Circuit de Sorede (Sureda)-Notre Dame du Chateau (Mare de Deu Del Castell), Alberes

Sorede is a lovely, little, quiet village, situated in the Alberes not far from the Medterranean sea and is a good starting point for walking, also because it is so close to the sea that you can feel the freshness and there was a nice sea breeze while we were doing the walk.

This walk starts at the beginning of the gravel road that might take you to the Notre Dame du Chateau, but we went to the left because we wanted tot do the climb from another angle and followed paths and roads for a few kilometers not really gaining any height until a signpost that indicates the little chapel of Sant Ferriol de la Pava which is situated at slightly more than 160 metres high. One could also easily start the walk here because there is enough parking space.

After this chapel the path really starts to climb and sometimes very steeply. The path is well indicated with yellow markings and the higher you come the more breathtaking the views will be. It will also become steeper and rockier.

Eventually, you will circle the Puig the Sant Miquel but before that you will see the beautifully situated Notre Dame du Chateau.

Once you get there it is also possible to reach the ruins of the chateau itself, the Castell D'Ultera.

The descent is is a very easy and pleasant one giving you again beautiful views of the complete coastal region up to Beziers and beyond and also of The Canigou and the mountains around it. The descent is signposted and the path is clearly visible and always easy to follow and walk on. You will cross the gravel road an number of times. Of course you can also take the gravel road back from the Notre Dame du Chateau, but the footpath is really beatiful, not stee pand gives you wider views than the road.