Montolieu and the Saint-Roch Chapel

This is a beautiful walk, but it is exposed to the wind and sun. The first kilometre is quite steep, but the next two kilometres are gentler.
Rough wooden signs engraved with "Circuit Saint-Roch" will guide you along the way, even if they are not very visible or legible...

Since 15 October 2018 and the floods, a lot of earth has been washed away from the paths and many of them have become very stony and rocky. However, the circuit remains entirely feasible.

Details

1071379
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 174 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 170 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 315 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 152 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Montolieu (11170)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.307197° / E 2.218964°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2345O
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The large car park is located at the bottom of the village, to the east, at the start of the Moussoulens road.

(S/E) A road runs alongside the car park, bordered by a high stone wall. Take this road to the left and follow the wall all the way. This road climbs quite steeply. Follow it until you reach a path that climbs to the left and is marked "Circuit Saint-Roch".

(1) Take this path up to the Saint-Roch chapel. Pass in front of the chapel and turn right down a carriageway which, after two hairpin bends, will take you back to the road. At this point, the tarmac gives way to a carriageway, but it is stony. Turn left and climb gently towards the plateau through low vegetation of boxwood and Kermes oak trees.

(2) At this junction, leave the main road and take the path on the left. Continue along this path until you enter the forest. When you reach a tarmac road, turn right. After about 300 metres, you will reach the D148.

(3) Take the road on the left. After a few hundred metres, look out for the wooden sign on your left indicating the path to take.

(4) Be careful, as the first few metres of the path are very steep and covered with loose stones. When you reach a scree slope, continue straight ahead and descend into the field on the left to cross the few metres that will take you to a carriage road. Continue along this road until you reach the D148, which you take to the left. Descend to the village and walk along a large wall of rectangular rocks.

(5) Immediately after this wall, cross the field on your left towards the cars you can see. You will arrive at the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 153 m - Parking is available at the bottom of the village. Close to the - Dure (rivière) à finaliser
  2. 1 : km 0.92 - alt. 222 m - Signpost "Circuit Saint-Roch"
  3. 2 : km 2.65 - alt. 278 m - Turn left at the fork
  4. 3 : km 4.38 - alt. 287 m - Road on the left
  5. 4 : km 4.75 - alt. 269 m - Stony path to the left of the road
  6. 5 : km 6.05 - alt. 171 m - Cross the field towards the cars
  7. S/E : km 6.18 - alt. 153 m - Car park at the bottom of the village

Worth a visit

Take the opportunity to visit the Chapelle Saint-Roch chapel and admire the majestic trees surrounding it. You can walk around the chapel, but it is closed to visitors.
The village of Montolieu, known as the "Village of Books", is well worth a visit.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Tata Sab
Tata Sab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A varied route in terms of trail type and vegetation. Fairly easy walk
Be sure to bring a hat or other head covering as there may be little shade on part of the route.
Combine with a visit to the village afterwards

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ctheil
ctheil

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Be sure to follow the path to the right of Saint Roch Chapel for the easy route. Otherwise, you will have to cross through bushes, which is much more difficult.

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Gregpo66
Gregpo66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and very pleasant walk at this time of year. Beautiful colours.

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Macari
Macari

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike with beautiful vegetation,

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anita Dague
anita Dague

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful walk offering a variety of paths, some more shaded than others. Remarkable trees surround the chapel.
Protect yourself from the sun in hot weather.

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Potar
Potar
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk

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cuisto
cuisto

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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Didubois
Didubois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike in January at 7°C in full sunshine, so very pleasant with views of the snow-capped Pyrenees.

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daniel h 31
daniel h 31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A superb walk, which we had already done last spring...
Easy going, beautiful surroundings around the chapel, and splendid views of the Pyrenees at sunset.
As a bonus, fossilised shells in the middle of the path... (shhh...)

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jeanmarieeliane
jeanmarieeliane
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

right up to the chapel

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isabelleleveque
isabelleleveque

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very little tarmac, superb views of the Pyrenees. The chapel site is very pretty, the path crosses an olive grove, woods and runs alongside old stone walls (site of the drystone shelter).

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ZITROERAILC
ZITROERAILC

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with the pleasant site of St-Roch Chapel and its beautiful trees.
Long climb at the start, and a slightly steep but fortunately fairly short descent towards the end. Overall, not difficult.

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Mamiettedu11
Mamiettedu11

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At first, it's a good climb... but it's a nice walk that takes you past the Saint Roch Chapel.

After a few kilometres, the path was flooded after recent rains, and rather than getting our feet wet and muddy, we decided to turn back! It's February, not the time to be walking around with wet feet!

But it's a hike to do again in drier weather, when it's sunny, a little windy but very pleasant

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palatrinquet
palatrinquet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and easy walk when it's not too hot. The trail is well marked (yellow markings and signs). In July and August, the Saint Roch chapel is open on Sunday afternoons and you can chat with a member of the association that is responsible for its restoration and maintenance. There are some beautiful trees around the chapel. After the walk, the bookshops in Montolieu welcome us.

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Clorophil
Clorophil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The weather was ideal. Avoid in hot weather as there is little shade, but this is specified at the beginning of the description. A real treat. No difficulty. Thank you!

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