The Calisso tour

Hike in the Haut Languedoc Regional Park in the middle of the Berlou vineyards, which allows you to discover, from the Calisso mountain, the villages of Escagnes, Mézeilles, Le Pin, Roquebrun and Cessenon with the Caroux mountain in the background.
Moderator's note: mixed reviews on this hike; see comments at the bottom of this page.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 394 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 390 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 378 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 126 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Moderator update on 16 March 2020: several reviews of this hike suggest that the Visorando app or a GPS device is useful.

Park in the Berlou Town Hall car park.

(S/E) Return to the D177 (Avenue de la Mairie), turn right towards the church, then turn left towards the cooperative winery.

(1) Turn left and follow Chemin de la Curayé to rejoin the D177E1. Turn left and continue to the hamlet of La Mausse.

(2) In La Mausse, turn right and go up the concrete road. Leave the hamlet and follow the path, ignoring the turn-off to the pylons on the left. Then go straight down towards the Ruisseau du Mas Blanc stream.

(3) At the crossroads, take a small path on the left, stay on the upper part of the vineyard and follow this path, passing by the Mas Blanc hut. Continue along this path to the Col de Merly.

(4) Cross the D177, descend opposite and take the first path through the vineyards. Stay on the hillside, heading generally east-south-east, and rejoin the Chemin de Calisso.

(5) Turn left and walk about ten metres, leaving the track that descends towards Ceps on your left and taking the main path on the right. Pass two vineyard paths on your right. On the left, you can see the villages of Escagnés, Mezeilles and Ceps with its bridge over the Orb. When you reach the edge of the vineyard, continue on the left, passing through the top of the vineyard and enjoying the view over the vineyard and the village of Berlou.

(6) At a cairn on the side of the vineyard, take a small path on the left that climbs up through holm oaks and arbutus trees. Cross a slate quarry where, in the middle, another cairn on the right indicates the location of a drystone shelter (stone hut) below. You will have a superb view of Roquebrun and the Orb valley thanks to a short detour to the right.

When you reach the Calisso keel, an IGN marker (elevation 379) indicates the boundary between the municipalities of Berlou and Roquebrun. Take the path on the left that descends towards Roquebrun and joins a wide track.

(7) Take the path on the right, leave La Claretière on your right, walk along the vineyard with the well covered by a small building and you will come to a crossroads.

(8) Turn right and begin the descent towards the Rieu Berlou valley. Take a first hairpin bend to the left, then a second to the right, and you will come out onto a tarmac track.

(9) Turn right, passing the ruins of La Glaudette. Take a short detour to the left to see the Mouline waterfall under the bridge. Return to the tarmac track and keep right at the next crossroads, following the Calisso stream.

(10) Take another dirt track on the right which descends towards vineyards and a pine forest. At the first junction, turn right then left and continue to a fork, following a path on the right.

(11) Turn left, then left again twice and go uphill following the small stream.

(12) When you reach a small bridge, take the tarmac road on the left and head uphill towards the Margot pine trees.

(13) At this point, take the time to enjoy the panoramic view of the Berlou vineyard with the imposing Caroux massif, which rises to 1,050 metres, in the background. Continue straight ahead on the tarmac road to begin the return to Berlou, then, on the descent, take the track on the right after the pine trees.
Follow this track, passing by the cemetery, and enter Berlou via Rue de l'Égalité.

(1) Continue straight ahead, descend towards the church and turn right to return to the Town Hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 196 m - Town hall car park
  2. 1 : km 0.29 - alt. 214 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.09 - alt. 308 m - Hameau de la Mausse, on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.72 - alt. 286 m - Le Mas Blanc, path on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.5 - alt. 256 m - Col de Merly
  6. 5 : km 3.78 - alt. 217 m - Chemin de Calisso, left then right
  7. 6 : km 4.76 - alt. 310 m - Cairn, on the left
  8. 7 : km 5.94 - alt. 276 m - Path, on the right
  9. 8 : km 6.5 - alt. 235 m - Crossroads, on the right
  10. 9 : km 7.63 - alt. 145 m - Tarmac track, on the right
  11. 10 : km 9.21 - alt. 168 m - Cambe Grosse, dirt track on the right
  12. 11 : km 9.67 - alt. 160 m - Fork, left
  13. 12 : km 10.63 - alt. 192 m - Small bridge, tarmac road on the left
  14. 13 : km 11.04 - alt. 207 m - Serre des Cayrils, straight ahead
  15. S/E : km 12.73 - alt. 192 m - Town hall car park

Worth a visit

Viewpoint over the vineyards of Berlou, the Caroux Massif and the villages of Escagnès, Mézeilles, Ceps, Roquebrun, Cessenon and Berlou.

