EV8 Argelès-sur-Mer / Montesquieu

A beautiful variety of landscapes: From the seaside to Vallespir, passing through the foothills of the Albères.


Follow the cycle path along the D81 on the left, towards Argelès. Cross the blue bridge over the Riberette and ride alongside Camping Le Littoral. At the Luna Park roundabout, continue straight ahead along Route du Littoral.
At the next roundabout, turn left onto Boulevard de la Méditerranée, staying on the cycle path.
At the end of the boulevard, continue straight on a gravel passage between two buildings and ride on until you reach the seafront promenade. Turn left on this promenade along the beach. After 500 m, you will arrive at the landscaped promenade. // ! \ This area is shared with pedestrians and is very busy during the summer season. // !
After passing the small funfair car park (on your right), turn right onto Avenue des Pins. At the Argelès-sur-Mer Tourist Office roundabout, turn left onto Avenue des Platanes. Then, at the ‘Arrivée’ roundabout, take the first exit on the right and follow Avenue Charles de Gaulle until the petrol station, where you turn right onto Route de la Mer. At the sports complex roundabout, turn right onto Avenue Molière.
At the next roundabout, take the third exit onto Rue des Trabucaires. Here, the cycle path runs along the street on the right. At the roundabout, cross the road to the opposite pavement to follow the cycle path and take the second exit, Rue du 14 Juillet. Continue straight ahead. You will cross a ford. Immediately after, turn right. The cycle path runs alongside a one-way street on the left and the Massane river on the right. Pass under the bridge and continue among the pine trees. At this point, the cycle path becomes a dirt track. // ! \ This section is shared with pedestrians. // ! \ Cross the small footbridge at the end of the car park and continue straight until you reach Route de Sorède. When you arrive there, turn left, then take the first right onto Rue du Moulin Mars, and continue along Rue des Micocouliers, then Chemin du Roua, which passes under the D914. You will pass Auberge du Roua. Continue, then turn right, cross the river, and rejoin Route de Sorède, where you turn left.
Turn at the first street on the right, which winds up to Chemin des Vignes.
Turn right and arrive at Chemin de la Carrerasse. Continue to the right, then take the first left. Continue along the path that crosses Chemin de la Pave.
At the river, cross over and turn left onto Rue de les Coscolledes. Continue, then cross the river again and reach Chemin de Saint-André. Caution: you will pass through a residential area with possible traffic. Turn left.
After the houses, take the second street on the right, then at the end of the street turn left and take the first right after a hairpin bend. Cross over the river “Tassio” on a ford.
Climb back up the road and now cross Route de Palau (D11). Turn right (traffic calming).
Turn left to join Chemin de la Petite Gabarre, then turn left again.
Next, turn right to reach Chemin de la Gavarra Baixa. Connection with the Albères loop – ‘Crafts of yesterday and today’ – starts here.
After the ‘washing station’ for farm machinery, turn right and continue straight ahead. After crossing a ford, cross Avenue des Baléares (take great care here, cars drive fast and visibility is poor!), then continue straight across another ford.
To follow the EV8, turn left to rejoin the paved cycle path 200 m further on (or continue straight into the village centre of Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines to see the famous lintel and, if you wish, visit the cloister).
Follow the path and the ground markings to Montesquieu. From here, you may continue your ride towards Le Boulou.