The Bergiès Cosmodrome via Mévouillon and the Montagne de Buc

At the Col de Mévouillon, at an elevation of 889, take the forest track heading south-west; stay on this track and pass the farm on your right. Continue for a further 300 metres until you reach a car park on your left with space for four or five cars.

(S/E) Follow this forest track until you reach a stony track on the left.

(1) Climb the steep, stony track and continue climbing due south. Remember to look around you to admire the panoramic views and the lavender fields, and take note of the large wind vane for paragliders. After joining a path coming from the left, you’ll reach a Fork in the road just past the wind vane.

(2) Head straight up to Collet Court at an elevation of 1,442 metres, where the view is exceptional.

(3) Turn back and head down to the fork.

(2) Take the path leading down to the right, and continue your descent along this wide path, which makes two large hairpin bends. Carry on southwards until you reach^{the third bend}.

(4) At the left-hand bend in the track, take the path on your right and stay on this narrow, yellow-marked path. Continue south-east, then south. After a wide left-hand bend and the junction with a path coming from the right, you’ll reach, 200 metres further on, a crossroads near a park and a sheep shelter.

(5) Carry on straight towards the Cosmodrome, which you can see in the distance. Head uphill, pass through the Petit Col, then the Grand Col, and arrive at the Bergiès Cosmodrome facilities.

(6) After a break and taking the time to admire the scenery, return to the fork in the path near the sheep shelter.

(5) Take the path on the right marked in yellow and head down to the bed of the Rieu. Follow it for a while, then let it veer off to the right and you’ll reach a Fork in the road.

(7) Carry on straight ahead, ignoring the path on the right, until you reach the next fork.

(8) Keep to your left, ignoring the path on the right, and continue north, then north-east, until you reach another junction.

(9) Take the path furthest to the left and carry on due west until you reach the forest track, ignoring the path joining from your right.

(10) Stay on the forest track, turning right for about 150 m, then take the path on the left. Ignore a path on the right and you’ll come to a Fork in the road.

(11) Turn right and follow this path north-west, then north. After about 1.5 km, the path runs alongside a field and turns left into the forest, leading to a T-junction.

(12) Follow the stony path on the left for a short while, then head slightly downhill to the right. Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

Make sure you’re wearing suitable footwear; walking poles are a good idea. Bring something to drink as the walk is long but easy.

IBP: 93 / Sustained physical exertion
Technical difficulty: 2
Difficulty: 2

Bergiès Cosmodrome.