La Tour de la Massane
A "classic" hike in the Pyrénées-Orientales which offers an exceptional panorama
Discovery hike. The tower is located within the Massane Nature Reserve. Please respect the regulations at the reserve entrance to protect the natural environment and make the most of your hike.
From the parking lot, take the road for 150m, then turn left.
Do not cross the ford, but take the track on the left that runs alongside the wall of Valmy Castle. At Mas Peyrot, follow the path to the left. Continue uphill to a track; take it to the left. Reach a junction where you must climb the path that ascends through the cork oaks to reach the Cova de l'Alarb dolmen (178m).
Continue uphill to a crossroads. Take the second path on the left, cross the track, then turn right and left again. At the Dolmen dels Collets de Cotlliure (274 m), continue on the path that climbs to the track (363 m). Turn left, cross the crossroads, and then, about ten meters past a reservoir, reach a path branching off to the right.
Take the path that climbs uphill. Higher up, cross the track again and, further on, pass under a high-voltage power line. Emerge onto the track (Coll del Camp d'en Selva – 489 m) and stay on it until its end. There, take the path on the left that passes in front of the Font Sant Andreu.
Turn right towards the Massane tower and follow the ridge path. From the tower (exceptional panoramic view, 793 m, caution in case of strong winds), head due north, then descend to the Coll del Pomer (554 m). There, ignore the path that branches off to the left and continue to the Roc del Grill crossroads (532 m). At this point, the IGN map indicates a path towards Lavail, which is neither marked nor passable. The descent to Lavail is via the Roc del Grill.
Turn right, then descend until you reach another intersection (380 m). Ignore the path that branches off to the right and continue straight ahead. Further down, you will reach a crossroads and a track near the ruins of Mas d'en Pardès. Take the first path on the right, which leads to the St-Laurent Chapel.
Opposite the chapel door, a path descends and leads to the DFCI AL N° 39 track. Go down, pass in front of the Mas de La Monja and continue to the Mas Blanc. Follow the road that leads to the Valmy castle park parking lot.