The bench at the end of the world in Lamanère

This hike is an opportunity to enjoy a picnic on a wooden bench while looking out over the Muga valley, from its source to its estuary in the Bay of Roses. Best done on a clear day to enjoy the view.

Details

n°22704450

Creation:
05 Jun 2022

Last update:
08 Oct 2025

Last review:
22 Sep 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.27 km
Average duration: 4h 35
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 478 m
Descent: - 471 m
Highest point: 1,223 m
Lowest point: 780 m

Country: France
Areas: Pyrenees, Vallespir
District: Lamanère (66230)
Start/End: N 42.360235° / E 2.519612°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2349ET, 2349ETR, 2449OT
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The bench at the end of the world on land

The bench at the end of the world at Pla de la Muga

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in front of the town hall.

(S/E) From the town hall, walk to the church, pass it, and a pedestrian lane starts on the left 50 m further on (red and yellow^GRP® Ronde du Canigou markings). Walk between the village houses. The path becomes a trail after the last house on the right.
After La Casanove, the path leads to a track.

(1) Take it to the left for about 50 m^, then climb up to the right^, following the GRP® markings^.
The path climbs through the undergrowth until it reaches another track.

(2) Take it to the right and continue to a fork where you leave the^GRP® which turns left towards the Tours de Cabrenç.

(3) Stay on the track where there are old yellow markings (^PR®), which are more or less visible.
The track remains level until you reach a ford, then climbs slightly to a crossroads.

(4) Take a sharp left turn and follow the track uphill through the woods, passing a first sharp right turn then a left turn.

(5) Shortly afterwards, the path leaves the track, climbing steeply to the left. There is a cairn and, from time to time, yellow markings (an old logging track). The rather rough path climbs rapidly until it joins the track.

(6) Follow the track to the left and you will come out at Pla del Castell, where you will find the^GRP® Ronde du Canigou.

(7) Pla del Castell, signpost, a nice place to take a break.
Continue along the track until you reach the fork.

(8) The^GRP® leaves the track on the left towards Saint-Laurent-de-Cerdans. The path is very well marked in a cool beech forest. There are a few passages through red marl, typical of the region. The path quickly flirts with the Spanish border.
At one point, you will come across a signpost: Pla de la Muga. Turn right towards Pla de la Muga for about 20 metres, then leave the trail to the left through the woods for about 30 metres. The bench is at the edge of the woods, in the red marl, a few metres away, facing the Bay of Roses overlooking the Muga Valley.

(9) The return journey follows the same route as the outward journey to the car park in front of Lamanère Town Hall (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 780 m - Parking in front of the town hall.
1 : km 0.51 - alt. 842 m - Track
2 : km 0.83 - alt. 905 m - New trail
3 : km 1.42 - alt. 901 m - Leave the GRP, fork at the Cabrenç towers.
4 : km 2.02 - alt. 920 m - Hairpin bend
5 : km 2.92 - alt. 982 m - Fork in the path (cairn)
6 : km 3.51 - alt. 1,101 m - Fork in the track
7 : km 4.1 - alt. 1,144 m - Pla del Castell
8 : km 4.32 - alt. 1,151 m - GRP fork
9 : km 5.63 - alt. 1,188 m - Bench at the end of the world
S/E : km 11.27 - alt. 780 m - Parking in front of the town hall.

Worth a visit

(7) At Pla del Castell, visit the ruins. Option to visit the Cabrenç towers (1½ hours round trip).
Option to return to Lamanère via the Cabrenç towers, rejoining point (3).

(9) From the bench at the end of the world, return trip to Pla de la Muga (20 minutes).
Access to Mont Nègre (off-trail), 1½ hours round trip.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5

Route interest
4.4 / 5

Villadosia

22 Sep 2025 at 19:49 7200

That's what I tell myself every time. When you emerge from the woods on the slopes of La Muga, the landscape suddenly opens up and it's always magnificent! Enjoy your hikes!

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Sandrine Elisabeth

22 Sep 2025 at 11:52 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike!!! ❤️💛 Magnificent, it's a little paradise. The GPS track is very reliable. There are no difficulties. We loved it!!!

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User 23625672

20 May 2025 at 13:49 7200 • Edited: 20 May 2025 at 13:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulty, clear signage, magnificent scenery—in short, I recommend it.

