Roc Sant Salvador - France-Spain border from Montalbà d'Amélie

Coming from Perpignan, at the Amélie-les-Bains exit, turn left onto the D53 towards Montalbà. At the fork in the road (at altitude 392), turn left towards Montalbà.⁵ Leave the Mas Pagris road. This road is also a dead end and leads to the Molí de la Paleta (Palette Mill) lodge, which is now privately owned. Part of this road collapsed on Saturday 9 November 2024 and will not be rebuilt (see practical information).

(S/E) From the hamlet square, climb up to the left of the fountain. Simply follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®®10}. The path, which is very well marked on the ground, climbs up into the forest. You will reach a fork.
Do not cross the Còrrec del Clot dels Sagetes.

(1) Leave the^GR®®10. Climb to the right towards Roc Saint Sauveur, heading south.
The path now climbs very steeply through the forest. Yellow markings consisting of lines.
Pass to the right of a large ruined casot (hut in the Pyrénées-Orientales). Further on, a cross fixed to a rock stands in the middle of the path.
Continue climbing steeply. At Pla del Roc, the path is less steep for a few metres. Continue the steep climb through the forest to reach a sort of unnamed pass. ² There is a low wall on the left.

(2) To climb to the summit, head left towards the south-east, into a fault, following blue markings consisting of dots and directional arrows.
The path largely follows a steep-sided fault that serves as a path.
Caution: although the path is not dangerous, it is very steep and rugged, with some steep sections. Follow the blue markings carefully. You will arrive at a relatively flat area. Immediately climb to the left, following the blue arrows (observed on 12 January 2023). ³
Find another blue arrow on the left. Climb up the wall on your right. You will need to use your hands. You will come to a small cairn on your left, placed on the rock at the foot of the summit.

(3) "This is a nice place to take a break."
For most people, the climb ends here. ³
Tip: the safest option is to turn back to the fork before the climb and go around the peak on the right via a well-marked yellow path that only appears on the IGN map, leaving a path on the right.
- Otherwise, follow the blue markings and descend following the arrows to go around this rock.
Now continue due east. Blue markings. Look for a steeply descending path along the rock face.¹
Ropes and carabiners have been installed for the descent. (observed on 12 January 2023).

(4) Junction with the summit bypass route.
Now follow both the yellow markings consisting of lines and the blue markings consisting of dots.
NOTE: the path climbs back up to the foot of the rock face and branches off to the left into a kind of pass.

(5) The path swings around to the other side of the rock face.
Leave the blue markings that go up into the rocks. Now follow the yellow markings.
Then stay on the side under the rock face on your right, following the direction of Coll Cerdà.
The path will exit the forest and descend steeply towards Coll Cerdà ⁴ , a clear, grassy area.
At this pass, you can descend directly to the start via the^GR®®10, which descends to the left, heading due north.

(6) Make a very short first turn left then right and climb steeply south-east. Red and white^GR®®10markings. Go through a wooden gate (1100 m). Looking back, the view of Roc Sant Salvador is beautiful.
The path now climbs very steeply through the forest, heading due east. It then turns south-east to reach the Collada de Sant Martí (St Martin's Pass), which is still in the forest.

(7) Leave the path to Roc de France opposite. Continue to the right along a well-marked path that leads out of the forest. The path is open, almost on the hillside with the border on your left. This is the Ruta dels 4 refugis de la tramuntana.
The path then turns left and runs along the border for 150 metres. Do not cross the border under any circumstances.
From this point onwards, the landscape is spectacular and magnificent. There are numerous rock formations.
However, be sure to follow the yellow markings consisting of lines and the few cairns placed in very confusing locations. The path, which is uneven, can be seen all the way to Roc de la Sentinella.

(8) This is a beautiful spot for a lunch break or other rest, with magnificent views.
Head left, climbing slightly southwards. The path then descends south-westwards, past Les Collades, following the border again to reach Coll de la Dona Morta. This is also a nice place to stop for a break.

(9) Head to the far right of the hilltop and follow a good path. Leave the yellow markings of the Ruta dels 4 refugis de la tramuntana. The path follows the ridge, descending towards the north-west. Sometimes there is a path, a track or a trail in the forest, but the direction to follow is obvious.
You will arrive at a cleared area that is still in use and come to a junction with a dirt track.

(10) Turn right onto this track and follow it for 10 metres until you reach a right-hand bend, which you should not take. When I passed through on 10 March 2019, there was a bulldozer-type machine there.
Caution: be sure to find the path on the left in this bend that continues to follow the ridge in a north-westerly direction. This path is not very clear for the first few metres. A sign indicates Mas Pujol and lodge.
Do not cross the electric wires of the fence. Then begin a steep descent through low vegetation. ¹
The path emerges from this vegetation and becomes very difficult because it is rocky. Join a wide track.

(11) Turn right onto this track. Cross a gully. Strangely, this is an "inhabited" area. Whatever you think of this place, you must respect it. Traces of the old yellow markings sometimes remain.
You will come within sight of the beautiful and large Mas Pujol del Mig on your left. Reach the end of a small tarmac road. Continue straight ahead along this small road. On your left below is the very pretty Mas de Dalt.

(12) You will arrive at the Lodge de la Palette (Molì de la Paleta), which is now private, on your left below. Find and follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®®10}and continue along this road. Pass a farmhouse on your left, then the very large Mas de la Fargassa, still below on your left. Please note: you will need to leave the road.

(13) Go up to the right into the forest via a very pretty path, which is stony in places. Red and white markings for^{the GR®®10}. Follow this good path north-east, which climbs then descends through the forest until you reach a fork.

(14) Continue straight on the^GR®®10, leaving Mas Pagris on your left. The path then heads south-east until it crosses the Còrrec de la Coma (Torrent de la Coume), then heads north towards the hamlet of Montalba. At a right-hand bend in an open area, there is a magnificent view of the small hamlet. You can walk a little further to admire the view. Reach the Place du Hameau de Montalbà (S/E).

¹ Some sections of the route described here are very steep, both uphill and downhill.
² Alternative route: at (2), it is possible to avoid the climb to Le Roc by starting opposite. The path goes around the summit on the right and joins (4) via a path shown on the IGN map.
³ At the cairn (3), steps have been carved into the rock. This is the route to take to reach the summit with its cross. Take care.
⁴ Alternative: at Coll Cerdà (6), you can shorten the circular route by turning left towards Montalbà on the^GR®®10, joining the (1) and then taking the same route back to the (S/E).
⁵ The road is very narrow and winding. Please pay attention and drive carefully.

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

Pyrénées Orientales - Access road to Mas Pagris (2024) - Amélie-les-Bains

Pyrénées-Orientales - Route to Mas Pagris (2025)

the Ruta dels 4 refugis de la tramuntana

Lodge du Moulin de la Palette: this place is now closed to the public.
Montalbà d'Amélie