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The Small Tower

Hikes & walks in Mélagues

The Small Tower - Hikes & walks in Mélagues
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In the 1950s, the quil (small tower) was built by the shepherd Léon Gastines, who used to watch the flocks in Les Planquettes. As he watched his flocks, stone by stone, over the days and weeks, the tower started to take shape and became a pretty small monument. Signposting: yellow, blue (partial).

Description sheet

DepartmentAveyron
Departure municipalityMélagues
Outing typeHike
DifficultyIntermediate
Duration3:00
Recommended periodfrom january to december
EnvironmentMountains
Kilometres8 km
Altitude upon departure685m
Change in altitude288m

Access

Depart from Mélagues Town Hall, in the village centre.

Itinerary

Depart from Mélagues Town Hall.

Follow the D52 north/west and turn right at the Virgin. Follow the GR71, red/white signposting, leave it quite quickly and follow the yellow signposting on the right. Climb up this path and follow the small stream upstream. After closing the gate, climb and pass through the forest opposite, where you will find a sign. Follow the yellow markers to Les Planquettes. Pass through this hamlet, and at the tarmac road, turn right and take a path on the left and climb up following the blue markers. You will have a beautiful view over the Méjanel Farm, and, slightly further on, over the Cayla forestry house.

Respect the crops: close the gates please.

After 1.6 km, turn left on to a steep path. At the top, admire the view over Les Planquettes and, further on, over Cayourtes.

Enter the fir forest on your right and make your way to the small tower, 'le quil'.

Descend on the other side down the steep slope. Turn left at the bottom.

At the hairpin bend, admire the panoramic view over the Hérault mountains and the hamlet of Serviès.

When you arrive at the tarmac road, where you will find the yellow markers again, turn left on to it. Slightly further on, take the path lined with boxwood. Continue to follow the yellow markers because the path is not always visible.

Walk past the field and close the electric fence. You will arrive at Les Planquettes along a very pretty path.

Descend on the left down a tarmac road. Be careful not to climb back up to the quil! Turn right at the end of the route and return to Mélagues Town Hall.

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