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In Tourouzelle, take Avenue de Lézignan (D65) and, about fifty metres before the ‘end of built-up area’ sign, turn right into Rue Joseph Ramel to enter a small residential area where several parking spaces are available on the wide pavements. If you arrive in Tourouzelle via the D65, the street will be on your left.
(S/E) Return to the D65 and turn left, following it towards the village centre whilst using the right-hand pavement. Pass the school and the adjoining media library to arrive in front of the Town Hall.
YellowPR®® markings + directional signs
(1) A few metres further on, cross the road carefully to take the small tarmac road (Chemin du Périé) which starts on the left at a wooden hiking sign describing the Pinède de la Bade route. Pass a path on the left, then a tarmac track also on the left, and enter the pine forest.
(2) At the large junction (with a water tank opposite), take the sharp right-hand bend. The road soon leads to a Fork in the road where it loses its tarmac surface, giving way to two wide stony tracks. Follow the one on the left, which slopes gently downwards. The view opens up to the left, with vineyards in the foreground and, in the distance, the rolling hills of the Corbières. At the Fork in the road that follows shortly afterwards, keep to the left.
At the corner of a ruined dry-stone building, turn left at a right angle onto the path lined with low walls, which narrows and winds its way beneath the kermes oaks. About 200 metres further on, follow the sign for ‘Oliviers – Heath’, which suggests a short detour to the right. Retrace your steps and continue to the right.
(3) At the T-junction (with a hunting hide opposite, up on the hill), turn right, ignore a path on the left (not shown on the map) and carry on straight ahead. You’ll come to another signpost indicating access to several dry-stone structures on the right. Take the detour, then retrace your steps to rejoin the route on the right.
Continue along the pleasantly shaded path. Walk round a ruined sheepfold, pass a very pretty, artistically constructed cairn and climb up to a small pass.
(4) Walk a few metres downhill to take in the magnificent view of Tourouzelle, with the Montagne Noire and the Pic de Nore in the background. Pass a first track on the right, which offers a quick return to the village, then a second one a few dozen metres further on.
At the next junction, take a sharp right-hand bend onto a track that makes a tight left-hand bend before joining a departmental road at a stone cross situated at the foot of two imposing cypress trees. Turn left and walk alongside the road, taking the usual precautions.
(5) Leave the road and take a wide tarmac path on the right, which will soon lose its surface. Further on, cross a concrete slab, ignore a turn-off to the left and continue along the path, which cuts into the hillside and runs alongside some vineyards higher up on the right. You’ll reach a junction.
No signposting
(6) Leave thePR®® signposting, which heads off to the right, and carry on straight ahead along a wide grassy track that is less well-defined than the previous one. On the left lies the Pech dal Fiou and its pine forest, which unfortunately bears the scars of a devastating fire. Continue through this somewhat desolate landscape. The path, less well-defined and considerably ravaged by emergency vehicles, reaches a large high-voltage pylon standing prominently on the right.
(7) The junction on the ground is much less distinct than the IGN map suggests. Facing a small group of pine trees that miraculously escaped the fire, turn right and walk almost directly beneath the high-voltage line. The path is barely visible and in places you’ll need to go round a few charred, fallen pines before finally coming upon an old dry-stone wall.
Climb over this wall to emerge onto a wasteland. Head left to follow its edge and, about a hundred metres further on, you’ll come to a wide path with two tracks, which you follow gently uphill until you reach a stony track (the IGN map is incorrect here).
(8) Turn right, rejoin the tarmac road and carry on straight ahead until you reach the junction with a small tarmac road.
YellowPR®® signposts
(9) Take the hairpin bend to the left. Walk past a vineyard on your right, then a second, smaller one.
(10) At the corner of the second vineyard, leave the tarmac and take a wide, partly grassy track that starts on the right. This track narrows to a path and winds its way up and down through a beautiful pine forest, offering occasional views of the Montagne Noire and the villages of the Minervois.
You’ll come to a wide tarmac road; turn right to reach the Chapelle Sainte-Cécile very quickly (unfortunately closed to visitors), which is situated on the left in a lovely spot.
(11) Join the departmental road and follow it to the right for about 500 metres (take care), keeping as close as possible to the grassy verge on the left. Pass the first path on the right, then take the next one a few metres further on, following the signposts. Walk alongside a patch of wasteland and then a vineyard, both on your right.
(12) Turn left to quickly rejoin the tarmac road and carry on straight ahead, keeping the church tower in sight. Once in the village, a few metres past the junction, leave the road and take a concrete staircase on the left. After passing through a vaulted archway, take a second, more modest flight of steps on the left, which leads out opposite the church entrance (which is also closed!). Turn right, walk past the War Memorial, then turn immediately right into Rue de l’Église to reach a roundabout.
Turn left and continue to the elegant metal monument commemorating the French Revolution. Cross the road carefully and turn right, following the signs for Lézignan – Homps. Stay on the left-hand pavement to pass the Town Hall once more and return to the starting point (S/E).
Nice walk, markings uncertain in places, but no problems with GPS. A few sections on busy roads to be done with care.
Tourist office
Visorando Member
Easy 
