Tours of Cabrenç from Serralongue

From Le Boulou, take the D115 towards Céret, Amélie-les-Bains and Arles-sur-Tech. Then, just before reaching the hamlet of Le Tech, at a small carpool area, turn left onto the D44 towards Serralongue. Park in the second car park on the left, next to the town hall on Rue Pierre Talrich.
A first car park is available on the right at the entrance to the village.

Sparse yellow markings and recent signage: Tour de Cabrenç (observed on 14 May 2023).

(S/E) Walk up from the car park, opposite the local bistro, and turn left onto Rue Abdon Poggi. Pass the town hall on your left and turn left onto Rue Saint-Antoine, heading south-southwest until the road curves sharply to the right. Leave the road and go up opposite, Rue de Cabrenç, keeping the same south-westerly direction. You will eventually reach the end of the tarmac.

(1) Continue to the right between the last houses. Look for the two recent wooden signs indicating: Tour de Cabrenç. Further up, find a track, turn left onto it, pass a first bend to the left, a few bends and then, after the second bend to the left, look for a gate and a yellow right-turn sign on the right. This marked path cuts across the next bend. Further up, rejoin the track and, once again, look for the continuation of the route. Directional signs.

(2) Leave the direction Les Tours-parking on your left. Leave the track and climb into the forest via a path towards Mas-Fornells. Use the signs provided (observed in 2023). But don't panic, the path runs parallel to the track. Much higher up, you will reach a crossroads next to the track in question.

(3) Without rejoining the track, turn right, heading north, along a path. A little further on, turn south-west. Much higher up, near Puig Ballador, you will reach a cross track and the GRP^®®.
Directional posts and various signs.

Yellow and red markings for^{the GRP®®} Volta del Canigó (Canigou Circuit) / Tour du Vallespir.

(4) Head due east on this path and after 300 m you will come to a fork.

(5) Continue right, heading south on the^GRP®®. You will soon reach a small path on the right with the tower clearly visible at the top right. Arrive at the Cabrenç Tower (with signals). A very beautiful spot with tables and benches. A curiosity worth seeing. Unobstructed view behind the tower. Directional posts and various signs.

(6) Pay attention to the markings. Continue south on the^GRP®® and you will come to a fork.
There are two options:
- easier and shorter, continue to the right, along the^GRP®®, and reach the bottom of the castle.
- Wooden sign: Donjon. Climb up opposite, following the suggested route.

(7) Very beautiful spot. 360° view. Continue southwards, calmly, down the steep but safe slope.
Rejoin the^GRP®® and continue south. You will arrive at a plateau. Vast landscapes. Castle ruins.
Option: on the left, you will see cables installed to help you climb up to the castle ruins.
Turn left, following the path marked by the cables (gentle and safe progression).
Arrive at the grassy spur. Vast area. 360° view. Orientation table.

(8) Turn around carefully and return to the^GRP®® and continue a few metres to the left.
Be sure to look for the markings slightly higher up on the left.
Do not attempt to descend opposite. From the small flat area higher up, look for the next markings on the left, descending into the forest, due south-east.
Caution: from this point, there is a steep and difficult descent in places.
At the bottom, you will reach a grassy area and the ruins of a farmhouse. At the corner of the remaining wall, look for the markings and continue left on the^GRP®® to Pla del Castell. Directional signpost.

(9) Look for the markings. Continue on the^GRP®®, heading south-east on a grassy track. After 200 m, you will come to a misleading fork. Pay attention. The directional signs do not help you to understand which direction to take.

(10) Follow the signs for St-Laurent-de-Cerdans, heading due east.
To do this: leave the track and turn left into the forest, still on the^GRP®®. You will soon enter the surprising red earth of La Mouga. Follow the markings and, after climbing up through this strange red landscape, you will arrive at a flat area.
There are two options at this point:
- continue on the^GRP®® to Pla de Muga.
- Turn slightly right for a short detour to see the stele by following the suggested route.
This is a beautiful spot for a well-deserved lunch break.

(11) No need to turn back. Continue a little further, look for cairns, descend to the left, and you will immediately find the^GRP®® again and continue to the right. You will arrive at a fork. Directional signpost.
Option (which I strongly recommend): go up to the right and, after a few metres, at the next fork, turn left to reach a magnificent viewpoint over the Muga valley. Be careful, however, with what remains of the wooden railing.

(12) Turn around and return to the^GRP®, continuing to the right. Pay attention, turn immediately left, heading north-northeast, climbing into the forest for a few dozen metres. Then continue on the right bank above the Còrrec del Pla de la Muga, slightly downhill, on a track ravaged by logging. You will arrive at a large area at a major crossroads and a DFCI track.

Off the marked trail

(13) Leave the^GRP®®. Turn left onto this track for about 1.2 km, ignoring the track descending to the right and the one ascending to the left. You will then arrive at a wide 90° bend to the left. Opposite, you will see a poorly marked path that heads north along a ridge.

(14) There are a few paint marks at the entrance to the path. Climb the rocky outcrop and climb onto the first rock on the left to enjoy the beautiful wooded landscape of Vallespir.

(15) Turn around.

(14) Continue right on the track. Pass two sharp bends on this track, which then heads generally west. Pay attention. After a series of small, insignificant bends, before the track turns left (south-west) and crosses the Ribera del Castell, look for a cairn on the right and other cairns below.
=> At this point, if in doubt or if the path is impassable: see practical information for possible alternatives.

Cairns, old yellow markings, traces of blue and red paint

(16) Descend to the right, heading due north, into the forest via a winding path that is well marked and lined with stones on both sides. Be sure to look for one of the markings indicated above.
** Cross two fords on the Ribera del Castell. Then cross two fords on the Còrrec (talweg), then the Ribera del Castell twice more. Finally, rejoin a very nice, good path in the forest. After a few passages under and over trees across the path, join a track and a footbridge on the left.

(17) Cross it and continue along the track on the left bank of the Ribera del Castell (Castle River). At the end of the track, you will reach the start of a road at Can Pelat (Pelat's house). Be careful: do not follow the road.

(18) Immediately turn left into the forest and follow the beautiful, steep path. You will come to a road/track. Continue along this, pass Cal Cassou (lodge, very beautiful spot) and continue for another 50 metres or so. Please note: do not follow the road.

(19) Turn left onto a small path, running parallel to and above this road/track, to reach the first crossroads on the circular route.

(1) Continue to the right, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, and return to the car park (S/E). Check if the bistro/bar/small grocery shop is open, as it's a nice place to stop at the end of the hike*.

• Various shorter options available.

1) From (5), after a return trip to the signal tower (6), descend to the left towards Can Toni, via the (challenging) Solana de les Torres ridge path, and return to (3).
2) From (9), descend to the left, on the left bank of the Ribera del Castell. Join a track and follow it to the left, still on the left bank, to Can Toni and rejoin (3).
3) Do not climb up to the keep (7) or the castle (8) and stay on the GRP®^®.
4) Do not go to the various viewpoints (12) and (15).

** Observation on 15 June 2023: a lot of water in all the fords. Take care.
(16) If you do not wish to risk the fords: continue along the track, passing the Can Toni car park. At (3), descend to Serralongue via the same route you took on the way up.

This is a mid-mountain area. You will need: rain and windproof clothing, water, snacks, GPX track, description, map, camera, walking shoes, walking stick.

Drinking water available in Serralongue. Water from streams must be filtered or disinfected (no livestock), no permanent human activity.

Serralongue Town Hall

• Chez Fleur L'Hostal de Cabrenç

Other hikes from Serralongue from the town hall website.
Association for the Preservation of the Castle and Towers of Cabrenç