the last storm. This means you have to work your way around them as best you can, which slows down your progress on this section. Not recommended for children or those with little off-trail experience. The difficulty of the hike has been reclassified as ‘moderate’ due to these obstacles, which are not insurmountable, however.

Water point at Cailhol sur Muret

St-Jean-de-Minervois wine cellar, famous for its Muscat (to be enjoyed in moderation). Start of an 8 km (2½ hours) marked route (yellow line) known as the “Oenorando® du Petit Grain”

In Paguignant: Church of St-Martin-le-Vieux
All that remains today of the majestic church of “Saint-Martin-le-Vieux” are ruins. Built at the beginning of the Common Era, during the Gallic Revolt, it was repeatedly subjected to looting and arson. It was in the 13th century, during the terrible Cathar period, that Franciscan and Dominican monks were tasked with evangelising the heretics in the Aude valley. They settled in Paguignan, erecting a church in the Southern Gothic style. Saint-Martin-le-Vieux stands as a testament to this era of church builders, whose influence extended as far as Majorca.