Pic de la Coquillade via the Saint-Michel Chapel

de fr

A summit between the high cantons of Hérault and the wine-growing plain.

Details

n°260132
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 570 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 577 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 694 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 183 m
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Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park at the town hall or the one near the cemetery, head towards the top of the village of Les Aires. Pass in front of the school and follow the Chemin de Bernaude, which further on becomes the Chemin de la Combe de Baraban and continues south-southeast along the Aires stream.

(1) Take the path on the right, making a 180° turn, and continue along a few bends until you reach the site of the Chapelle Saint-Michel.

(2) Continue to the right for a round trip to the ruins of the old feudal castle (currently being restored).
(3) After touring the ruins, return to the chapel.

(2) Follow the path on the right, which climbs gently to reach the junction with the Promenade et Randonnée (PR®®) path.

(4) Take this path on the right to reach the Pic de la Coquillade.

(5) Return to the junction ofthe PR®® and the path you took on the way up.

(4) Continue along thePR®® trail, following the yellow markings, to descend into the valley. At the junction, leave the Sentier du Réseau Vert trail on your right and continue to the fork in the trail about 50 metres further on.

(6) Turn left and join a wide track, which you follow to the left for a few hundred metres.

(7) Before the first hairpin bends, leave the track on your right and take the small path on your left that descends perpendicular to the contour lines towards the hamlet of Les Aires.

(8) Cross the stream to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 196 m - Car park at the town hall in the village of Les Aires.
  2. 1 : km 1.97 - alt. 309 m - Chemin de Baraban crossroads
  3. 2 : km 3.16 - alt. 399 m - Chapelle Saint-Michel (Les Aires)
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 423 m - Chapel and castle undergoing restoration
  5. 4 : km 6.96 - alt. 644 m - PR junction
  6. 5 : km 7.42 - alt. 694 m - Pic de la Coquillade (696 m)
  7. 6 : km 9.51 - alt. 545 m - Continue to the left.
  8. 7 : km 11.31 - alt. 371 m - Crossroads with hairpin bends on the track
  9. 8 : km 12.16 - alt. 204 m - Récas (cours d'eau) - Affluent de l'Orb
  10. S/E : km 12.92 - alt. 196 m - Car park at the town hall in the village of Les Aires.

Notes

The descent from point (7) to Les Aires is difficult for those with weak knees!

Worth a visit

Visit the Saint-Michel Chapel and the ruins of the feudal castle (magnificent view over the Orb valley).

From the summit of Pic de la Coquillade, you will have a 360° view stretching from the peaks of Espinouse to the Mediterranean Sea.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 12 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Claude ANDRE
Claude ANDRE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is described as difficult, but it is only challenging in terms of its route, where the climbs are straight, but it is easy to walk at your own pace. In my opinion, it is accessible to everyone! And it is not dangerous. There is a lot to see at the start in the village, including the castrum and the chapel. Another point of interest is the hamlet along the way with its old stones. The route takes a less pleasant section of the DPIF. At the top of the peak there is a beautiful view, but unfortunately it was foggy that day... A very pleasant hike

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User 17891590

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, quite challenging, walking shoes recommended as the first part is quite rocky, the return through the woods is pleasant.
Don't miss the right-angled path that leads to the castle ruins and, above all, the chapel (recently restored) where the view is magnificent!

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User 4376922
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb views... because of the strong sun, the initial route was not very pleasant on a wide path, not at all to my taste, so we quickly branched off into the undergrowth to catch up with the yellow waymarked path and trail from the chapel of Saint Michel to the Pic de la coquillade. Chemin de mourcairol. Most of the route is uphill and quite physical, with stony ground. Very nice

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jeantahiti
jeantahiti

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hikes without any major difficulties.

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cabrier
cabrier

That's what you call combining business with pleasure! Thank you for your opinion.

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Toumabena
Toumabena

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. Almost all of the elevation gain occurs in the first part of the hike, up to the Pic de la Coquillade, along a trail that is accessible to all. The descent (PR) is a little more challenging, as some rocky sections are slippery and the slope is steep.
Very pleasant passages through the woods (2 kg of mushrooms collected).

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guy.barthes
guy.barthes
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A fairly challenging and well-designed route
Don't miss a visit to the chapel
A beautiful 360° view at the peak and a lovely holm oak forest on the way down.
No major difficulties on the descent
GB

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Pierre202930
Pierre202930

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We did the hike in the opposite direction (it climbs steeply straight away), it is very well marked and we did not follow the description.
If you climb up to the peak, you can take the path to the castle without going back the way you came, which saves you from retracing your steps.

As four thirty-somethings, we did it in four hours with a lunch break.

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jeanmarieeliane
jeanmarieeliane

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Very beautiful views but a long, monotonous descent, which must be pleasant in summer as long as the moths haven't arrived. I won't be doing this route again.

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lesvegas
lesvegas

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike that can be done in hot weather as most of the paths are in the forest.
And what a view from the peak of La Coquillade!
This is the second time we've hiked this route, and both times we followed the PR to point 5.
It's hard to say whether it's better than the suggested route, but the trail is marked entirely in yellow and you walk higher up for the views.
On the downside, there is a bit of tarmac when you reach the chapel.
Note that there is a car park for hikers below the village.
Thank you for this hike.
Robert

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cabrier
cabrier

Hello,
Thank you for your comments.
Yes, it is an area where you have to coexist with hunters.
Please note the hunting days: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
Sorry, but you'll have to hike on weekdays, and if you work... take a day off!
@+

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GMGALD
GMGALD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
The route is simple and not particularly difficult. Done in average weather with no rain, the view from the chapel is lovely. Oh, and at this time of year, you have to put up with the hunters, but don't forget your red cap, just in case!
Very good.

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philippe.ratti@sfr.fr
philippe.ratti@sfr.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello,
12.5 km, 770 m elevation gain according to my route, it's a challenging hike, completed with a group of 20 people on 21/10/2018.
I didn't use the description, just the GPS track.
A very beautiful, shaded route. Not to be attempted when the ground is wet, as there is a high risk of slipping on the way back.
It's a climb, but it's worth it.
Very well marked in yellow.
I recommend having lunch right at the summit below the P for Pic de la Coquillade. Exceptional view.

Thank you for the track.
Philippe

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Yeah, seen from that angle, I understand the messy aspect. Thank you, Bernard.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello and thank you for your message. Regarding the points, it turns out that points 2 and 4 are used twice. Point 2 precedes point 3, as it is clearly stated that you should go around the chapel. Then you have to return to 2 to continue towards the peak. The same applies to 4. Go there first, then again on the way back from the peak. Continue on to finish the hike.

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