On the heights of Paguignan and La Cessière

Start from the Paguignan cemetery, Route de Cailhol.

(S/E) Set off behind the cemetery (it should be on your right) towards the vineyard, go round the cemetery and join the D175 road. Turn left towards the hamlet of Paguignan.

(1) Turn left in the hamlet to cross it via the upper part and the narrow streets: the old Chemin de Cazelles, Rue du Serpentin, and head towards Rue des Écoles and Place des Écoles. Head down to Route des Marchandes and turn left (rubbish bins). Ignore the small road leading down to the right and continue straight on for 10 metres.

(2) Leave the road on the left and go round the last house in the hamlet (dark red shutters) on the right (at the back), keeping it on your right. Follow the blue-marked track opposite under the trees.
Please note: the first part of the route is shaded!
You will see the remains of dry stone walls several times on your left. Continue until you reach a vineyard.

(3) Turn immediately right and go round the vineyard, following the farm track. After a fork to the left, then to the right, go down the track to reach the heath. Turn left; you’ll find another vineyard below on the right.
Head down to the next vineyard and turn right.

(4) Leave the farm track and walk along the top of a vineyard. The heath should be on your right. Leave this vineyard and head into the grass. Reach another vineyard on the left, sloping gently towards the south-west, and walk along its right-hand side.
Turn left, go down a path and, when you’re almost at the bottom of the path, climb over an old low wall on the right to cross an old vineyard heading west. Be careful: the path isn’t very visible, nor are the markings!Join a farm track and head down towards the D175 road.

(5) Cross this road to follow the farm track opposite. At the end of the track, take the vineyard path on the right. Follow it, turning right. Pass a greenhouse on the right. Cross a ford and arrive at a road.

(6) Take the farm track that climbs, marked Blue, Red and Yellow. Pass above a kennel (don’t worry, the hunting dogs are safely locked up).

(7) Leave the track and take a small path on the right.
Please note that the path is not very visible despite the markings, cairns and tree branches. Follow the markings down this shaded path. At the bottom, join a small farm track, head down and pass a small garden and an old henhouse on your right.
When you reach the Paguignan crossroads, turn left, cross a small (submersible) bridge, reach the D175 road and turn left at the first house (red shutters).

(2) Go round the hamlet via the Route des Marchandes.
Pass a house (on the right) with light green shutters.
Just after the right-hand bend, pass a beautifully restored house where the old village sign has been incorporated into the low boundary wall.

(1) Follow the road on the left which descends slightly, passing two houses on the left, and, retracing your steps from the outward journey, arrive at the cemetery (S/E).

This walk is not difficult, apart from the lack of shade, which, combined with the intense summer heat of over 35°C, can lead to dehydration. There are no water points along the route.

You will find a bakery and patisserie in Aigues-Vives on the road to Saint-Pons (opposite the wine cooperative).
On the Place de Paguigan, you can see the Church of Saint-Martin.
The old Church of Saint-Martin (listed as a historic monument) can be seen near the point (2); it has partially collapsed.
Once you reach the Paguignan crossroads, if you turn right (and thus leave the route) for a distance of 300 m, you will see a private chapel, ‘Notre-Dame Entre Deux Eaux’
(DA). You can continue, either before or after the walk, to the hamlet of Cailhol, where the Domaine Gautran-Cailhol is located.