The plain and forest of the Montagne de l'Artigues

An alternating view of pasture and fresh forests, this pleasant flat walk will lead you past the Notre Dame d'Esparron chapel and its small cemetery classified as an historical monument.
Crossing the tiny village of Artigues is also surprising. You'll particularly enjoy refilling your water bottles at the communal fountain.
The advantage of this charming loop that it's flat and very manageable, there are only one or two small climbs along the route.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 193 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 193 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 506 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 360 m

Description of the walk

Access : From the roundabout separating the D3 from the D561 in the direction of Artigues, drive for 2.8km.
Fork to the right at the small junction, continue 200 meters north-northeast and then you can park on the lower side.

(S/E) Go fully east on the dirt track bordered by trees (50 meters to the north of the small water-treatment building). After 800 meters, this track will cross the D561 to pass the building in a west-east axis for 2.5km (almost always between rows of trees, and often along the irrigation channels). The D561 is used very little.

(1) Continue until the point where the D561 curves southeast and you begin to move away from it.

(2) Take a right-angle turn fully south for 60 meters and then, as soon as you see the departmental road again, turn fully east for 150 meters along the fields, then the path goes southeast up to a cross which marks a very small intersection.

(3) Then descend the small asphalt road fully south up to the immense groves of old oak trees which mark the spot of the old Chapelle Notre-Dame and reach the old cemetery. You are then half way.

(4) Continue south on the wide track that climbs up to the hill, 80 meters away, when the track turns to the left, leave it for the small path that winds between the vines, fully west.

(5) Then follow the GR®99A trail, signposted red and white, which will take you gradually into the forest. Follow this GR® up to the village of Artigues, with a few houses, a château, a town hall and a drinking water fountain which is very pleasant in summer.

(6) Leave the village and start a descent on the D65 in a westerly direction, then southwest for 525 meters. Reach some wooden signs (to the left of the road).

(7) Walk through the forest still following the GR®99A trail. This is steepest section of the walk (50 meters elevation). After a few bends, the GR® goes mainly west.

(8) Start a long walk across the beautiful forest, following the GR® trail to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 361 m - Car park near the wastewater treatment plant
  2. 1 : km 2.66 - alt. 382 m - Leave the D561
  3. 2 : km 3.32 - alt. 386 m - Roadside crossroads
  4. 3 : km 4.2 - alt. 411 m - Carrefour de la croix
  5. 4 : km 4.53 - alt. 425 m - Chapel and old cemetery
  6. 5 : km 4.82 - alt. 440 m - GR99A junction,
  7. 6 : km 7.17 - alt. 470 m - Exit from Artigues on the D65
  8. 7 : km 7.74 - alt. 439 m - Wooden panel crossroads
  9. 8 : km 8.04 - alt. 480 m - End of laces
  10. S/E : km 10.64 - alt. 361 m - Car park near the wastewater treatment plant

Practical information

A good hat in summer, water.
The first part has muddy sections after rain.
Fountain in the village of Artigues.

In the nearby area

Benches in the shade of oak trees at the old Roman Notre-Dame chapel.
Pretty fields of flowers in the spring.
Some views of the Alps between gaps in the forest.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 22 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
3.6 / 5
JT
JT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

As indicated, it is best to park in the large car park at the school pick-up zone located between the planned departure point and point 1 on Chemin des Marquises along the D561.

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PATDIDOU
PATDIDOU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A pretty easy route

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Guignard Max
Guignard Max

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely route with a slight gradient.
There is no car park at the water treatment plant.
The easiest way is to park either at the school bus stop along the D 561 or at the chapel or in Artigues.

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Amélie C1.
Amélie C1.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This was a lovely walk that we did in the opposite direction, to protect ourselves from the rain in the forest.
The pretty flowers in the undergrowth reminded us that it was spring, despite the grey and rainy weather.
The chapel of St Revest is well worth the walk. A magnificent building, surrounded by centuries-old oak trees. A very restful place.
The return journey took us along the old railway line alongside the road. We came across a hare and saw fields of rapeseed and thyme and many poppies. Quite a pleasant path.

The only downside was that we couldn't find the car park indicated on the route. We parked in a green space opposite the houses near the water treatment plant.

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mamiclo
mamiclo

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

A pleasant, shady walk that can also be enjoyed by walkers.
Be careful, from Artigues follow the GR . In fact, you have to go round properties or hunting reserves and therefore deviate slightly from the route shown on the map.

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CHASTEL Robert
CHASTEL Robert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant area opposite Artigues town hall with stone tables and benches for picnics.
Just a little extra to fill your water bottle in Artigues. The fountain is located on the allée des Platanes in a recess in the wall.

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jbcucuel
jbcucuel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : N/A

We preferred to start from Artigues, climb up to the pass of the old village of Artigues, then follow the ridges towards Esparron de Pallières and return along the GR.

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belleétoile
belleétoile

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant walk with a beautiful section through the village of Artigues and its forest.

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Boya
Boya

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant walk, especially in the forest.
At the west end of Artigues, the GR goes down to the road, whereas the path goes straight up the hillside, which is strange...!

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EZQUERRA
EZQUERRA

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

a lovely walk with no particular difficulties
the village square in Artigues is very welcoming and ideal for a picnic

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ferdial34
ferdial34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A short, pleasant and not very difficult walk, starting off along an old railway line (which would make a great greenway for cycling).

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SAINT MARTIN 83
SAINT MARTIN 83

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 07, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The route between the start and the chapel along the road is uninteresting; however, between the chapel and the finish, the route through the forest is more pleasant, with lovely views; the village of Artigues is picturesque. Take care when leaving Artigues as the signs for the path on the left no longer exist.

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Gérard et Dominique
Gérard et Dominique

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Good evening
The first 5 kilometres are a bit straight and therefore tiring. However, once you get to the chapel and the rest of the walk through the forest and through Artigues is really pleasant. Note that the wooden signs for the steep climb to the left shortly after the village no longer exist. We did this walk when it had snowed the day before and it was magical ....

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Carciofina
Carciofina

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Disappointing, as there was a long path alongside the road .....
Chapel OK and the return through the forest

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Carciofina
Carciofina

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

From the start to the Chapelle du Revest, the walk along the road is really not that great.....
The return section through the forest is more interesting.

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