Following a fire on 5 April 2023 on the heights of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert and Saint-Jean-de-Fos, the route remains passable but the PR® des Fenestrettes is affected, as is the Arles road (GR®653). Please check with the Saint-Guilhem – Vallée de l'Hérault Tourist Office for information on the passability of the route.
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Park at the side of the D122.
(S/E) Leave the starting point via the wide path that begins to descend. 300m further on, leave the path that will be the return route on your left.
(1) 200 metres further on, you will come to a fork. Take the right towards Max Nègre (viewpoint) and Les Plos. You will start to climb. The path is concrete (emergency access) and walk for about 1.7 kilometres, leaving a path on your left.
(2) 400m after the highest point, turn left to reach Max Nègre (signposted). Enjoy the view of the cirque below you.
(3) Continue along this yellow-marked trail until you reach a GR® trail.
(4) Turn left and continue for about 1 km on this path, which descends steeply, until you reach another remarkable viewpoint.
(5) Continue down the wide switchbacks to reach theGR®65, which we will use for the return trip.
(6) At the intersection with theGR®, leave it on your left and continue downhill. You will clearly see the bottom of the valley, but not yet Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Another 1.2 km of easy walking, but busy, and you're at the bottom.
(7) On your left, as you enter the valley, you will find various rest areas and picnic spots. On your right, you will be heading towards the town, whose main square is 50m ahead of you.
this is a very touristy town with many shops, but you can also stop for a drink or a bite to eat.
The most important sight is the Benedictine Abbey of Gellone and its Romanesque church on the Way of St James. You can enter through the porch directly from the main square. You can visit the church, the cloister and the refectory, which has been converted into a museum.
On leaving, be sure to walk around the building on the left (facing the gate) via a narrow street, turn right, walk along the church and admire its beautiful Romanesque chevet
(8) Return in the opposite direction, cross the crowd on the main square and walk up the street. Leave theGR®74on your right, which offers another return route with more elevation gain and distance.
(7) Start of the uphill trail. Take this trail.
(6) Turn right onto the path marked in yellow at this point, which is theGR® 653. You are now in the Cirque de l'Infernet. There is a climb, a short descent, then another climb with an S-bend and stone walls supporting the path.
(9) Continue along this very easy path, which is partially shaded.
(10) Leave the steeply ascending trail on your left, which joins the morning route. Take the trail on the right, which climbs steadily. After 800 metres, a path appears on your right (slightly behind you).
(11) Leave it and continue straight ahead. 500m further on, take the path opposite you rather than the track that turns left up a steep hill and rejoins the crossroads you passed at the start of the walk.
(1) The path climbs gently through a small valley called Ravin de la Côte and joins the morning path a little further on. Turn right. You only have about 200m to go to reach the D122 and the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
