The Capitelles de Laure-Minervois trail

In the Laure-Minervois area, drystone shelters known as capitelles bear witness to the history and work of the rural world. This route, marked in yellow, will take you to around thirty capitelles that have been restored by the villagers.

Details

377011
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 151 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 151 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 189 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 74 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the school car park.

(S/E) From the car park, head to Avenue des Écoles and follow it west.

(1) At the end of the avenue, just after the old village gate, turn left onto Avenue de la Cave Coopérative. After a few metres, turn right onto Rue des Oliviers. Continue straight ahead until you reach the village exit. On the right, you will see a sign indicating the Circuit des Capitelles trail.

From this crossroads to the next crossing, the route is very winding and difficult to describe in detail. Follow the yellow markings carefully.

(2) Turn right onto the path. Pass from one drystone shelter to another, between vineyards and wooded plots.

(3) At the foot of Pech Majou Sud, turn left (drystone shelters) and go around the summit on the left.

(4) At the T-junction between the two peaks, turn left (west). At a fork, take the left path. Make a hairpin turn to the right, continue winding your way up and reach the summit of Pech Majou Nord.

(5) Descend northwards in hairpin bends, then ignore a path on the right, continuing to follow the yellow markings until you reach the end of a small road.

(6) Leave the path that continues along the road on your left and continue straight ahead. At a fork, go right and you will come to a wide track before the hamlet of La Métairie Neuve.

(7) Turn right onto this track. At the crossroads, leave the path leading to Fontanille on your left and take the path on the right. Ignore a path on the right and join a road parallel to the Ruisseau de Fontanille.

(8) Turn right and cross a ford. Turn left at the next crossroads to join the D111.

(9) Turn right and continue straight down to the village. When you reach the village church, continue straight ahead on Rue de l'Eglise, then on Rue de la Mairie, which follows it, to cross the village and join Avenue des Ecoles. Follow it to the left to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 74 m - Car park at the school in Laure-Mivervois
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 86 m - Avenue des Écoles x Avenue de la Cave Coopérative
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 105 m - Crossroads, start of the yellow signposted trail
  4. 3 : km 2.35 - alt. 153 m - Foot of Pech Majou South
  5. 4 : km 2.91 - alt. 163 m - T-junction between the two Pechs
  6. 5 : km 3.4 - alt. 183 m - Pech Majou North
  7. 6 : km 4.29 - alt. 169 m - Small road, continue straight ahead
  8. 7 : km 5.15 - alt. 180 m - Métairie Neuve
  9. 8 : km 6.78 - alt. 122 m - Crossroads at Ruisseau de Fontanille
  10. 9 : km 7.61 - alt. 103 m - D111
  11. S/E : km 8.9 - alt. 74 m - Car park at the school in Laure-Minervois

Notes

Yellow signposts.

Picnic facilities are available at the Étang de Laure when you arrive on the D111 (tables, benches, water, toilets).

Worth a visit

The term "capitelle" (in Occitan capitèla) refers to a drystone shelter built without mortar in the old scrubland and used by shepherds or winegrowers as shelter during bad weather.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 42 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
User 10853839

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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bemer82
bemer82

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Superb hike with beautiful landscapes between heathland and vineyards and, above all, magnificent drystone shelters in very good condition

sometimes the trail was not properly marked and it was easy to get lost

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hc31
hc31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy hike, interesting for the number and variety of drystone shelters encountered. Suitable for children capable of walking 10 km.

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FMons
FMons

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk through the heath, with numerous drystone shelters along the way, making for a fun and enjoyable outing. Very reliable signposting.

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EVYGO
EVYGO

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

NICE ROUTE, THE MARKERS COULD BE CLOSER TOGETHER TO AVOID TOO MUCH
UNCERTAINTIES...

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jp11
jp11

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk, well known to those interested in the rural architecture of the region. The surroundings are pleasant. Be sure to follow the signs carefully

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Danielle11
Danielle11

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike on Thursday afternoon, very well marked trail, very varied: discovery of numerous drystone shelters, all very well restored (and "named") in the wooded areas. Then there were irises, daffodils and orchids in abundance in the penultimate section (8 to 9) and finally a beautiful avenue lined with cacti on both sides and a holm oak tree trimmed with ribbons (very original). At point 9, we didn't take the road, but instead took small paths on the right that lead down to the village, which is also worth visiting (monumental church, gate, etc.)
A pleasant afternoon, 9 km without any difficulties, 3 hours taking the time to stop and admire the nature and the stones.

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le Gaulois d'Oc
le Gaulois d'Oc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike for two.
Perfect weather, no wind, a little sun, 15°C.
We discovered around twenty drystone shelters, each with a different name.
Picnic at the foot of one of them.
Hike without any major difficulties.
Some muddy paths in places (after a brief spell of rain).

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bab31
bab31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very well signposted and well-maintained route. Well done for restoring the drystone shelters.

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Danali31
Danali31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It is better to follow the yellow markings than the description or GPS track if you don't want to miss the drystone shelters. This is especially true at the beginning of the circuit.
The changes do not improve the route.

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montahut@gmail.com
montahut@gmail.com
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk suitable for a wide audience.
The drystone shelters have been well renovated and the signposting is perfect.
There is sufficient assistance for the renovation...
A useful hike for a wide audience...

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thierry.rossich
thierry.rossich

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk, with most of the route in the shade. The drystone shelters are very well restored. I recommend this enjoyable walk, which can be done at a leisurely pace with the family, followed by a picnic.

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babeth30
babeth30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike, well marked with lovely drystone shelters.

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Lune11
Lune11

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike with well-marked trails.
The paths are pleasant and the numerous drystone shelters are very well restored.
At point 9, we followed the signposts rather than the route to avoid a section of road.
Thank you for this walk.

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Denis N1.
Denis N1.
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Completed with a group of 31 people under beautiful sunshine.
We appreciated the new signposting from point No. 9, which
avoids part of the departmental road. A very good idea from
lauranaise association.

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