Gardiole Massif

This hike will allow you to discover the most beautiful landscapes of the Gardiole massif. Starting from the Abbey of Saint-Félix de Monceau, you will enjoy a superb view of the Mediterranean, from La Grande Motte in the north to Sète in the south. You will pass by the Pioch Noir and the Roc d'Anduze, two unmissable viewpoints of the Gardiole massif.

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

Details

921451
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 21.21 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 642 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 640 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 233 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 42 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Abbey of Saint-Félix de Monceau.

(S/E) Head away from the abbey towards the track at the back of the car park. Take this track uphill for about 600 metres.

(1) At the bend, take the path on your left indicated by a sign and follow the yellowPR® markings.

(2) Take the fork to the right and continue downhill through the heath, following the yellow markings.

(3) Head slightly to the right and reach the bottom of the valley, then climb up opposite towards the track, passing under a power line.

(4) Leave the track opposite and follow the marked path on the right. After 300 metres, cross the deforested area and join the track at the bottom. Head off to the right.

(5) At the crossroads, follow thePR® signs on the left-hand track that passes under the power line. Continue along this track and follow the yellowPR® markings.

(6) When you reach the bend, leave thePR® and take the steep path opposite, continuing to the summit.

(7) Turn left onto the track towards the fire watchtower. Pass under the power line. Stay on the ridge line until you reach the tower, then begin your descent. Join the track opposite and climb 300 metres to the start of the path on the right.

(8) Leave the track and climb the peak on your right (elevation 177). Continue straight ahead and begin the descent, following the path until you reach the large track below. Turn right onto this track.

(9) After 200 metres, leave the track and take the path straight ahead which descends gently. Then rejoin the track you left earlier and descend to the small bridge.

(10) Take the path on the right at the hairpin bend and start climbing towards Pioch Noir, through the Combe des Bestiaux. The climb is steep and rocky. Reach the summit and admire the view of the sea. Take the track at the back for about 100 metres.

(11) Turn left onto the main track and continue for about 2.5km. Pass the sign for "Forêt Domaniale de la Gardiole".

(12) Leave the track 600 metres after passing the sign for the entrance to the Forêt Domaniale and take the path on the left.

(13) After 600 metres, take the path on the left which descends slightly, then quickly turns right. The path descends gently, then the slope becomes steep. Head down towards Mas Rimbault below. Walk along the farmhouse and when you reach the entrance gate, continue on the path opposite. Walk up the valley until you see the fire cistern.

(14) Just before you reach the cistern, turn left at the hairpin bend to take the path and climb to the summit at 196m.

(15) Enjoy the view, then turn right to return to the previous crossroads at the fire hydrant.

(14) Take the path opposite, which descends into the valley and then climbs up the other side. Join the main track and continue to the right, heading north.
After 100 metres, leave the track and turn left at the hut to climb up to Roc d'Anduze.

(16) From Roc d'Anduze, admire the view of the Étang de Thau, the oyster beds and Sète. Do not go down to the bottom of the valley but continue along the path, staying on the balcony and keeping the Abbey of Saint-Félix de Monceau on your left in view. Shortly before reaching the main track, take the path on the left and begin the descent towards the abbey and the car park (S/E).

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Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 159 m - Car park at Saint-Félix de Monceau Abbey
  2. 1 : km 0.64 - alt. 193 m - Signpost PR
  3. 2 : km 1.1 - alt. 142 m - Fork to the right
  4. 3 : km 1.47 - alt. 111 m - Fork to the right
  5. 4 : km 1.9 - alt. 116 m - Marked trail on the right
  6. 5 : km 2.46 - alt. 122 m - Crossroads, left track
  7. 6 : km 3.21 - alt. 178 m - Steep path opposite
  8. 7 : km 3.53 - alt. 219 m - Trail junction, left towards a pylon
  9. 8 : km 4.71 - alt. 153 m - Departure towards the summit on the right
  10. 9 : km 5.48 - alt. 121 m - Path downhill straight ahead
  11. 10 : km 6.75 - alt. 43 m - Small bridge, path on the right
  12. 11 : km 8.09 - alt. 216 m - Track on the left
  13. 12 : km 10.5 - alt. 214 m - Path on the left
  14. 13 : km 11.08 - alt. 206 m - Path on the left
  15. 14 : km 13.14 - alt. 144 m - Cistern
  16. 15 : km 18.12 - alt. 196 m - Small summit at an altitude of 196 metres
  17. 16 : km 20.1 - alt. 230 m
  18. S/E : km 21.21 - alt. 159 m - Car park at Saint-Félix de Monceau Abbey

