Caunes is a maze of lanes, roof tops, cobbles, towers, terraces and fountains. The minervois is a twisting pathway, the brilliant light on the garrigue, the sparkle of the Argent Double….
Walking routes have been designated which are manageable for all ages, children, parents and grandparents alike. They are clearly marked so you won’t get lost; there is no need for a map or fitness training.
List of walking routes :
Difficult – a 9km circular route
3 hours’
walking
Route marker : yellow rectangle and blue circle Map IGN 2445 west
The route follows a track which was used in summer to lead sheep to the cooler pastures of the Black Mountains.
From Caunes abbey, take the avenue de l’Abbaye towards the west, turn left and cross the bridge over the Argent Double and head towards Carcassonne. Turn right towards the reservoir before the end of the village. Follow the track through the forest (view of Caunes and the Minervois plain).
To the right is a former marble quarry. On the hillsides can be seen numerous dry stone enclosures and shelters. At Villegausse there is a former sheepfold; leave the track here and follow the footpath through the oak forest. At the end of the wood there is a view over the valley of the Argent Double, Montbounous, the roc de Moussu and Caunes.
Follow the ‘pilgrim path’ down through oaks, pines, cedars and box. Cross the stream and turn right to the road to Citou. Cross the road and take the path opposite upwards to the Bibaud forest farm. Turn right close to the buildings onto a path through the pines to the Terralbes plateau. Turn right and down towards the village with views over the valley of the Argent Double and Caunes.
Easy-10km circular route
3 hours’ walk
Route marker: yellow rectangle
Map IGN 2445 west
Starting from the Cros, this route is a discovery of the Minervois and its borders with the Hérault through garrigue and Mediterranean scrub.
From Notre-Dame du Cros go down the side of the church, turn right at the ford and follow the path for 500m.
At “La Bouriette” turn left onto a path leading up to a working marble quarry.
Go past the quarry and carry on up to the plateau. Turn right across the garrigue, through oak and broom and follow a magnificent dry stone wall for about 200m which leads close to the Matte smallholding.
Circumvent the buildings and descend the eastern Hérault side of the plateau (view over Camplong, Félines and the ruins of Ventajou). Now follow the blue route marker leading to the megalithic site of la Planette.
Go past a former manganese mine on the right and return to Notre Dame de Cros on the path linking Félines to Caunes-Minervois.
Very easy – 7km route
2½ hours’ walk
Route marker: yellow circle
Map IGN 2445 west
Marble is evident all the way along this route leading to the carrière du Roy from which columns for the Trianon were extracted.
From Caunes Abbey take the avenue de l’Abbaye towards the east following the line of the ditches of the former ramparts of the town. At the last building turn left and go up Montplaisir towards the Porte de Narbonne.
Cross over and go up the road opposite for 1km where the garrigue leads into a former marble quarry with residual blocks of marble.
Carry on up towards the rock overhanging the valley of the Argent Double. A little further on turn left onto the track known as ‘d’Emilie’
(interesting bridge construction).
On reaching the Rives Hautes forest track, continue straight on through the forest and garrigue to the Carrière du Roy (view over the Cros gorges). Rejoin the path leading to the buildings of the red marble quarry still in operation.
Follow the path down for 200m towards Caunes-Minervois then take a small path on the left through the pine forest to rejoin the chemin de Cros. Turn right to return to the village.
Medium - 18 à 20 km circular route
5 hours' walk
Route marker : yellow line + yellow point + logo «château de Citou»
Map IGN 2444 West + 2445 West
For more descriptions, please see the french part..
Easy - 25,2 km circular route
4 hours 30 minuts' walk
Route marker : yellow and green
Map IGN 2345 East
For more descriptions, please see the french part..
