Saint-Félix de Monceau Abbey

de fr

A lovely walk without any specific difficulties, with views over the vegetation of the Gardiole massif, Mont Saint-Clair and the lakes. Due to the large number of DFCI trails and paths, you can adjust this hike as you wish.

Details

n°232420
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.41 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 561 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 528 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 732 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 364 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gigean (34770)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.487572° / E 3.727392°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2743ET
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Photos

The beauty of the "skeletons"
The vines
The abbey gardens
St Felix de Montceau Abbey

Description of the walk

The hike starts at the Abbey car park.

(S/E) After visiting the abbey and having enjoyed the views out over the lakes, follow the DFCI trail which starts on the left, sloping gently before slowly climbing upwards.

(1) At the fork, follow the path on the right and stay on it until you reach a pass (cistern).

(2) Take the path on the left and follow it up to the next crossroads, ignoring the other paths.

(3) Turn right and continue on the DFCI, ignoring the other paths which branch off here and there, up to the next pass.

(4) At the cistern, don't continue on the DFCI, but instead branch off immediately to the right onto a sloping path, which isn't very visible from the main path. Take the opportunity to have a look at the cave, to the right of the tank (20m of narrow galleries).
Go downhill until you reach a dry stream, then climb back up on the steep path opposite. Continue onwards, ignoring the different paths branching off on the left, until you re-join the path you started on, after the first pass. Head to the left and re-join the pass and the cistern.

(2) Continue on the path opposite which you took on the outward leg. Ignore the path on the right, 100m after the pass, and continue on until you see a second path branching off on the left. Turn left, passing in front of one of the dry stone huts which you find in this area (5) and return to the Abbey car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 512 ft - Car park at Saint-Felix de Montceau Abbey
  2. 1 : mi 0.49 - alt. 669 ft - Fork, continue right
  3. 2 : mi 0.86 - alt. 732 ft - Crossroads, tank, keep left
  4. 3 : mi 1.32 - alt. 715 ft - Crossroads, follow DFCI to the right
  5. 4 : mi 2.76 - alt. 469 ft - Pass, cistern, take the faint path to the right
  6. 5 : mi 4.35 - alt. 525 ft - Drystone shelter
  7. S/E : mi 4.41 - alt. 515 ft - Car park at Saint-Felix de Montceau Abbey

Notes

Not many shady places on this walk - avoid in hot weather.

(2) If you'd prefer to leave the DFCI track for a bit, you can cut some sections out by taking the path on the right 100m after the pass. Go past point (1) again and return to the departure point.

Worth a visit

Abbey, caves, panoramic views over the lakes, Sète and Mont Saint-Clair.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 94 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Jean Valcarcel
Jean Valcarcel

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is poorly signposted apart from the yellow markings. You’ll find yourself looking for other markings, such as the blue ones, and you’ll spot them from time to time. That said, the route is varied and takes you up onto the hills, offering views of Frontignan and the coast in the distance, as well as the Abbey of Saint-Félix-de-Monceau below. An easy walk along forest tracks.

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Tas
Tas

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful views, but it's a shame that there's a major forest road between points 2 and 4.

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Guigui3450
Guigui3450

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Perfect in winter because there is no shade
Views almost all the way
Very easy (wide forest fire road, gentle slope). Just one slightly steep climb at the 2/3 mark, but it's not long
The cave is a nice bonus. Be sure to bring a torch as it is very dark

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User 20387286

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with beautiful views.

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MaryS
MaryS

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Although the lack of shade in temperatures of at least 35°C and the steep path towards the end of the walk were quite a challenge for me, I still enjoyed it. It's beautiful, with some great views. Even the blackened trees (was there a fire last year?) add something strangely beautiful to the landscape.

It may be obvious to others (?!), but at number 4 in the details of this walk, it says: "...turn off... onto a path that is not very visible from the main road." That's correct, but as it also mentions a cave at that point, I chose the path that more or less passed in front of it. I eventually arrived at the dry river, but the steep path wasn't opposite! It wasn't difficult to find the right path, but...! If you're like me, it's best to keep an eye on the little blue bubble on your GPS when you're going downhill!

All in all, a lovely afternoon!

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DAANT
DAANT
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We do it regularly at different times of the year, and it's always as beautiful as ever. We recommend you do it in April, when nature is waking up - you'll come back with wonderful colours in your eyes and in your head.
There are no major difficulties, just a slightly tricky climb of around 110 m over 400 to 500 m, but if you take it slowly and take a short break halfway up, you'll be rewarded with a magnificent view at the summit.
So take heart and enjoy the walk.

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Sylviane lannoy
Sylviane lannoy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Apart from a fairly difficult climb, the route is very pleasant, with some very nice spots with views over Sète and the Etang de Thau.

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Loumès
Loumès

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route

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pascal.forbin
pascal.forbin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a lovely walk with lovely views of the sea and the ponds; the climb back up after descending the cistern is pretty tough!

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NinaBlnd
NinaBlnd

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy route, with a beautiful abbey to visit. The advantage of the Guardiole massif here is that there are plenty of other paths, so it's easy to extend/add loops if you want to make your walk longer. The only slightly technical part is a fairly steep, scree slope that climbs steeply just after the cistern and the cave, so watch your ankles! And in summer, NO SHADOWS!

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Francine84
Francine84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike with great views. Unfortunately, for much of the route, the Gardiole massif was badly damaged by the fire on 18 August. The grotte au point (4) is now very visible because all the heath has burnt down around it.
A pretty drystone shelter built into a wall at the point (5) . There is another easily accessible one just below.
Thanks for sharing.

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Olivier TGV
Olivier TGV

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike offering beautiful views, whether of the abbey of saint Félix de monceau, mont saint baudille, the coast with the old salt pans of Frontignan and Sète.
There's just one ascent between km 4.7 and 5.2, which in the summer temperatures of July 2024 alone merits a very difficult rating 🥵
With the app no problem following the route.

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Paccou
Paccou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route, beautiful scenery Frontignan, the lakes, Sète, Pic Saint Loup, ...

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mariepistache
mariepistache

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, profusion of magnificent flowers (end of May), no difficulty following the GPS track.

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Restor
Restor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely trail with magnificent views to do in spring. Chemins caillouteux Iris et fleurs avaient poussés après la pluie belle rando

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