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
EricFab
EricFab

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk that allowed me to discover parts of Gardiole that I didn't know.

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bergen38
bergen38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in the scrubland; lots of flowers at this time of year.

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Isaliza
Isaliza

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Route recorded on a Garmin watch. Thankfully, because there aren't many signposts and it's the middle of nowhere...

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papadid
papadid

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike in Gardiole: 5.5 hours/21 km/190 m elevation gain.
This was undoubtedly the most beautiful route between 18km, 19km and 21km before the Frontignan fires (13-14-15).
Beautiful sites: St Félix de Montceau Abbey, Pioch Camille, Pioch Noir, Pioch de la Barre and, of course, the Roc d'Anduze. The 360° views are superb, stretching from Port Camargue to Sète, the oyster beds, Mont Saint Clair, the foothills of the Cévennes..
Please note that pheasant hunting season opens on 8 September 2024.

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athmos.oner
athmos.oner

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A largely uncrowded route, with many wide paths offset by beautiful views.
There are some signs of power lines that are no longer there (they must now be underground).
Not recommended in rainy weather, as there are rocks everywhere.
There are a few very pleasant little paths and quite a lot to see in the distance (sea, Sète, vineyards, etc.).
The vegetation has been freshly cut, so the paths are easy to follow except at the end where the path is impossible to find. I improvised by going through the scrub (nothing too difficult, only 200 metres).
No particular difficulties, a beautiful hike to enjoy some very pretty views.

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AgnèsBC
AgnèsBC
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very beautiful route with panoramic views of all the landscapes
the start of the hike is very well explained. However, from the cistern (14th km), the circular and the return are not well described.
fortunately, we had downloaded the route and checked the GPS
we covered a total of 24 km.

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laflo30
laflo30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb route!
There were lots of people at the start and finish due to the convergence of the many routes on offer, but otherwise it was a beautiful, challenging route, not because of the distance but because of the succession of "small" climbs, which were well worth the effort!
Luckily we had downloaded the GPX track because it was easy to get lost among the multitude of small paths, despite the explanations on the map, which were sometimes a little unclear.

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CPR
CPR

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great outing, ideal for trail running and with beautiful scenery.

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Vince34200
Vince34200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike with lovely views of the ponds. Also ideal for trail running.

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Cheroli
Cheroli

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

It's a shame that hunters below us fired at us.

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tijudu34
tijudu34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A few gentle slopes add a touch of sportiness to this hike, which is not particularly difficult. You hardly notice the length thanks to the variety of paths you take, from small trails to wide forest tracks, and thanks to the different views of the sea or the land... If you find yourself at the highest point of the Roc de l'Anduze at sunset, the view towards the Étang de Thau is magnificent...
Don't miss visiting the abbey at the start...
A map with a route or GPS is very useful given the multitude of paths that you encounter in all directions throughout the hike.
Thank you for this information sheet.

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gitane20
gitane20

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike that we can adapt to suit your needs, with magnificent views, ideal for winter and mid-seasons.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

By "route on map", we mean assessing the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

You followed the route using a GPS.
Is there a discrepancy between the route and the actual hike?

See you soon!

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PATDUCAP
PATDUCAP

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike, provided you choose a day with good visibility.
I mapped out the route with a GPS, but you still need to pay attention because there are paths going in all directions.
The view is magnificent along the route and the abbey is worth a short detour.

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello, and thank you very much for this very important message.
When I look at the description, I find the following contact details:
East: 558 775 and North: 4815 183
Please let us know what you have found so that we can compare.
Thank you in advance.

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