Short loop around Mont Marcou

From Béziers, take the D909 towards Bédarieux, then the D909A. Drive through the village of Hérépian and take the D13 road to Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare. Go through this village and head towards Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal on the D922, then turn right at Pont Vieux to reach Plaisance (in the commune of Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal) on the D22E14. There is a car park on the right after you cross the bridge over the Ruisseau du Bouissou (towards the town hall).

Yellow signposts

(S/E) Take the paved road towards the town hall, pass the bar and tennis courts, following the yellow PR® markings. Cross the Ruisseau du Bouissou and continue on a narrow paved road, which quickly becomes a gravel track.

(1) At the next intersection of tracks, turn right and continue climbing towards the Col de la Devèse.

(2) Ignore the track on the right and start descending on the left to reach a tarmac road.

(3) Turn right, ignore the first intersection on the left, then the second on the right, continuing on the paved road (Route de Sals) where we did not encounter any vehicles. After a slight left turn, look for the start of a trail on the left with log steps that climbs steeply.

(4) Take this path, which marks the start of a sustained climb through the woods, until you reach a multiple intersection of tracks and paths with signs.

(5) First turn left then right. The well-marked trail continues to climb steeply, alternating between steep sections and rocky formations that sometimes require the use of your hands. During the climb, enjoy the many spectacular views. The arrival at a handrail marks the end of the difficult climb leading to a series of antennas.

(6) The route now follows a grassy track, then a stony track that runs alongside the antennas and descends slightly towards the Chemin de Marcounet, a wide track.

(7) First turn left then right to leave it and continue on a new grassy track. This crosses two original "tree tunnels" and continues to climb through a beautiful beech forest to reach a stony track.

Yellow/red and yellow markings

Turn left and continue along this track to quickly reach the Col de Marcou (elevation 980 metres).

(8) Turn left to climb up a vast meadow towards the Col de la Bacoune (elevation 1,041 metres). Now continue towards the summit with its large cross in your sights and reach it.

(9) Mont Marcou, with its fantastic 360° view, is the reward for your efforts. Begin the descent by continuing to follow the GRP® Haut Languedoc et Vignobles marked in yellow/red. The long descent is sometimes steep until you reach a stony track.

(10) Cross the track and continue on the path opposite. It runs alongside this track, then veers off to the right and joins a new track.

(11) Caution: do not cross it to take the tempting path that descends opposite: there is a warning sign. Turn right to continue on the track: recent buildings have been constructed a little further down and have taken over the location of this path. Follow this path to the end, where it joins a tarmac road. Cross the bridge over the Bouissou and enter the village of Saint-Geniès-de-Varensal.

(12) Continue up a long flight of low steps towards the church, follow the tarmac road for a short distance and take a concrete passageway that leads to a path at the edge of the village. This path passes close to the cemetery and heads south, parallel to the D22E14 road, before joining it at a wayside cross.

(13) Turn right and follow the road carefully for about 400 m to return to the parking spot (S/E).