The area between Narbonne and Gruissan is home to an impressive natural site: the Massif de la Clape. This small limestone mountain chain, part of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and hosts some excellent hiking trails. Recently, Chéri and I walked the Visorando hike ‘Boucle de la Vigie à la Chapelle d’Auzils’. This 9 kms trail combined a bit of culture, such as the marine cemetery and the chapel, with the green setting of the La Clape natural site.
Lost-at-Sea Sailors
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Auzils is located in a rather remote place. Driving up here will take you through some stunning scenery. Arriving at the parking at the bottom of the chapel is the starting point of several hikes. With the kids, we have done the yellow labelled ‘La Goutine’ and ‘La Chapelle’ ones before. Last weekend, Chéri and I decided to do a trail of a bit over 9 kilometres that I found on the Visorando app (which you can find here). As the chapel closes at 12h00, we decided to do the walk backwards. Beginning the other way around meant that we started by climbing up to the chapel via the marine cemetery, passing 26 cenotaphs- the empty graves to honour the lost-at-sea sailors.
Notre-Dame-des-Auzils
And for the first time, we could actually visit the Notre-Dame-des-Auzils Chapel. It has been around for quite some time, since 1635. And even before that! In the 11th century, monks set up a convent on the site where they could come to pray. As the chapel was visible from far out at sea, the local fishermen felt like it was watching over them. If you have the chance, it is definitely worth having a peek inside the church, with its sea-themed decorations and paintings. To continue the hike, you have to take the stairs on the left of the chapel and turn right once above. As the trail we did wasn’t signed, we simply followed the path via the interactive map in the Visorando app. Therefore, I won’t share the exact route here (I couldn’t even if I wanted to).
La Clape
I do can tell that it was a wonderful trail in a stunning landscape, though. Leaving the chapel behind, we arrived at the plateau overlooking the beautiful La Clape area. Walking through the typical Southern French scrubland called garrigue, we marvelled at the amazing view over the shimmering blue sea of the Mediterranean. After we passed the Tour de Guet (I think…), the descent began and brought us via the Pech Redon to a path alternating between trees, garrigue scrubland, and vineyards. We were, after all, in the La Clape appellation. After a lovely picnic (with water, not wine), following a road brought us back to the parking lot of the chapel. And we felt boosted with new energy from this gasp of fresh air and were happy with another great hike in our legs.
