Roussillon gardens (mountain bike)
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Roussillon gardens (mountain bike)
ARGELES SUR MER

Roussillon gardens (mountain bike)

Flora
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A great bike ride for everyone
A long walk on small roads through fields, meadows and campsites far from the tumult of the coast

5 points of interest

  • Cultural heritage

    Castle of Taxo d'Amont

    The village of Taxo emerged during Charlemagne’s conquest of the region and the establishment of the feudal system in the Middle Ages. The village quickly developed, eventually encompassing nearby settlements. During the French Revolution, Taxo was divided into two parts: Taxo d’Avall was annexed to Argelès, and Taxo d’Amont joined Saint-André. Discover the Castle of Taxo d’Amont, built in the 11th century, with its cylindrical tower, likely connected to the signal towers of Massane and Madeloc.
  • History

    The Camp Monolith

    The monolith at the camp marks the southern entrance to the Argelès-sur-Mer camp, which was opened in early February 1939 to intern some of the refugees who had fled Spain during "La Retirada." Over 100,000 refugees, including women and children, passed through the camp until summer 1939, all sleeping directly on the sand in makeshift shelters. The camp was reorganized and reopened following the declaration of war in September 1939. After France's defeat in June 1940, the camp became more international, with refugees from Northern and Eastern Europe, including foreign Jews, and the return of Spanish workers. The Vichy government used it as one of the main camps in southern France, interning French nomads there in the autumn of 1940.

    People from over fifty nationalities lived together behind the barbed wire at Argelès. These "undesirables" were confined on a beach where living conditions were extremely harsh, with high mortality rates, particularly among infants. In 1941, the Ministry of the Interior transferred most of the internees to the Rivesaltes camp and deported some Spaniards and international brigadiers to camps in Algeria. By June 1942, with only a hospital remaining, the Argelès-sur-Mer camp was converted into a French Youth Work Camp before closing permanently in November. Erected in 1999, this monolith pays tribute to all the refugees who passed through the camp.
     

  • Port Footbridge

    A true link between the Port and the Beach, the Massane Footbridge is crossed by more than 200,000 visitors each summer.
  • History

    Catalan Boat

    Catalan boats were used for net fishing of sardines and anchovies along the Catalan and Spanish coasts. In Collioure in 1900, there were 120 Catalan boats dedicated to sardine ("sardinal") and anchovy ("anxove") fishing. You can still find them along the coastline, lovingly restored by enthusiasts.
  • Tourism Office

    Sport and nature center

    The center welcomes you at the entrance of the Valmy Municipal Park, at the foot of the Albères massif. You will find information about various circuit options and outdoor activities. Brochures, maps, and physical reception for workshop sessions are available. It is also a place to raise awareness about the exceptional biodiversity of the town of Argelès-sur-Mer.
    Phone number: +33 4 68 81 47 25.

Description

  1. 1. Start by going down towards Camping "Les Mimosas" to take the Route de la Massane on the right. the fast road is on the right for more than one kilometer. Take the last bridge that passes under the fast road at the level of the Auberge du Roua and the River Massane

  2. 2. Cross at the ford  and  proceed  immediately up the slope on the left to rejoin  the Rue des Micocouliers. Turn left towards the Route to  Sorède and pass in front of the fire station. At the small roundabout, follow the Chemin de San Père on the right, and cross the roundabout of the national road.  Be extra careful here as in this sector, the roundabout does not have markings on the ground  indicating   the presence of a bicycle  lane.
  3. 3. Take the small road to the Mas Cristine winery, go on the bridge over the SNCF railway and continue on the Chemin de la Couloumine. At the crossroads of Camping "Le Canigou", follow the path of Taxo d'Amont which leads you to the castle.
    4. Take the Sainte Colombe Road which turns right after the castle. Cross the two fords to reach the country road parallel to RD 914 at the restaurant "La Campagne". Go left to take the roundabout and pass under the bridge of the expressway towards the composting area. Follow the path of the Pas de l'Arbre Blanc for several kilometers.
  4. 5. Walk along the river until you reach the second ford which crosses the Pla de la Barca Trail. Take the path that crosses the Route de Taxo to the sea, the Chemin de la Salanque and leads to the Avenue de la Retirada 1939.
 Follow this avenue towards the beach to join the vegetated waterfront promenade. Head south to reach the harbor and its docks. At the boaters parking, join the dirt road in front of you. Follow this route to the secure cycle path that leads you to Valmy.
  • Departure : Valmy car park (mountain bike)
  • Arrival : Valmy car park (mountain bike)
  • Towns crossed : ARGELES SUR MER and ST ANDRE

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Follow the signs of mountain bike (color Blue N°9)