Circular Portella de Mantet, del Callau - Mort de l'Escolà from Mantet

From Perpignan, follow the signs for Andorra. First pass Ille-sur-Tête, Vinça and Prades, then at the Villefranche-de-Conflent roundabout, turn right towards Mont-Louis. 500 m further on, before crossing the Têt, turn left onto the D6. Fuilla, Sahorre, Py, Mantet.
Park in the only car park in Mantet at the entrance to the village. Note: The D6 is a dead end.

(S/E) From the village car park, head south-east towards the village. Follow the small village road on the right and leave the return road on the left. You will arrive at a square.
Now follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®®36}and^GR®®10. Please note: See practical information ¹.
Descend to the left towards the bottom of the village via a very steep cobbled lane. Cut across the end of the road and descend a very steep cobbled lane. At a tiny stream, continue left on a track suitable for vehicles.

(1) At the fork, if the water level in the Ribera del Ressec is low, go straight ahead downhill and cross the ford. If the water level is too high, take the footbridge on the right.
From this point onwards, the path climbs steadily upwards. Take the beautiful path lined with dry stone walls.

(2) Go through a gate, closing it behind you, and turn right onto the footbridge over the Ribera de l'Alemany, then left, following the^GR®®10markings.
Simply continue along this beautiful, well-marked path. Pass the ruins of huts and orris in this still-active pastoral area and reach a fork.

(3) Turn right, still following the red and white markings. Pass La Jaça Grossa and reach the GR®® fork^.

(4) Please note: Leave the^GR®®10and 36 and continue left, now following the^GRP®® Ronde du Canigó and Tour des Réserves Naturelles, marked in red and yellow. Arrive at the Alemany Refuge with its spring.

(5) Well-equipped unmanned refuge. There is another private refuge a little further on, reserved for shepherds. See practical information ³ .
Continue along the path, pass Rec dels Bacivers and arrive at an open area.

(6) At the fork, turn right, continuing to climb, following the red and yellow markings.
Pass the Baraque des Allemands, where there is a small raised stele with a few stones from the hut.
Simply follow the markings on this path, which is ravined in places. The slope becomes steeper and will become steep on the climb to Portella.

(7) Portella de Mantet offers a beautiful reward. The landscape could be perfect, but below, the small Spanish ski resort of Valter slightly disturbs this very mountainous area.
Turn left, following a wide curve towards the south-east.
=> The path leads into Spain.
Caution: Possible confusion with the^GR®®11, marked in red and white, and the HRP.
Pass through Portella de Morens.
the path returns to France. Then the general direction will be due east, marked in red and yellow.
The scenery on all sides is magnificent. The Pla de Coma Ermada is a grazing area that rises to 2,400 metres. A few peaks at 2,500 metres on the right mark the border. Reach the Portella del Callau.

(8) Turn left for 250 m onto the path that starts just below the ridge.
You can easily reach Roca Colom (2,507 m) by climbing to the right up the grassy ridge on the border.

(9) Continue right on the red and yellow^GRP®® trail and ignore the paths that descend to the left.
Continue eastwards towards a pass with a surprising name: Mort de l'Escolà.
Head slightly to the right to see the valley where the Tech river, which flows into Argelès-sur-Mer, has its source.

(10) At the crossroads, turn left heading due north, looking for a cairn and a signpost. Leave the^GRP®® and the red and yellow markings. See practical information ².
You now need to find and follow scattered yellow markings. The well-marked path follows the Serra del Salt del Cans, which is a boundary line between territories, marked by a fence on the right-hand side.
On the right, behind the fence, there are some steep drops. Pass to the right of Cim de Pomerola (2456m).
The path, still well marked on the ground, now descends slightly. It remains on the edge of the forest on the left and stays on Pla Segala, which is also a high-altitude grazing area still in use. Continue towards the wooded area due north (2200m). Look for the cairns and the old yellow markings.

(11) At the fork, turn left. Find the path that heads due west into the forest.
The path is located in a clearing in the forest and descends rapidly. You will arrive at a flat, open area (2130m). Turn right, still following the yellow markings.

(12) At the Moscalló fountain, you can collect water using a filter bottle or purification tablets. The path is very well marked on the ground and descends rapidly again.
Caution: The path widens and becomes very rocky. Look to the left in the forest for a much more comfortable path that follows this rocky section. You will come to a grassy track that descends towards the pass.

(13) At Coll de Mantet, you will find a crossroads with tracks, paths, a road, a car park and relay antennas. This is a beautiful spot to take some photos of the village below and the path you climbed at the start of the hike.
Now simply look for and follow the red and white markings of the GR®10 and^GR®36trails.
Leave the road, which you must not follow here. Descend south-west along a well-marked path.

(14) At the road, follow it for 10 metres and turn left, following the GR®® markings^. Descend towards the village and return to the car park (S/E).

Water source at the unmanned Alemany Refuge (5). Moscalló fountain (12).
Drinking water is available at the two lodges in the village and at the back of the town hall square - church if necessary.

¹ Please note: The red and white markings cover the^GR®®10and^GR®®36as well as the^GRP®® Ronde du Canigó and^GRP®® Tour des Réserves Naturelles.

² In case of problems or bad weather => Porteilla de Rotjà refuge after (10) at about 800 m, following the red and yellow^GRP®®, due east.

³ After the Alemany refuge, the wooden refuge is private and reserved for shepherds.

This is a mid-mountain area. Therefore, as is necessary, you will need: rain gear, water, snacks, route map, description, map, GPS, camera, good walking shoes, and a walking stick.

Accommodation is available in Mantet at the La Cavale equestrian lodge below Coll de Mantet and the former Cazenove stopover lodge, now a bed and breakfast, at the bottom of the village.

Refuge de l'Alemany, unmanned but well equipped (water source, dry toilets, some provisions, regulated fire zone, etc.)

The Tech (Tec in Catalan) has its source at Roc Colom (2,507 m), accessible from (8), in the Costabonne massif, at 2,345 m, located in the commune of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste.
It flows into the Mediterranean in the Mas Larrieu nature reserve, north of Argelès-sur-Mer.