Les Planques Héraultaises

The planques are ancient footbridges built with huge stone slabs connected by metal staples and supported by dry stone walls and one or two large blocks serving as pillars.
This superb circuit takes you through the Haut Languedoc Natural Park, across fields in the middle of the Somail National Forest, to discover these famous planques spanning the Arn stream and the Chemin des Menhirs.

This hike may be closed depending on the fire risk. Remember to check the map.

Details

817713
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.02 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 269 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 266 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 984 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 852 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park opposite the Church of Soulié.
The route is very well marked in yellow under the namePR®8.

(S/E) Opposite the church, head towards the bell tower and climb the adjacent street to the top of the village towards the Way of the Cross. Follow the Way of the Cross until after station IV.

(1) Before station V, visible at this crossroads, turn left onto the path heading south. On the road at Soulié Bas, pass the simple iron Occitan cross on the left at the crossroads, then immediately turn right between two buildings. Continue for 20 metres and, in the bend, continue straight ahead on the dirt track between two rows of trees. Keep heading south, ignoring a path on the left and another on the right.

(2) At the wide track, turn right, leaving the cross behind you, continue for 150 m and turn left onto the dirt track. At the T-junction, take the left and cross the Arn river over the first planks of the circuit. Continue towards Ginestous, ignoring the paths that branch off on both sides.

(3) The entrance to Ginestous is marked by a calvary. This is the start of the Chemin des Menhirs. Cross the hamlet. At the exit and the fork, continue left on the forest path, dotted with a dozen menhirs. Cross the D55E1 and continue opposite, slightly to the right, towards Fonclare. Do not go there, but look for a path about 60 m after the bend in the road.

(4) Take the hairpin bend onto the path on the right. Cross a stream, then turn left at the crossroads. Further on, cross a long ford over two streams. The path leads to a wide track. Continue straight ahead and head north towards La Fajole.

(5) Cross the second magnificent ford in front of the entrance to La Fajole. Cross La Fajole, admiring the beautifully renovated bread oven as you go. At the crossroads at the exit of the hamlet, take the road on the right climbing between two industrial buildings. At the fork after passing under the power line, take the right. Continue east, ignoring the four paths on the left. Pass in front of the large Blanque farm.

(6) At the fork, continue straight ahead on the wide forest track, ignoring the paths that cross on the right. Cross a tributary of the Arn and head back up towards Le Moulinet.

(7) At the entrance to the estate, take the path on the left and descend gently towards the Arn. After crossing the river, the path climbs back up towards Le Pioch. At the first crossroads, turn left, then right after 50 metres. Continue straight ahead until you reach the D150E and cross it.

(8) Opposite, head towards Camiffarat and continue to Caudezaures. Do not cross the entire hamlet. At the fork, turn right towards the wash house.

(9) Follow the hairpin bend and climb towards the Col de la Baraque. Ignore the paths that branch off to the left and right. At the track, turn left.

(10) At the four-way intersection, turn right. At the fork shortly after, take the left and then turn left again. Keep heading west, ignoring a path on the left, until you reach a crossroads/clearing and continue straight ahead.

(11) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead and slightly to the left on the gravel track. Ignore a path on the left and pass Combes. At the D1503, take the road on the right to return to the village and find your cars in the car park in front of the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 893 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.52 - alt. 928 m - On the left before the Calvary station
  3. 2 : km 1.96 - alt. 871 m - Wide track, on the right
  4. 3 : km 3.01 - alt. 905 m - Calvary and entrance to Ginestous
  5. 4 : km 4.9 - alt. 910 m - Turn right
  6. 5 : km 6.5 - alt. 862 m - 2nd ford at planques
  7. 6 : km 8.76 - alt. 885 m - Fork, opposite, after the - Arn (rivière)
  8. 7 : km 9.86 - alt. 899 m - Moulinet, on the left
  9. 8 : km 11.14 - alt. 931 m - D150E, straight towards Camiraffat
  10. 9 : km 11.94 - alt. 938 m - Cadezaures wash house
  11. 10 : km 13.41 - alt. 982 m - Four paths, on the right
  12. 11 : km 15.41 - alt. 923 m - Crossroads, opposite on the gravel track
  13. S/E : km 17.02 - alt. 892 m - Church car park

Worth a visit

Landscapes, viewpoints, menhirs, calvaries.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
globo34
globo34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A magnificent hike in the hills above the beautiful village of Soulie.
Suitable for all seasons, but autumn is particularly beautiful with its extraordinary colours.
Thanks to the author for this beautiful trail.

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kalouAmWalking
kalouAmWalking

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a pleasant route, interesting for its "hideaways" (...) and superb sunken paths lined with beech trees.

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lilouwe
lilouwe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant. We completed the entire loop in 5 hours and 20 minutes with a 1-hour break. We didn't encounter anyone except for a group picnicking and a few residents of the pretty hamlets we passed through.
The route is mostly shaded by forest, so we didn't suffer from the heat despite the heatwave and setting off at 11 a.m. from Le Soulié.

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Ric 94
Ric 94

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with no major difficulties (except for its length) offering varied views with charming passages through forests and along open paths.

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faroldi
faroldi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A gentle walk, easy to do, offering some truly charming places to discover.
Worth repeating!

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User 19624263
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

No signage!!!! Just the first 50 metres 😌

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petitbob
petitbob

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, everyone.
Here is a superb hike with varied landscapes.
It starts on wide tracks and then continues along narrow paths lined with bright green moss.
You'll pass through beautiful forests and see beautifully restored buildings.
Eighteen kilometres of comfortable walking, crystal-clear streams and springs
magnificent!
This is a hike I highly recommend.
Petitbob.

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Rocl0591
Rocl0591
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, I highly recommend it. The only downside is the poor quality of the paved roads in the second part

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madydou
madydou ★

Ah, it's you, Antoinette
I discovered this route with Annie.
It's a magnificent route indeed.
Enjoy your walks, and see you soon in our beautiful region.

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LULUETULYSSE
LULUETULYSSE

Hi Mady, thank you for suggesting such beautiful routes.
This one is particularly interesting at this time of year. I've had the opportunity to try out others on Amiez, which are always enriching.
I wish you all the best. Antoinette. Mamichou81

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madydou
madydou ★

Thank you, Lulu and Ulysse, for your encouraging feedback.

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LULUETULYSSE
LULUETULYSSE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike on 8 June, when the vegetation is ablaze with flowers. Amazing crossings of streams on these famous planques, which are just as impressive as the Menhir trail.
An easy hike, except for its length; the slight elevation gain is no problem for those used to walking such distances.
Most of the route is shaded.
Thank you to Madydou for mapping out this route for us all to enjoy.

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Rando EricetJO
Rando EricetJO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike.

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etienne92.d
etienne92.d

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on this beautiful hike on 26 July 2023 on a rather gloomy day, so we didn't suffer from the heat.
The landscapes were magnificent and varied.
Recommended for experienced walkers as it is quite long.

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louvka
louvka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty hike, varied landscapes, lots of shade. We were with our dogs and passed through hamlets with dogs running free... no problems.

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