Sur les traces de Walter Benjamin et de la Retirada
In the footsteps of Walter Benjamin and the exiles of the Retirada. Magnificent views await you.
A superb hike through vineyards and offering magnificent views, passing over the ridges of Banyuls-sur-Mer and Cerbère, all the way to the typical seaside resort of Portbou in Spain. It is also deeply moving, as it follows in the footsteps of Walter Benjamin, the Jewish philosopher who died in Portbou in 1940 while fleeing the Nazi regime, like so many other exiles. Numerous Spanish refugees also took these paths in the opposite direction during "La Retirada" in 1939 to escape the Franco regime.
You have two options for this hike, either do it in its entirety and take the train to Port-Bou for the return trip, or go as far as the Col des Bélitres to go down to Cerbère and take the shuttle (line 546) to 2€ for the return trip to Banyuls-sur-mer.
Go left when leaving the car park, at the bridge, go left onto Avenue Pierre de Marca. Arrive at Place Abel Pagès, go to the Lisa and Hans Fittko memorial.
Continue on boulevard des evadés de France.
Go down a few steps, cross the bed of the Vall Auger river.
Continue on the tarmac road which passes near Mas Guillaume (13th century seigneurial farmhouse) to reach the Col del Bast.
Take the path opposite which rises in the hill
From the Col de Rumpissar, take the ridge path on the left towards the Querroig tower, continue towards the Col de la Fareille and the Col des Bélistres
At the pass, turn left towards Port-Bou on the GR-92.
After the Tourist Information Point, continue along the Rambla and take the street on the right after the "Voramar" restaurant. Then, take the first street on the left and go up the stairs towards the Pujada del Mirador, again on the left. You will arrive at the Walter Benjamin Memorial.