Short loop around Giroussens

This short loop will allow you to explore the area around the town of Giroussens. During this hike, you will pass through the centre of Giroussens, allowing you to discover this medieval village. You can enjoy superb views of the Agoût and Dadou valleys. The hike also passes through the Giroussens forest, as well as near private forests: please keep your dogs on a leash.

Details

713219
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 109 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 104 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 226 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 157 m

Photos

Description of the walk

There are plenty of parking spaces available behind the Ceramics Museum on Route de Bel-Air. There are also a few spaces on Place de la Mairie (10). The route is marked by white signs bearing the Giroussens coat of arms: a yellow Y on a black background (sable with a gold pearl).

(S/E) Starting from the Ceramics Museum, follow the tarmac road leading away from the village (leaving the museum on your left). Continue straight ahead at the junction with a small road.

(1) When you reach the three-way junction indicated by a cross, turn left. Cross the bridge under the main road and continue straight ahead. At the intersection with a small road, the road turns into a dirt track and enters a forest, joining the potters' loop (yellow markings).

(2) At the three-way junction, follow the path to the left into the forest.

(3) At the intersection, take the communal path on the right. This path continues straight ahead and turns into a tarmac road. Follow this road for about 100 metres.

(4) Take the first path on the right. This path continues through the fields to the Pigeonnier farm, where it turns into a tarmac road again.

(5) At the intersection, follow the road straight ahead down a steep slope. It turns into a gravel path. At the end of the path, take the tarmac road down to the right.

(6) At the first intersection, turn right and follow the tarmac road to the Perrières farm.

(7) Take the gravel path on the right. This path turns into a tarmac road; follow it for about 200 metres.

(8) Turn right and go up Côte du Tigou. Turn right onto the first road, Impasse de la Planette (sic), then take the first left. Follow this road until you reach Avenue Bernard Palissy.

(9) Turn right and follow the avenue downhill until you reach Place de la Mairie.

(10) When you reach Place de la Mairie (view of the Agoût river on the left), turn right onto a small road that goes downhill. The road then goes back up towards the Ceramics Museum (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 178 m - Ceramics museum
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 182 m - Le Réclot
  3. 2 : km 2.15 - alt. 159 m - Soudas
  4. 3 : km 2.9 - alt. 185 m - La Gravette
  5. 4 : km 4.25 - alt. 186 m - Saint-Joseph
  6. 5 : km 5.65 - alt. 221 m - The Dovecote
  7. 6 : km 6.76 - alt. 163 m - Les Castex
  8. 7 : km 7.58 - alt. 162 m - Les Perrières
  9. 8 : km 8.63 - alt. 179 m - Le Tigou
  10. 9 : km 10 - alt. 190 m - Avenue Bernard Palissy
  11. 10 : km 10.32 - alt. 181 m - Town Hall Square
  12. S/E : km 10.47 - alt. 178 m - Ceramics museum

Notes

This loop is accessible all year round, without any special equipment. Some paths may be slightly muddy after heavy rain. Hunting is sometimes organised near this hike between September and February.

Worth a visit

This hike passes close to many points of interest.

  • The starting point is in front of the Ceramics Museum, which hosts numerous temporary exhibitions.
  • Between points (2) and (3), there is a statue of the Virgin Mary in the forest.
  • Between points (7) and (8), there are beautiful views of Ambre and the Dadou Valley.
  • Near (9) on a small road on the left below, the recently restored Théron wash house.
  • On the Place de la Mairie (10), there is a breathtaking view of the Agoût.
  • Nearby, the 14th-century Saint-Salvy Church and the Château de Belbèze (not open to visitors).

There are many other activities available around this hike:

  • Visit the Martels garden.
  • The little train of Saint-Lieux-les-Lavaurs.
  • Swimming in the Tarn river at Rabastens.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
P. Lorm
P. Lorm

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A bit too much driving for my liking. But otherwise a decent trip.
Thank you.

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P. Lorm
P. Lorm

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely stretch through the forest and along farm tracks, but a bit too much road for my liking.

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User 19493286

Overall rating : 1.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Unclear route

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User 7876540

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk with beautiful scenery.

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Cath BP
Cath BP

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, quite varied, with a very pleasant stretch through the forest. It ends on a quiet little road leading to Giroussens. A beautiful view over the Ajout valley. The ceramics museum is interesting.

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Ralphy
Ralphy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A lovely walk, with quite a few stony paths, allowing you to explore the surroundings of Giroussens, from the forest to the village via the fields = refreshing

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jean-jacques
jean-jacques

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

hello,
this route is very disappointing because it has long stretches of tarmac, fields as far as the eye can see and is of very limited interest. In short, I don't recommend it...

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brunolazare
brunolazare

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Mostly straight farm tracks and tarmac roads... a bit monotonous but with beautiful views

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christine.artaut
christine.artaut

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very beautiful scenery, worth repeating

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ortal michel
ortal michel

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and varied walk through the oak forest with seasonal crops, beautiful views and superb landscapes, and interesting unexpected encounters. However, please indicate the distances for each stage as the route is longer than stated. If it is sunny, bring a hat and water as many stages are not shaded

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Yanou
Yanou

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The signage is ambiguous because several trails follow one another on the same property and the different colours used are almost identical for some of them.... Otherwise, it is a lovely trail rich in flora and with superb views of Sète, Montpellier....

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Domidas
Domidas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk along wide paths and quiet roads, during which we spotted three deer, two hares, a partridge and a heron. Thank you

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Vince531
Vince531

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, despite the first quarter of an hour spent following the road

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

This hike is not worth the three hours of walking. The three highlights of the circuit are the panorama and the Giroussens forest, and the Pigeonnier farm estate, but the route connecting them is much less interesting. You can only enjoy a very small part of the forest and after point 5, you find yourself on the route of another hike: the "Route des crêtes de Giroussens". However, this shorter hike is much more rewarding and allows you to admire the landscape from the ridges. I understand why hikers return by road at point 5.
This hike is actually the potters' loop, as evidenced by the two signs installed at points 3 and 6.

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MAnnie
MAnnie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Sunday, 14 February 2021 A beautiful afternoon. Walkers in both directions, couples and families.
Small roads with very little traffic alternate with dirt and stone paths.
A very pleasant walk!

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