Les Cabanes de Mataporc par Laroque
A short hike in the Albères which allows you to discover old shepherd's huts and an old iron mine.
From the Tourist Office – Maison de la Randonnée, reach the Church and the center of the village.
Opposite the church gate, take Rue de l'Eglise, a dead end, which is followed by the path, bordered on the left by a stream. The path leaves the village. On the right, the Moulin de la Pave then a few meters higher, a pretty shaded fountain, the Fontaine des Oiseaux. The path follows a half-buried pipe. At the junction, turn right. Small reservoir on the right.
Arrive at a crossroads of paths. Indicative signs. Take the direction "Cabanes" and follow the track to the left. You pass a farmhouse on your right (Mas Bordes), continue on the track (always on the left). A yellow dot on the left indicates the Malzach Fountain below.
A few meters further, arrive at the intersection of the track which goes up to the Col de l'Ullat. Take it on the right. Follow this track until the start of another track on the left.
At this point two choices are possible, either a round trip on the track, or take the track to the left.
Starting on the left track, pass in front of a cistern on your right, continue for a few meters and take the small path which goes up on the right at the sign. A little higher, there is a fence, close the barriers on the path well).
The path climbs steeply in the woods. You will arrive in front of the fence of a pastoral area, possibility of crossing it but do not forget to close the barriers because there may be cows. Continue to climb up to the high track.
Take the fairly steep path on the left then on the right. Continuing along this path, higher up on the left, you will find a yellow dot indicating a cross engraved in the stone. Cross a small stream, look to the right at these terraces which were still being worked about sixty years ago.
A little above leave a small path on the right to take the next one always on the right, go up a little and turn right again to discover the first 2 cabins. Retrace your steps a little and take the main path, below, turn right, a few meters further on the left a path goes down into the undergrowth.
To take it. Arrive at an old cortal (3rd ruin), go around it, and follow a fairly steep downhill path to join a path across it. Take this path on the right and continue it until the third cabin. Continue on this path following the yellow markings to arrive at the 4th cabin. Notice a little further on, a small stone table and a small spring. Continue straight ahead to join the marked path which leads to the descent towards the cortal.
Continue straight ahead until you reach the track which you will take on the left. Pass the barrier encountered on the way up
Continue this track downhill until the intersection of the track coming from the Col de l'Ullat, take it on the right. When going down, leave the track taken on the way up to the right,
Continue the descent until you reach a track on the left which you must take to return to the starting point.
Opposite the church gate, take Rue de l'Eglise, a dead end, which is followed by the path, bordered on the left by a stream. The path leaves the village. On the right, the Moulin de la Pave then a few meters higher, a pretty shaded fountain, the Fontaine des Oiseaux. The path follows a half-buried pipe. At the junction, turn right. Small reservoir on the right.
Arrive at a crossroads of paths. Indicative signs. Take the direction "Cabanes" and follow the track to the left. You pass a farmhouse on your right (Mas Bordes), continue on the track (always on the left). A yellow dot on the left indicates the Malzach Fountain below.
A few meters further, arrive at the intersection of the track which goes up to the Col de l'Ullat. Take it on the right. Follow this track until the start of another track on the left.
At this point two choices are possible, either a round trip on the track, or take the track to the left.
Starting on the left track, pass in front of a cistern on your right, continue for a few meters and take the small path which goes up on the right at the sign. A little higher, there is a fence, close the barriers on the path well).
The path climbs steeply in the woods. You will arrive in front of the fence of a pastoral area, possibility of crossing it but do not forget to close the barriers because there may be cows. Continue to climb up to the high track.
Take the fairly steep path on the left then on the right. Continuing along this path, higher up on the left, you will find a yellow dot indicating a cross engraved in the stone. Cross a small stream, look to the right at these terraces which were still being worked about sixty years ago.
A little above leave a small path on the right to take the next one always on the right, go up a little and turn right again to discover the first 2 cabins. Retrace your steps a little and take the main path, below, turn right, a few meters further on the left a path goes down into the undergrowth.
To take it. Arrive at an old cortal (3rd ruin), go around it, and follow a fairly steep downhill path to join a path across it. Take this path on the right and continue it until the third cabin. Continue on this path following the yellow markings to arrive at the 4th cabin. Notice a little further on, a small stone table and a small spring. Continue straight ahead to join the marked path which leads to the descent towards the cortal.
Continue straight ahead until you reach the track which you will take on the left. Pass the barrier encountered on the way up
Continue this track downhill until the intersection of the track coming from the Col de l'Ullat, take it on the right. When going down, leave the track taken on the way up to the right,
Continue the descent until you reach a track on the left which you must take to return to the starting point.