Sant Cristau from Montesquieu via Espinassa and the Mary Fort Gardens

A beautiful paved path and another very steep path lead up to the track leading to Coll and the Espinassa fountain. From Coll de Llinàs, there is a beautiful climb to Sant Cristau.
The return route passes by the Font de Sant Cristau, a beautiful forest and a cross. To give your knees a rest, the rest of the descent is via a track and a path passing through the abandoned gardens of Mary Fort.
During the hike, there are views of the Roussillon plain, Canigou, etc.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 856 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 850 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,010 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 148 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the D618 connecting Le Boulou to Argelès-sur-Mer, exit towards Montesquieu-des-Albères. Pass the new town hall and park in the school car park on the right. Two other car parks are available in this area.

(S/E) From the school car park, walk down Grand Rue for 50 metres and turn left into Rue de la Fontaine. Follow the sign.
Pass the fountain (drinking water) and the road bridge over the Còrrec de Sant Cristau. Turn left onto Rue des Albères and continue along this road until you reach the first crossroads of roads and tracks. Turn left onto Rue du Mas d'en Bay. Pay attention before you reach the last houses.

(1) Climb sharply to the right into the pine forest. There is a signpost for "Cami del Pertus".
Reach the end of the track at a drinking water reservoir. Go around it on the left and climb about thirty metres up a small path overlooking it.

Look for a cairn on the right before this path widens and climbs more steeply. This entire hillside has been completely cleared (April 2021). The path does not appear on any map. I have added a cairn. So head right and climb slightly up this grassy path through the undergrowth. This is followed by the Fount d'en Narcis and a series of steps made of wooden logs.

Come out onto the track and follow it to the right: directional signpost. You will reach a large crossroads of tracks and the fenced picnic area with its beautiful Fount dels Treze Vents (elevation 329). First possible break.

(2) Turn back a few metres and climb to the right between the two tracks via a very steep path next to an EDF pole. The start of the sustained climb is very steep, heading generally south-east-south.
At around 450 m, the gradient increases to around 35%. After the shooting range, at around 590 m, the path finally flattens out a little. Then reach a sharp bend in the track and leave a path that climbs to the left.

(3) Turn left onto this track and continue climbing. You will reach the Coll and the Fount de l'Espinassa (Espinàs). This is a very beautiful spot. A well-deserved break is in order.

(4) From this pass, turn back a few metres and then climb to the right along the track until you reach the next sharp right-hand bend.

(5) On the right, you will find a path that climbs steeply and serves as a shortcut before rejoining the track you just left.

Head left, south-east, along this track and enjoy the beautiful scenery. At around 795 m, ignore a path that descends to the left. Continue along the track to reach the large Coll de Llinàs pass at an altitude of 808 m. Pass two vaulted cavities on the left, climb three metres to the right and reach a flat grassy area: there is a concrete marker and a signpost.

Recentyellow markings. Observed in April 2021.

(6) Turn left onto the ridge towards Sant Cristau. Head south-east along a good path marked in yellow.
Reach the sharp bend in a small grassy track. Turn right onto this track. Pass two more vaulted cavities on the right and climb up opposite them. The rest of the marked path is clearly marked on the ground. Do not try to cut across. The path eventually curves to the right and joins a stony track. Follow it to the right. The yellow markings lead to Puig de Sant Cristau at an altitude of 1015 metres.

(7) A beautiful spot that is often windy and sometimes busy. A sheepfold-chapel provides shelter if needed.
Besure to close the door properly, otherwise the sheep will take over and wreck the place. The area is large enough to stop for a meal. 360° viewpoint. Continue down the other side. Follow the yellow markings carefully to reach Fount del Sant Cristau at an altitude of 905 metres.

(8) Turn left and follow the flat grassy track for 300 m until you reach a left-hand bend: the signpost has been destroyed, but I have marked the location (895 m). Descend to the right into the beech forest towards Montesquieu: old yellow markings. The descent is steep. In places, the view is magnificent. Feel free to take breaks when crossing tracks.
Reach a cistern 339 and a track. Continue straight ahead along the path: signpost (730 m).

You will arrive at a sharp bend in the same track. Continue straight ahead along the path: signpost (620 m). At an elevation of 530 m, pass an old mast with a Catalan flag made of steel lying on the ground and a kind of cairn, then further down, a painted steel cross. Beautiful view of the plain.

Pay attention at the next crossroads: ignore the firstpath on the left, which has recently been reopened, and the one that goes downhill, and look for the path on the right, which you must not miss. This will take you to a sharp bend in a track at around 435 m.

