Mons (Hérault) walks

View and passage through two villages isolated from the main roads, featuring beautiful stone houses. This hike may be prohibited depending on the fire risk level. Remember to check the map.

This is the first day of the Haut Languedoc trip. It will take at least 5 hours to reach Douch. The climb to the Col de la Maure is unmarked but follows a well-marked, safe path. See § Practical information (¹).The access to the Col du Bardou is beautiful. The descent to the Ruisseau d'Héric and the climb back up to Douch via the hamlet of Héric are very varied.

This 14 km loop takes you past the main points of interest in the area: the Gorges d'Héric, the Refuge de Font Salesse, the Caroux plateau and its orientation table, and the very charming village of Héric.

This short circular walk offers beautiful views uphill to the north over the Caroux massif and downhill to the south over the Orb valley. This walk is particularly pleasant in spring or autumn.

This is the fourth circuit in a "pentalogy" of balcony trails on the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very mineral environment consisting of ledges and ridges. An aerial, athletic and technical route, without being challenging or dangerous. Not to be attempted in wet weather, as the ground can be slippery in places, particularly around the boulders that need to be crossed. This circuit starts from the hamlet of La Coste, climbs straight up the ridge of the same name towards Roc de Bartouyre, before continuing horizontally towards Col de l'Ours and Saut de l'Âne, descending via a stony path towards Saint-Martin de l'Arçon, and finally returning to the starting point in the neighbouring hamlet.

Climb up a little-used path to reach the Caroux plateau. Challenging due to its configuration, the ascent in this part of the massif is wilder than the usual access routes. This hike is for experienced walkers, as the route is not always easy to find and some passages are a little difficult or exposed, but not dangerous.

A hike in the Caroux massif that partly follows the GRP® du Haut Languedoc et des Vignobles trail, which crosses the southern face from west to east, winding its way through a rugged granite landscape. There are some beautiful views along the way, looking south towards the sea. This is a somewhat challenging hike given the fairly steep slopes to reach the plateau.

This is the third route in a series of five balcony trails on the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very rocky landscape of ledges and ridges. An aerial, athletic and technical route, without being challenging or dangerous. Not to be attempted in wet weather, as the ground can be slippery in places, particularly on the large schist slabs. This circuit starts from the village of Saint-Martin-de-L'Arçon, climbs straight up the Saint-Martin ridge towards the summit of Caroux, to the orientation table, before descending, just as dry, via the Sentier des Gardes and the Sentier de Saint-Martin.

The Caroux Massif offers a remarkable view of the Hérault plain, the nearby Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees in the distance. The orientation table located on a belvedere is the ideal spot to enjoy this panorama.

Starting from Bardou (a small but charming private hamlet), the route joins the Tour du Montahut, where the view is simply magnificent! It then passes by the little Chapelle Saint-Martin-du-Froid, which offers a sumptuous view, and ends with a descent with a view of the splendid Caroux massif and the Gorges d'Héric.

This is the second route in a series of six balcony trails on the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very rocky landscape of ledges and ridges. The route is high up, challenging and technical, but not difficult or dangerous. Avoid in wet weather as the ground can be slippery in places, particularly on the large slabs of schist. This route starts from the hamlet of La Pomarède, climbs the ridge of the same name to the Portail des Cades, before descending via the Biterrois and Garel paths to the sublime Albine waterfall (30 m high) and back to the car in the valley.

One-day, fully signposted circular walk around Olargues.

This hike takes you to the top of the Tour du Pin from Vieussan, a picturesque village with many stone buildings, built in the meanders of the Orb. Discover this commune, which offers interesting historical remains and a walk that changes slopes regularly, allowing you to enjoy splendid views, including a 360° panoramic view from the summit of the Tour du Pin at 666 metres.

