Puech Garde walks

This route runs entirely within the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. Setting off from Dio, you look out over the Orb valley before rejoining the river at Lamalou-les-Bains after crossing its tributary, the Mare, via the Pont du Diable. At the foot of the Monts d’Orb, you can see the Montagne de l’Espinouse and the cliffs of the Caroux Plateau. The views of Dio Castle, the walk through purple-coloured rock formations and a visit to the medieval village of Boussagues make this walk a delight.

Leaving Faugères, climb up to the mill and cross the heath dotted with drystone shelters...

This route runs entirely through the Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park. It passes through two typical villages and offers numerous panoramic views of the Orb Valley, the Monts d’Orb, the Montagne de l’Espinouse and the Caroux Plateau. Charles Péguy, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Paul Nizan (Les chiens de garde), Robert Desnos and hundreds of others await us in the Forêt Domaniale des Écrivains Combattants.

Whether you’re a contemplative soul, a sports enthusiast, a nature lover or a history buff, here is a route along the southernmost foothills of the Causse du Larzac: an easy one-way walk offering sweeping views of the Languedoc’s main peaks, with the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees as a backdrop. The route culminates in a gentle and refreshing finish in one of the most beautiful villages in France, Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert, in the heart of the Gorges de l’Hérault, an area designated a ‘Grand Site de France’. Following a fire on 5 April 2023 on the hills above Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Saint-Jean-de-Fos, the route remains passable but the PR® des Fenestrettes is affected, as is the Arles trail (GR®653). Please check with the Saint-Guilhem – Vallée de l’Hérault Tourist Office to find out whether the route is open.