On the trail of the Romans

This walk devoted to the discovery of Roman ruins will introduce you to two medieval Languedoc villages.The scrubland will bring you the fragrance of thyme and the landscapes will enchant photographers. Enjoy without moderation.
Note: To help with orientation, "tricky" sections have been highlighted with blue dotted markers.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.10 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 60 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 52 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 61 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 20 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start from the Saissines school car park.

(S)To the right of the Virgin Mary, take the Rue Saint Victor. At the end turn right and take the Avenue de Boisseron, walking past the festival hall, and after 100m turn left on the Mas de Boulle trail.
At the end(1) Take small path to the left that crosses the stream and leads you to a wide path that you take on the left. When you get to the stream, cross it using the stepping stones, then continue on the other side on the dirt path that passes between Camargue bull enclosures. When you have walked along the camp site, you get to a crossing,(2) Take a short trip to the left to see the Château du Pie Bouquet (where Jackie Kennedy stayed in 1973). Return to the crossing and continue straight on. Immediately after you get to end of the camp site fence, turn right on a small trail that leads to the edge of the Bénovie cliffs, which you walk to the left of. At the end, continue along edge of the river for 500m, then join the tarmac path to the right and which leads to the departmental road just before the Roman bridge(3)
Do not cross the road but walk along the bridge toward the bottom to go underneath. Cross the river on the invert, and walk back along the bridge, admiring the multi centennial cedar tree. Take the Rue des Ramparts, followed by Rue des Douves and the Rue Souvielle; and observe the remains of the ramparts.
When you have arrived at the departmental road (4) cross it to find the Rue de la Carrière. After visiting the quarry, go to the top of the stone steps and follow the wooden fence to the left to descend toward the Rue des Fangades. Take this road to the right and after the bend, take the Chemin des Manardes which leads to the Rue du Tout Blanc which you walk up on the left to get to the cemetery. At this junction, take subdivision road opposite, the Rue de Mas de Barre, and ignore the others. At the end of this path, you'll get to the National road (5) be careful when crossing take the Rue des Hauts de Boisseron opposite, and at the fork stay on the left. Just after the first house on the left, by the street lamp, turn left (2 blue dots) onto a barely visible path which leads to a small mound where silos have been dug into the stone (cylindrical holes which were used to store grain, very rare in France and dating back to the time of the Gauls).
After visiting these silos, return to the house. Walk on the left along the Rue des Lavandes, cross the entire subdivision of Rompudes and at the end of the tarmac road, take the gravel passage (metal post with a blue dot).
Upon existing, turn right, walk down the street and at the bottom turn left and walk up to take a barely visible small path (between a house to the left and a fence on the right) and at the end, which is closed off by large rocks, turn slightly to the right and then almost opposite take the trail which goes toward the scrubland. Follow the path marked by blue dots (take a look but don't go toward the overhanging cliffs, there are spectacular landslides!). See the mill-wheel carved from rock and left where it is. Follow the blue dots carefully to return to the Mas de Boulle(1). When you get to the path, turns left and follow it to the end. Walk alongside the vine to your right for about 100m. Cross the road to take the small tarmac road opposite (6) which will lead you to a junction. Turn right and down to the village to join the start-point car park in front of the schools.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 35 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 31 m - Mas de Boulle
  3. 2 : km 0.99 - alt. 30 m - Bifurcation
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 36 m - Diverticulum towards Château du Pie Bouquet
  5. 4 : km 3.54 - alt. 26 m - Roman bridge
  6. 5 : km 5.08 - alt. 40 m - Towards a career
  7. 6 : km 6.23 - alt. 42 m - National road - caution
  8. 7 : km 6.99 - alt. 45 m - at the road, turn right
  9. 8 : km 8.59 - alt. 36 m - Crossing the D135
  10. 9 : km 9.48 - alt. 61 m - Hairpin bifurcation
  11. 10 : km 10.11 - alt. 43 m - Tarmac road
  12. S/E : km 11.1 - alt. 35 m - Car park

Practical information

You can enjoy a picnic in the quarry on stone tables. Take water, boots and a hat.

In the nearby area

On this walk you'll discover two villages as well as a number of historic sites:
- Roman bridge from the 1st century AD
- fortified gate and ramparts,
- two châteaux,
- A site of Gallic silos (cylindrical holes dug man into the rock for storing cereals).

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 102 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
gff120453
gff120453

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very beautiful route, varied and offering interesting sights (silos, quarries, small cliffs, etc.).
Please note that at point 5, we were not allowed to pass over the top of the steps from the entrance to the quarries. We were asked to return to Rue des Carrières and head towards Rue de la Fangade to rejoin the route.

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Cinéfille
Cinéfille

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant route, best done in spring. Because of the recent rain, we waded a bit in places and the ford crossing at the start was borderline... But no matter! The route is full of flowers (coronillas, thyme and rosemary, thistles), greenery and changing landscapes: undergrowth, then heath. The gorges of the Bénovie are astonishing. The quarries at Boisseron are an ideal spot for a picnic or snack. The remains of the Gallo-Roman silos on the outskirts of the village are a must-see!

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cham34
cham34
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant and varied trail. The strata above the Bénovie, the ford, the heath, the old quarry, the silos - in short, there are plenty of interesting sights on this route. Done on 28 February, the ford remains passable despite the Bénovie's high flow.

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malolu34
malolu34

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : N/A
Busy trail : No

On 27.02.2025 it was impossible to cross the Benovie river, which was in flood. It's a shame because this tour is great. Don't do it after storms or in summer. We will do it again in the spring.
The drystone shelter hike at Saussines is also impassable.

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MMGaudon
MMGaudon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

In some places, the existing markings are slightly different from the track. Apart from that, the route was easy to follow.

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A Chasseloup
A Chasseloup

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

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cristimanci
cristimanci

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A bucolic and varied route, with the chance to discover remains that add to the appeal of this walk.

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StephenB
StephenB

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very interesting. Quite easy to take the wrong route but you can easily find your way back.
Better to change the starting point because the school doesn't like it when you park in front of it! Prefer the village hall.

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Bidule34130
Bidule34130

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant route with no difficulties. The visit to Boisseron is the highlight of the walk. A great family outing.
Thank you for this walk.

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GEPE002
GEPE002

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Well done for the blue dots, as the route is quite convoluted! But it's a nice walk to avoid when it's very hot.
Good hiking to all and thank you Visorando!

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marchereve34830
marchereve34830

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant hike, both for its diversity and its accessibility. A variant via the drystone shelters is possible without increasing the difficulty.
A trail worth developing.

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FERLANDIN Jean Luc
FERLANDIN Jean Luc

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

The first part from Saussines to Boisseron was very pleasant and interesting. The section through Boisseron is long and insipid.

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7oise
7oise

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

interesting hike, well signposted except in the quarry, but blue dot found in the terraces.
hike made after a night of rain, slippery paths but nothing more.
we shortened the walk by 2km due to lack of time, rejoining the starting point at point 2.

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Pastis34
Pastis34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Thanks for sharing. There were several pleasant surprises along the proposed route. I've added a big ladleful (6 km in fact) by combining your hike with hike No. 6 of the Hérault FFRP. The good news is that the Château de Boisseron is currently being renovated. I didn't find the Château du Pie Bouquet worth the diversions!
More information and photos on my website familleduval34 (fr) and even a video: https://youtu.be/dqbLx_WbgMU

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Malvina
Malvina

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A varied and interesting walk
Thank you

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