Located in the Haut Languedoc Natural Park, the two massifs of Caroux and Espinouse offer a multitude of hikes. I suggest a two-day circuit that allows you to explore a variety of landscapes and admire the abundant wildlife (including mouflons). The hike starts from the car park below the church in Colombières sur Orb. The bivouac area is located around the summit of Espinouse. The second day is spent returning via the Heric Gorges, with the option of a final detour to the old chestnut groves on the mountainside.

Day one: Climb up the Colombières Gorges towards the Caroux massif. Cross the Caroux massif towards Douch, then follow the Vialais stream before climbing back up to the Espinouse massif and settling down for the night.

A challenging hike crossing the massif at mid-height. Magnificent views over a succession of valleys and combs connecting the Colombières Gorges to the Héric Gorges. Alternating ascents, descents and flat sections in wooded environments followed by very rocky sections. Two passages equipped with ladders and a few slightly exposed passages, but no particular difficulty. Recommended on days with strong north-westerly winds as the route is well sheltered.

In a varied landscape of rocks, broom, old farms and ruined hamlets. A discovery on the plateau: mouflon traps (not for hunting, but for monitoring populations).

This very pleasant loop allows you to discover the work of our ancestors who, in order to communicate, cultivate and live, had created paths that hikers are now delighted to walk along. For our ancestors, sustainable development had not yet been imagined, they had simply created it. They were all a bit like Monsieur Jourdain.

A bucolic circuit starting from Douch, passing through the Col de l'Airole and Col du Tirondel, offering beautiful views of the Gorges d'Héric and Gorges du Salis, and stunning panoramas of the hamlet and surrounding mountains (Roc Noir, Espinouse).

This is the second day of the Haut Languedoc trip.Loop hike around the Montagne d'Aret.Depending on how much time you have, the hike can be shortened from (1) directly to (4). Updated by the author on 10 June 2025, as the OFB reports that after (6) it is a Caroux-Espinouse hunting and wildlife reserve. Unauthorised entry is a 4th class offence punishable by a €135 fine. The route and description have therefore been modified.

Access from the village of Douch to the plateau and Roc du Caroux, then a semi-climbing route and balconies around Roc de la Siejo, to go around the peaks and enjoy a 360° view of the Héric Gorges below. Return via the plateau to the village. ⚠️ Poor mobile phone reception in the rocks of the peaks. The circuit is challenging, so make sure you tell your loved ones about your route.

A variation on the classic Caroux plateau hike, allowing you to discover the diversity of the Haut Languedoc's flora and fauna at an altitude of 1,000 metres: deciduous and coniferous forests, streams, peat bogs, and heathland covered in broom and heather. You can also take advantage of an orientation table and sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. During the second part of the hike, you will discover the mineral world of the north and west faces of the plateau, which are wilder and less frequented, near Roc Caroux and the mouflon populations.

This hike takes you across the Caroux plateau, from the Gorges d'Héric to the Gorges de Colombières, overlooking the area of small mountains south of the Balcon du Caroux towards the sea. On a clear day, this hike offers impressive views as far as the Pyrénées Orientales mountain range, from Cap Béar to Pic du Carlit via the Albères and Pic du Canigou.

Walk on the Caroux plateau, which offers magnificent views of the Orb valley, the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees.

An exceptional circular walk above the torrent of Arles where you can discover a cave dwelling and a superb Cervennes collection in the hamlet of Fage.

This hike offers beautiful views of the foothills of the Massif Central and the plain to the south, with the Orb valley winding at the foot of the slope, and to the north, facing the Carroux massif and the Gorges d'Héric.

This is the first circuit in a "pentalogy" of routes along the slopes and cliffs of Caroux, offering superb panoramic views and cliffs in a very mineral environment consisting of ledges and ridges. The loop starts from the hamlet of La Fage and follows the upper part of the Colombières Gorges, before heading horizontally below the Caroux plateau, at the foot of the climbing cliffs. The climb back up to the plateau is near the orientation table, before returning via the south-eastern edge of the plateau.