Reviews and comments

3.5 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Lo Joanòt
Lo Joanòt

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Even though we had to 'open up' the path in one place (there were very few marks on the ground), the walk was still enjoyable. You need to add the telephone number to the information sheet and map so that you can compare the route.

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Legrandas
Legrandas

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. Beautiful landscapes to admire, beautiful photos to take.

However, the route could do with better explanations and, above all, better signposting, which is virtually non-existent along the entire route.

Perhaps avoid taking the path at point 4 and stay on the road until you reach the Calisso path. There are lots of brambles and branches to climb over.

Fortunately, we had the Visorando app, which was a great help. We will do this hike again anyway.

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Bernard G9.
Bernard G9.

Hello,
You can do this hike without any problems. The trail that climbs up to the Calisso ridge has recently been reopened and marked. Best regards.

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Legrandas
Legrandas

We abandoned the idea of doing this hike after reading the reviews. Can you tell us if it is now better marked and the route more passable? Thank you.

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jlm34
jlm34

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Dear hiker, if you are planning to do this tour relying solely on the guidebook, here are a few tips:
-Before setting off, inform your friends and family of your plans as a precaution.
-Bring food, water, a torch, and a survival blanket (there are no markings and the description is vague).
-Bring protective glasses and gloves, pruning shears, an axe or chainsaw (nature has reclaimed the Calisso hill); I came back covered in scratches and, as you might imagine, in a rather bad mood.
Otherwise, plan your hike for October when the arbutus berries are ripe.

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holliwood
holliwood

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I agree with the previous reviews.
The route is not signposted and there is an unmarked section at the summit. Fortunately, I had my GPS!
The descent begins on a narrow path through the woods with no visibility whatsoever.
The return journey was mostly on roads or tarmac paths, which were not particularly interesting.
And yesterday it was very windy!
I won't be doing this hike again.

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patrickdt
patrickdt

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with a varied route that takes you off the beaten track.
This hike is impossible without a good GPS, unless you enjoy treasure hunts.

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grandin
grandin ★

I added to the description that GPS is useful on this hike.

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salvetoit
salvetoit

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Part of the trail (level 6) is no longer passable because it is unmarked and impassable due to vegetation.
At point 10, vines have been pulled up and there is no path
For these two reasons, plan detours and use a GPS, otherwise you'll have a hard time!

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JMCN
JMCN

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,
Hiking impossible without GPS.
Those who prefer paper maps should refrain.

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BABOT François
BABOT François

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable

Superb hike
Thank you

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cloclodagde
cloclodagde

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An interesting hike for the views, but the Visorando GPS app is very useful before climbing to the summit of Calisso and at the top as well.
Do not attempt in summer.
Best regards

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

By "route on map", we do not mean evaluating the signposting, but rather the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

For fans of "free" GPS, check out ORUXMAPS... it's free and has all the world's maps for free... I've been using it for hiking (and elsewhere) for over 5 years; it has allowed me to avoid a few "disasters" with signposting thanks to the maps downloaded from the site...

The Visorando GPS application allows you to have consistent information between the Visorando website, your PC and your smartphone GPS.
No more incompatible interfaces and other workarounds!

Best regards

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Kaogniao
Kaogniao

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice hike, but be careful: the markings after the Calisso summit for the descent are "hit and miss". I (strongly) recommend having a GPS and downloading the GPX map, which is very well done and helped me avoid getting lost! And even before the summit, because there are a lot of intersections...

For fans of "free" GPS, check out ORUXMAPS... it's free and has all the maps of the world for free... I've been using it for hiking (and elsewhere) for over 5 years; it has allowed me to avoid a few "disasters" with the markings, thanks to the maps downloaded from the site...
For hiking... Don't forget water... and a hat (Mexican)... try to visit the museum (if it's open) - great fossils... on the way back, visit the wine cellar and enjoy a tasting (in moderation)... The white "Murmure" Viognier grape variety is superb!!! (This isn't an advert, it's my personal opinion.) For art lovers, the label design will inspire you!!!

Avoid this hike in hot weather... ideal in March/April/May... or in autumn... I'll do it again...

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drsvt
drsvt

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, well described with beautiful views. However, it was difficult to find the Calisso trail. The path that climbs through the holm oaks and arbutus trees is difficult to spot at the beginning and along the way. Without a GPS, it would be very difficult to find the normal path on the descent from Calisso.
Overall, a very pleasant hike.

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