Oppidum of Berniquaut

de fr

Circuit to Gallic ruins offering a 360° view of the Sorèze plain.

Details

n°679089
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.82 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 320 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 316 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 567 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 270 m
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Photos

Oppidum of Berniquaut
End of the climb to the oppidum
View towards Sorèze
View towards Lake Saint Ferreol

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the end of the village (south).
(S/E) Join the Chemin Haut and turn left. Continue until you reach the Chemin de l'Oppidum crossroads.

(1) Turn left and follow the yellow trail markers. Reach the Oppidum crossroads.

(2) Follow the ridge and arrive at the Oppidum.

(3) Begin a short descent to reach another crossroads.

(4) Turn right; the path is marked in yellow. Descend towards Durfort and reach the road.

(5) Turn right onto the road to Malamort. Cross the village via the street on the right, Route du Castelar. Then take the Route de Revel until you reach the crossroads with the road to Berniquaut.

(6) Turn right, reach the hamlet, continue on this road, heading north. Return to the Chemin de l'Oppidum crossroads.

(1) Follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 273 m - Parking at the end of the village
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 290 m - Start of the climb
  3. 2 : km 2.75 - alt. 514 m - Arrival on the ridge
  4. 3 : km 3.26 - alt. 541 m - Oppidum de Berniquaut
  5. 4 : km 3.66 - alt. 540 m - Start of the descent
  6. 5 : km 5.58 - alt. 308 m - Junction with the road that runs alongside the - Sor (rivière)
  7. 6 : km 6.51 - alt. 278 m - Fork in the road at the exit of Durfort
  8. S/E : km 7.82 - alt. 273 m - Parking at the end of the village

Notes

Hiking boots are recommended.

After the oppidum, the descent is easy.

Worth a visit

(2) Panorama from the top of the oppidum over the entire Sorèze plain and Saint-Ferréol, view of the Sorèze abbey school.
(3) Additional loop: at the bottom of the ridge, intersection with the Roman road that descends to the right (stony area with traces of cart wheels on the first rock due to wear and tear). Resume the route at (2) to return to the oppidum.

Roman road with traces of cart wheels.

The alley on the left in Durfort is typical with its half-timbered houses and central stream.

On the square, visit the last remaining copperware makers (dinandiers).

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 46 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 23929583

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A simple and very pleasant route. Completed alone in two hours by an occasional hiker. The view is superb.

You have to climb over rocks to reach the summit.

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SA31
SA31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed under beautiful sunshine.
A very pleasant hike with beautiful views.
I recommend it.

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BMarion
BMarion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route with a great view from the summit and ending in the village of Durfort

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BTD
BTD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty circular walk, fairly short, featuring:
- a very nice rocky section to reach the summit
- a beautiful view from the summit
- a walk through the pretty village of Durfort
- a mainly wooded route

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Jacques L
Jacques L

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A few steps on rocks upon reaching the summit

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Valeser
Valeser

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike that took 2 hours and 10 minutes. We continued the day with a visit to Sorèze and its military school abbey, which was very informative.

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Laura8
Laura8

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You need to use your hands to climb some of the rocks at the oppidum.
At the top, just after the plateau, some young people were carrying out archaeological excavations for the National Forestry Office and told us that the path would be closed to hikers for the next few days.
I don't know where you can get this information... to be confirmed
In any case, it was a very nice hike. Superb view! And Durfort is beautiful!!!

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RandonnOr
RandonnOr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

An easy and pleasant hike offering beautiful panoramic views.
We didn't see the Oppidum de Berniquaut

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pierre PVO
pierre PVO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike allows you to discover a place steeped in history and enjoy panoramic views of the region.
Much of the hike is shaded, but in hot weather it is best to set off early in the morning. The return route through the village of Durfort is picturesque and very colourful.

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mireillechoury
mireillechoury

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful discovery of the flora at the end of May, magnificent views, very interesting explanations about the site, easy hike

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello,
Thanks for letting us know.
Correction made.

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Franck Allemane
Franck Allemane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello

To be changed:
Rue Castlar to Rue Castelar.

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rolandsalinie
rolandsalinie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A peaceful walk, mostly through woodland. The oppidum site is worth a visit, even though it is no longer maintained.

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Zelda33
Zelda33

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A trail that combines the pleasure of hiking with the pleasure of learning, featuring information panels about the remains and ruins (12th century). Plus Durfort.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The Oppidum is the main attraction of the circuit, of course. The path to get there is easy as the slope is fairly steady. The village of Durfort is very charming with its large paintings and photos. Please note that the copper museum is only open in the afternoons from Thursday to Sunday. The information panels along the circuit are very well done. If, like me, you feel like continuing on to (4) at an altitude of 653 metres (above Jacournassy), you will enjoy a beautiful path, which is double-tracked to avoid the feeling of going back the same way, and lined with flowers and butterflies – something that is lacking on the rest of the route – but there are no views as the vegetation is almost impenetrable.

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