Les Banastes. Margon. Easy. Blue markers. (13km or 11.5km. 3H or 4H.15)
two different walk sheets you decide! Well having hurt my ankle a couple of
days ago I needed a flat walk, short walk and so decided to do the first half
of the walk which is around 4km/5km. I would think it would take around around
1H.30 to walk it normally and not hobble it! I think we took about 2H.30 with a
picnic beside the little old chapelle St-Nazaire, lots of stops to take
pictures and just enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The walk starts in Margon, park in the shady car park (not
Monday's) and turn left up the little lane that soon becomes a track. Lovely
views back to the Château or Margon and the pretty one at Pouzolles too.There
are pretty fields of olive and cherry trees here, but mostly a carpet of green
vineyards as far as the eye can see.
The views to the north and west are
delightful too, rows of mountains, rolling hills and little grass and broom
covered "puech". On top of the
rise here there are lovely views to the south, just before you take the little
path through the woods. Once out of the woods you will find yourself on a
very,small road, turn left down this and it will cross the D30E2 with a quick
left and right, onto another small track road though more lovely
vineyards.(There are yellow markers here from a walk coming from
alignan-du-Vent so don't follow those).
The little road descends past a
drainage pool with lovely wild birds enjoying the clear water, wild flowers in
the wheat fields as the wave in the wind and always the birds singing. You will
see the little chapelle St-Nazaire from the top of the hill, The chapel appear to be Visigoth and was built in the 9th and 10th Centuries.
It looks rather more like
a farm building with much of it rendered, but as you approach it you will see its
pretty door and the rest you will have to leave to your imagination. After
visiting the chapel retrace your steps to the last junction a few metres away
and turn right onto it. It is the track with a wall on one side.
Follow this
track up the little hill and turn left onto another small road. At the next
junction bare right onto a small road and then right onto a track. After the
dip it bare left into the village. At a long stone building with a small bridge
in front of you, you will see the signs for the longer walk or turning left
into the village and returning to your car.
Another day, another walk for us.
We will return to finish the other half one day. As you return to the village
you will be met by lovely views of the old church and the beautiful château.
It's a really pretty place to look around so don't hurry away. There appear to
be a restaurant in the village too but we had already picnicked beside the
chapel. Enjoy.
Margon. A very pretty
village and the starting point for our walk today. It has a beautiful Château
and a lovely old church at its centre. The village is surrounded with lovely
vineyards, olive and almond orchards and appears to have a little restaurant
too.
Some history from a tourist office publication. “Built as a circulade, this small village boasts an impressive feudal castle whose origins date back to the 13th century. Its salient towers, huge gargoyles and machioolations still lend it a decidedly bellicose look.
Until the 18th century, the castle was separated from its gardens by a
moat. In 1719, the lord had arcades, called banastas, built over the moat to
support terraces built on top of it, as well as a double stairyway enabling him
to walk more easily down into the gardens, which are still beautifully tended.
(Open july until sept).
The Legend of the Banastes (basket handles, literally) still lingers; any couple passing beneath these arcades nine times running will be married within a year..."
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