Country:
District:
(S/E) From the large school car park, walk down Grand Rue for 50 metres and turn left into Rue de la Fontaine.
Directional sign. Very soon you will see the first fountain (drinking water) in the bend of the small road. Cross the road bridge over the Còrrec de Sant Cristau. From this point, there is a continuous climb to the pass. Continue along this road until the first junction.
(1) Turn completely left onto Rue des Albères. Leave the adjacent tracks and paths.
(2) At the crossroads (electrical transformer), continue straight ahead along Chemin des Cluses (Chemin de l'Écluse), towards Mas Pericot. The road is in poor condition. This will take you to a large crossroads at the end of the tarmac road.
(3) Turn right towards the viewpoint located high up on the right opposite the buried steel cistern.
(4) After enjoying the view (Canigou), turn around.
(3) Climb up the track opposite (except for authorised vehicles), which turns left towards the south-east. Leave a grassy track blocked by a chain on your right. A few metres further on, you will come to a fork in a wide path on the left.
(5) At this point, you have two options:
- continue along the track to maintain the same gradient and reach the large picnic area.
- or leave the wide track and climb more steeply to the left along a wide path, following the trail and the attached description. Cut across the track higher up and continue the steep climb.
You will reach a large flat area with a wooden bench on your right and a flagpole with a Catalan flag. Very beautiful viewpoint.
Continue across this vast south-facing area towards a very large crossroads of tracks.
(6) There is a picnic area on the right with the second Trois Vents fountain. This is a beautiful spot for a break. Continue straight ahead south on a good track. In the right-hand bend that follows, look for a concrete water cistern and the third Sabater fountain on your left. You will reach another fork in the tracks.
(7) Continue left, still climbing. In the next left-hand bend, there is a damaged concrete water cistern and the fourth Vallmanya fountain. Here too, there is a nice picnic area. Continue climbing and reach another fork in the tracks at Coll de la Taula.
(8) Leave the track blocked by a cattle gate on your right. Climb up the track on the left. At the next right-hand bend, you have two options:
- simply follow the track.
- or turn left into the forest, climbing up a well-marked path. Join the track further on and turn left. Pass a concrete cistern with a wire mesh cover. You will then arrive at the fifth fountain, dels Fangassos, which also served as a reservoir, judging by the building. Join a sharp right-hand bend in the track.
(9) Leave the return paths on your left. Continue along the track, which heads due west and arrives at Coll de l'Espinàs and the sixth fountain, Espinassa.
(10) A beautiful spot for a well-deserved lunch break. Le Casot du Soldat can provide shelter if needed.
- You can turn back, return to the sharp left-hand bend you passed on the way there (9) and continue straight ahead.
Alternatively, turn back for 20 metres and then climb up to the right along the track, which becomes narrower and stonier. You will reach a sharp right-hand bend. Please note: there are no signposts.
(11) Descend opposite, north. Take extra care: steep downhill slope. Further down, join a path marked on the ground.
- If in doubt, turn around, go back past the fountain and the casot, and return to the sharp left-hand bend you passed on the way up (9) and continue straight ahead.
(9) Leave the track you took on the way up on your left. Turn right, at a 90° angle, descending slightly, then the path continues along the ridge until you reach the first hunting post. Then, take extra care: steep descent. Enjoy the beautiful scenery.
At an altitude of 485 m, I did not notice the fork shown on the IGN map. Continue straight downhill. Caution: the arrival at the picnic area is very steep.
(6) Turn right onto DFCI AL 7. Directional signpost. Head towards Montesquieu, Sant Cristau. Continue for about 200 m until you reach a fork in the road. Directional signpost: "Montesquieu". Descend to the left via numerous wooden steps.
All the terraces below on the left have been cleared and partially deforested. The pretty old marked path has thus reappeared. "This path is not visible on any map."
(12) You will come to a semi-buried drinking water reservoir. Go around it on the right, turn left onto the track and you will soon find the rest of the path on your right. Look for a wooden sign a little further down: "Cami del Pertus, vers le village"(Cami del Pertus, towards the village). Find the road to follow on the left.
(2) At the crossroads you passed on the way there, turn right and rejoin the (S/E) via the same route you took on the way there.
Visorando member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