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Villadosia

29 Apr 2025 at 08:01 7200

Hello, I share your feelings: it's beautiful and varied! As for the waterfall, it only flows in spring or autumn; in summer, the source of the Muga is lower. Hiking, Bernard

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georgesrando66

28 Apr 2025 at 00:01 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A surprising hike that ends at the famous bench in the middle of red earth with a pretty waterfall in one corner... No particular difficulties, fairly good signposting. In short, a very pleasant and easily accessible hike.

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Denis26

27 Jan 2025 at 07:50 3600 • Edited: 27 Jan 2025 at 07:53 3600

Following your comments about the arrival point at the bench, which was incorrectly positioned on the map, I have modified the route to take your comments into account.
In addition, the OSM world map indicates a viewpoint, so I have set the arrival point to this location.
Please leave your observations following this modification.

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valf66

26 Jan 2025 at 18:59 3600

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The GPS point for the arrival is not correct as it stops in the middle of the woods.
Result: discouraged because I couldn't find the Pla de Muga sign, then arrived at the bench, the wind was picking up and I had to make my way back. It's really disappointing not to find the point of interest after walking for three hours.

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ChrisDesno

20 Aug 2024 at 10:27 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Most of the hike takes place in the undergrowth (more pleasant in summer), so there is very little visibility. The terrain at the end of the hike is very unusual, even spectacular, as is the arrival at the "bench". However, the GPS track indicates the arrival point 150 m to 200 m before the end of the hike, in the middle of the undergrowth... Fortunately, my curiosity drove me further on, much to my delight...!

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nathaliem66

19 Apr 2024 at 09:36 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with some lovely climbs starting from Lamanère, then flatter terrain afterwards.
Magnificent scenery and a surprising finish, with a bench in the middle of nowhere!
But there are too few signs; luckily there are cairns from time to time.
The village of Lamanère is worth visiting before or after the hike. Don't do this hike in summer, it's too hot!

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fleche bleue

30 May 2023 at 10:19 7200

To find it, turn right at the Pla de la Muga post and continue for 100 metres, or alternatively, from marker 523, continue for 100 to 200 metres, just after the 50-metre marker on the right.

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David B

28 Mar 2023 at 02:32 7200

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The bench is the main attraction and a must-see. It is located in Spain, much further than the end of the route, but otherwise these red lands are wonderful.

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alpini.friuli

25 Aug 2022 at 18:31 7200 • Edited: 28 Aug 2022 at 18:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a moderate level hike, which is a round trip. The first part follows a route marked with old yellow signs, with a steady but not too steep climb. However, you need to be careful because there are lots of stones and rocks scattered along the climb. The main difficulty is near the summit (Pla de la Muga), where you have to cross eroded areas among the red marl. These very tricky passages require good footwear. To find the bench, continue along the GRP Ronde du Canigou, heading slightly into the woods, then turn right at border marker 523: the bench is a little further on, opposite, and requires a short detour upstream before you can sit on it. Magnificent view of the Ampurdan and the bay of Rosas, clearly visible on the horizon. Allow 2 hours and 15 minutes to return to Lamanère. A hike of definite geological interest to discover the red marl sculpted by erosion at Pla de la Muga, the watershed between northern and southern Catalonia. Saluti a tutti

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User 88543

23 Aug 2022 at 15:12 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant round trip hike, not very difficult, especially for those who do not wish to do the circular route that includes the Cabrens Towers. Despite the details in my comments, we did not find the famous bench either. It does not matter, as crossing the slag heaps is very enjoyable.

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Villadosia

28 Jun 2022 at 21:53 7200 • Edited: 28 Jun 2022 at 21:54 7200

I'm really sorry. The bench is on the left as soon as you take the path that connects to Pla de la Muga. You have to walk through the woods for about 20 metres and reach the red earth on the Spanish side. But I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy your future hikes, best regards, Bernard

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arlettegut

28 Jun 2022 at 18:42 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We just did this hike and everything went well until... we reached the signpost for "Le Pla de la Muga" and, more importantly, the bench, which we couldn't find. It's a shame, because the red marl scenery is magnificent.

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Author

Villadosia
10 Walks

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