Le Castellas (Montpeyroux) walks

Le Barry, a small village at the foot of the vineyards and the ruined Château de Castellas, near the village of Montpeyroux, provides access to the trails and a route through ancestral lands, vineyards and the La Font du Griffe sheepfold to join theGR® 74 towards the legendary Mont Saint-Baudille. From this spot, the view stretches across all the surrounding mountains and plains. Descent via Le Pioch Farrio, Le Joncas and La Croix de Fer.

A circular route starting from the archaeological stele on the D122 (Route des Lavagnes). Passing through Castelas de Montpeyroux and Arboras. Following thePR® Montpeyroux-Arboras and theGR®653(the Arles Way pilgrimage route). Two short circular loops around Arboras can be avoided, thereby shortening the circular loop by approximately 3 km.

Whether you’re a contemplative soul, a sports enthusiast, a nature lover or a history buff, here is a route along the southernmost foothills of the Causse du Larzac: an easy one-way walk offering sweeping views of the Languedoc’s main peaks, with the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees as a backdrop. The route culminates in a gentle and refreshing finish in one of the most beautiful villages in France, Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert, in the heart of the Gorges de l’Hérault, an area designated a ‘Grand Site de France’. Following a fire on 5 April 2023 on the hills above Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Saint-Jean-de-Fos, the route remains passable but the PR® des Fenestrettes is affected, as is the Arles trail (GR®653). Please check with the Saint-Guilhem – Vallée de l’Hérault Tourist Office to find out whether the route is open.

Starting from the Argileum Museum in Saint-Jean-de-Fos, this walk follows the mountain paths overlooking the Hérault valley. The gradual ascent allows you to discover the typical landscapes of the Mediterranean heath, amongst holm oaks and pines, with unobstructed views of the surrounding hills. The route then reaches the Castellas de Montpeyroux, an ancient hilltop fortified site offering a remarkable panorama of the valley, the vineyards and the foothills of the Larzac. After this stop, the route continues in a circular fashion along other heath trails, passing by thousand-year-old olive trees before descending gently back towards Saint-Jean-de-Fos.