No markings

(9) Continue left on the track, descending for 1.3 km to reach the junction of a track on the right at around 360 m.

(10) Turn completely right onto this small grassy track for 400 m to find a marked path.

Old yellow markings are scattered along the way.

(11) At a destroyed signpost, around 345 m, leave the path that climbs to the right and continue on this track. Continue downhill until you reach a clearing at an elevation of 308 m.
Please note: I have marked the signpost and an old sign on the ground (14 April 2021).
Leave the track by turning left onto the beautiful, clearly visible path that descends and crosses the open area of the Mary Fort Gardens. This must have been a pleasant, humid place with terraces and beautiful stone staircases. Further on, you will reach a fork: signpost (195 m).

(12) Leave the equipped path that climbs to the left and head right towards the village. At the next fork, keep left above the road. Reach Rue Saint-Christophe and follow it to the left *.

No markings

After 40 m, turn right onto a path that is very well marked on the ground. When you reach the first houses, first turn right then left and go down Grand Rue towards the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 165 m - School car park - Grand Rue
  2. 1 : km 0.93 - alt. 222 m - Cami del Pertus
  3. 2 : km 1.7 - alt. 329 m - Fount dels Treze vents
  4. 3 : km 2.83 - alt. 591 m - Track
  5. 4 : km 3.55 - alt. 645 m - Fount and Coll de l'Espinassa
  6. 5 : km 4.27 - alt. 691 m - Trailhead
  7. 6 : km 5.08 - alt. 814 m - Col de Linas ou Coll de Llinas (808m)
  8. 7 : km 6.02 - alt. 1,010 m - Pic Saint-Christophe
  9. 8 : km 6.46 - alt. 905 m - Sant Cristau fountain
  10. 9 : km 8.38 - alt. 438 m - Right towards the track
  11. 10 : km 9.46 - alt. 361 m - Grassy track
  12. 11 : km 9.7 - alt. 346 m - Directional signpost destroyed.
  13. 12 : km 10.95 - alt. 193 m - Signpost
  14. S/E : km 11.49 - alt. 165 m - School car park - Grand Rue

Notes

Classified as difficult due to its steep gradient in several sections. For example, +130 m over 350 m, or 37%.
Do not underestimate this fairly challenging hike.

This is a mid-mountain area. You will need: a windbreaker, water, snacks, a map, GPS or Visorando app, camera, hiking boots and a walking stick.

* If in doubt, from (12), continue along Rue Saint-Christophe, then turn left onto Grand Rue and head for the car park (S/E).

Be sure to follow the directions carefully. The number of waypoints is limited. The GPX track on the Visorando app or a GPS will be very useful. A paper map and a good sense of direction are necessary as the trail is not continuously marked.

Water points: town hall, schools, public toilets. Tres Vents fountain at the picnic area (2), Epinassa fountain at (4), Sant Cristau fountain at (8). Shelters: at Coll de l'Espinassa (4) and Sant Cristau (7).

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
mimi6645
mimi6645

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, challenging hike with stunning views at Puig Sant Cristau.
well marked.
A small note: at point 5, follow the DFCI (forest fire prevention trail), as the uphill path appears to be abandoned.

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rickou66
rickou66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, best done in spring or summer. The scenery is magnificent and well worth the effort.
For winter hikes, don't forget to bring a change of clothes as the temperatures at the summit are very cold.
The signposting is generally good and the climb is quite difficult in places, but there are a few flat sections which are welcome and allow you to recover a little. The descent is quite technical and the lack of visibility on the ground (leaves) can sometimes cause problems (risk of falls). As novices, my son and I completed this hike in a total of 4 hours and 40 minutes, with a 30-minute break at the summit to eat.
Many thanks to Visorando for the variety of hikes on offer; we really enjoyed this one.
Best regards

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bergpaden
bergpaden

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike with a great view at Sant Cristau.

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sassiat
sassiat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It might be interesting to add the km/effort!

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edved1974
edved1974

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, enjoyable hike that is not too difficult. Well done on the route! Thank you very much!

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manubruas
manubruas
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route to avoid in hot weather (All Saints' Day 2022 was perfect for this, with good weather and not too hot).
A very steep climb with no hairpin bends, which must be tricky in wet conditions!
Otherwise, there's a lovely view at the top, with a beautiful panoramic view of the Roussillon plain, Spain and, in the distance, Canigou.
Thank you for sharing!

Lots of possible variations if you have a good map! (or the Visorando mobile app).

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rocalti
rocalti
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Variations are possible. This is a steep and difficult route. The climb up Cami del Perthus is very slippery when you reach the logs, so take great care. The other access route is also nice.

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