The capitelles path from Fitou

Numerous restored capitelles (drystone shelters) and panoramic views over the Etang de Leucate and the coast.

Technical sheet

40613997
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.08 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 259 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 263 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 196 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 29 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Saint-Julien-et-Sainte-Basilisse church car park.

(S/E)  Take the path opposite the car park to reach a water tank at a crossroads.

(1) Turn right, then quickly pass the orientation table, where you'll find a panoramic view.

(2) Continue along the Domaine Vidal, once frequented by Jean Marais. Continue along the path, noting all the capitelles. Approach the wind farm, and arrive at the Cortal de Marty signpost.

(3) Head left towards Feuilla, reaching the former Aéropostale aeronautical beacon, then Les Courteils.

(4) Take the footpath on the left, continuing on to reach the crossroads of the path to the dolmen.

(5) Turn right onto the yellow-marked path, after the hunting lookout post turn left, attention the path, which can be seen through the vegetation, is marked only by cairns. Reach the Oliveda d'en David dolmen.

(6) Return to the previous crossroads.

(5) Continue to the right for a few hundred meters until you reach a crossroads.

(7) Keep to the left, ignoring the paths to the left and right. Reach the capitelle Gabrielle.

(8) Continue on to reach a crossroads next to a vineyard.

(9) Turn left onto an unmarked path. After the power lines, reach a hairpin bend.

(10) Take the small path opposite and quickly return to the starting intersection.

(1) Continue straight ahead along the opposite route, back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 67 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 0.43 - alt. 105 m - DFCI tank. Loop crossroads
  3. 2 : km 1.31 - alt. 121 m - Domaine Vidal
  4. 3 : km 1.9 - alt. 128 m - Cortal de Marty
  5. 4 : km 2.39 - alt. 155 m - Wind farm and aeronautical lighthouse
  6. 5 : km 4.45 - alt. 134 m - Dolmen trail
  7. 6 : km 6.17 - alt. 196 m - Dolmen de l'Oliveda d'en David
  8. 7 : km 8.44 - alt. 127 m - Runway, turn left
  9. 8 : km 11.03 - alt. 54 m - Gabrielle drystone shelter
  10. 9 : km 11.29 - alt. 29 m - Vineyard
  11. 10 : km 13.04 - alt. 103 m - Hairpin, path opposite
  12. S/E : km 14.08 - alt. 66 m - Church car park

Practical information

If you're going on your own, tell someone close to you about your itinerary and how long it will take.
Walking shoes, poles, GPS, hiking map with itinerary.
Bring plenty of water, snacks (dried fruit, cereal bars).
Depending on the season: hat, gloves, warm clothing, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen.

No water, not to be used in very hot and windy conditions. Good footwear, as there are many stones and vegetation in places. At certain times of year, beware of mosquitoes.

In the nearby area

Fitou cellars and château.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
LEFRANC Sylvie
LEFRANC Sylvie

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful walk. We did this walk just as flowering began (16 March), with irises, giant orchises, ophrys fusca link and cluster mascaras, all enhanced by superb views of the Canigou and the ponds. Beautiful renovation of the drystone shelters, also known as orri.

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Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pretty walk dotted with wild flowers such as irises, daffodils and orchids, numerous drystone shelters and a magnificent panorama.

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BOB6634
BOB6634

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It's a nice walk, but the diversions to see the dolmen is almost pointless, apart from covering a little more distance.
The signposting is sometimes non-existent, but fortunately there is VISORANDO.
You'll also need good shoes for the many stony sections along the way.

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zenitude66
zenitude66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike?
The only point that lacks interest for me is between points 5 and 6 (return loop); following the cairns trail is not easy with the heath vegetation reclaiming its rights and the dolmen lacks a little interest in my opinion.

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BALI
BALI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTANY.

PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTANY

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colom gerard
colom gerard

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

lovely walk through the heath. signposting to be improved. great views of the drystone shelters. Circuit to be made with a splendid sight on the ponds and the sea

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PatBallade
PatBallade

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful walk through the heath, with its fragrances and distinctive vegetation. Beautiful, well-restored drystone shelters. The only downside is that the signposting is still very succinct, making the Visorando geolocation system virtually indispensable.

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bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This tour takes in around twenty well-restored drystone shelters and the classic heath landscape of the southern Corbières. But it's best done earlier in the season when the rosemary forests are in flower.
No problem tracking with the GPS.
You can skip the dolmen extension without hesitation, as it has 3 leaning and very small orthostats without the classic tabular covering of the dolmen.
There are some very beautiful pinecone centaury along the way, as well as wide views of the sea.

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Riquet640
Riquet640

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk to discover the drystone shelters.
Not to be done as we did in hot and windy weather. Not much shade.
Despite this, we enjoyed the tour.

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dibona65
dibona65

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

There are plenty of wide tracks for this lovely walk, which offers excellent views of the coastline and access to a number of well-restored drystone shelters. The only time you are invited to leave the wide tracks for good is on the alternative route to the dolmen. The path then becomes very narrow and even if the cairns make it fairly easy to follow, the hour-long diversions there and back to find 3 unfortunate stones in the middle of nowhere begs the question!

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lecabos
lecabos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk in fine weather. Pleasant, well-marked route with no difficulties. Lovely views over the ponds, oyster beds and the Mediterranean. I was pleasantly surprised by these drystone shelters, which I'd never seen before, and congratulations to those who restored them. I would recommend

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