The Pech de Thou and the château de Carasses

Start: The hike starts from the port of Capestang, at the tourist office. You can park freely nearby.

(S/E) From the port of Capestang, follow the Canal du Midi with the canal on your right and head towards the 'voie verte' cycle path. Continue along Avenue Emile Loscos. At the junction, take the Avenue de la Gare on your left.

At the first junction, turn left along Rue de la Cartoucherie. At the next, turn right and then at the crossroads, straight ahead, Chemin de Fontélarie. At the end of the tarmac continue on the track in the same direction. Further on, on tarmac again, at the crossraods, take the track on the left for about 75 metres.

(1) Take the road on the right. Pass at the foot of a crucifix and continue straight ahead on the road which climbs.

(2) At the junction (views of Puisserguier, the Haut-Languedoc hills and Béziers), turn left.

(3) At the crossroads, after a quite long descent, turn left again towards the water tower. Pass on your left the entrance to the Cabane de Levet and futher on a small lane.

(4) At the next junction, take the small lane on your left. It climbs in hairpin bends. Follow the lane which turns right and right again at point '108' on the map to reach the water tower( the best view of Capestang and also further away, Narbonne catherdral and, on a clear day, the Pyrenees and its imposing peak 'le Canigou'.

:5: Go around the water tower to the left and take the path that descends on the opposite side. Continuing to descend, after a left-hand bend, turn right to rejoin the lane.

(6) Follow the lane to the left. At the next junction,turn right. At the fork (crucifix), turn sharp left. At the end of the lane, turn left again.

(7) Cross the D16 road, follow it to the right for 20-30 metres, then take the track on the left. Follow the track (not marked of the map) which passes a vineyard. At the corner of the vineyard, turn left towards the cycle track which you can see below you.

(8) Cross the cycle track and continue ahead on a road. You will see, in the distance on your left, the chateau des Carasses.

(9) At the crossroads, take the first on the left (direction south, south-west) towards the chateau.

(10) Take the dirt track on the left (direction south). Cross the stream and continue south.

(11) At the crossroads, follow the road to the left and the GR787. Stay on this road passing all of the tracks on the left. On reaching the cemetery and the Canal du Midi, turn left following the canal, cross the road and continue ahead to reach the starting point (S/E)

Start & Parking: The hike starts from the port of Capestang, at the tourist office. You can park freely nearby.

Gears : Water, a hat and hiking boots.

Take a break at the chateau des Carasses hotel.