The ruins of Montferrer Castle

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A pleasant, bucolic walk in the Haut Vallespir in Montferrer to explore the ruins of Montferrer Castle (el Castell Mollet).

Details

n°23390820
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 323 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 320 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,116 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 785 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park near Sainte-Marie Church (listed as a historic monument).

(S/E) With your back to the church, turn right and cross the village, passing the local bistro. Leave the village via the road and continue along it until you reach the junction of the Corsavy and Arles-sur-Tech roads.

(1) Go up to the left along a path through the woods and, after a few dozen metres, cross a track and join a second one.

(2) Cross it and continue straight ahead. Further on, after a sharp left turn, cross another track before turning left at the next intersection and rejoining the track you crossed earlier.

(3) Cross it and continue straight ahead. Climb up a meadow, following the top of the ridge. Ignore all side paths and stay on the yellow-marked trail. You will soon reach the ruins of Montferrer Castle (el Castell de Mollet), which you will need to go around on the right.

(4) Continue along the marked trail and further on, you will come to a track (Puig Vilafort).

(5) Take this track to the left towards Montferrer. At the next junction, take the road on the left and stay on it.
Turn right at the end of this road to reach the D44 at the orientation table.

(6) Walk gently downhill to the left into the village until you reach the car park at Sainte-Marie Church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 803 m - Sainte-Marie Church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 785 m - Fork in the road
  3. 2 : km 1.17 - alt. 863 m - Track intersection
  4. 3 : km 1.97 - alt. 911 m - Track intersection
  5. 4 : km 2.8 - alt. 1,008 m - Castle ruins (Castell de Mollet)
  6. 5 : km 3.81 - alt. 1,116 m - Track intersection. (Puig Vilafort)
  7. 6 : km 7.13 - alt. 822 m - D44. Route du Tech
  8. S/E : km 7.42 - alt. 803 m

Notes

Worth a visit

At (5), you can reach the Fontaine du Brigadier by turning right.

Further north, you will find the village of Corsavy and the former mining site of Batère.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
BADADEI
BADADEI
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A secluded, uncrowded hike. A pleasant, cool and easy climb through the woods. The return route is a little long but offers unobstructed views.
On your return to the charming village of Monferrer, you can visit the 13th-century Romanesque church, which is open to the public. This route is not difficult

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BADADEI
BADADEI

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A hike off the beaten track, not very busy. A pleasant, cool and easy climb through the woods. The return journey is along a slightly long track but offers unobstructed views.
On your return to the charming village of Monferrer, you can visit the 13th-century Romanesque church, which is open. This route is not difficult

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User 23360289

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

pleasant route, good hike, lots of birdsong

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lolochoco
lolochoco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful, easy hike with lovely panoramic views and a wonderful variety of woodland and meadows. Lots of flowers at this time of year, especially orchids.

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pyrenees catalanes
pyrenees catalanes

I am carefully saving this itinerary for September: after the heat in Catalonia.

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Gene et Jp
Gene et Jp

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with a slightly steep first section but very manageable for amateur walkers. The second section is all downhill, with a tarmac road for the final part of the route. Passes through forest and open terrain.
Lovely view of the plain and the Pyrenees mountain range.

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Tatooka
Tatooka

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike suitable for children, but you can't see much of the castle ruins; they are better viewed from a distance. There is no shaded area for picnicking near the castle, and the rest of the hike is also exposed to the sun. It is best to hike during the cooler hours of the day.
The scenery is very beautiful.

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annemarie
annemarie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy to do with children. The passage through the castle can be interesting to get them moving. . A beautiful, easy circular loop.

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doume3851
doume3851

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Completed today, 11/01/2023, this return hike was done in good conditions. The view of the castle is nice, provided you climb to the top of the ruins. The descent via Puig de Vilafort allows you to gain a little elevation, but the return via the track and then the tarmac is a little boring. My opinion doesn't count for much as I hate walking on firebreaks and tarmac, but don't let that put you off. I found the village of Montferrer very picturesque and very quiet at this time of year. We drove back via Corsavy and were able to visit the Sant Marti church, which is currently being restored. Dating back to 993, this church will regain its former glory. Well done to everyone involved in this great work.

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Mamiso56
Mamiso56
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent hike that is very easy to do. It climbs a little, but nothing impossible.
The view from the top is magnificent. We dawdled at the start and ended up returning in the twilight. We were a little scared of the cows, but with the fog descending on the mountain, it was a moment of pure magic.
An excellent hike!

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Xavier_D
Xavier_D

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The ruins of the castle are not particularly interesting, but there is a beautiful panoramic view of the upper Vallespir, the Mediterranean coast, Mont Canigou, etc.

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