Laurens.

A super short hike through vineyards and scrubland to the east of Laurens. 9km/ 3h. Park in the Area of the "Place des Anciens Combattants". There is plenty of parking there or up the road near the salle de fetes. You will see a new wooden sign for the walk "les Sauvanes" for the walk. Follow the new blue markers (you may see some of the old green ones on this route too). It is well marked and has some very pleasant and panoramic views of the area. Up to the Avant Monts, down to the coast and even the Pyrenees. Turn right from the parking area and walk up the road and past the school and sale de fetes. Turn left onto the Chemin des Granges and continue walking up this little road as it goes out into the countryside with the little river to your left. The vineyards are beautiful up here, with wonderful views to Caussiniojouls, Roquessels and even the Pic de Vissou. It's an endless landscape of the art of winemaking. At the top of the hill you will see a track going to the right, take this along the side of the field for a short distance until it comes to a sign for "Grange monastiques de Sauvanes 90m". If you take this short diversion you will come to an old stone building which was founded in 1139 by the monks on land donated by the Seigneur Ermengaud de Fousilhon who owned the chateau in Laurens.The monks, (Benedictines and then the Cistercians), cultivated the vines using very modern methods for their time and this permitted the inhabitants of Laurens to profit from this knowledge. It is supposed the Grange was destroyed in the course of the Wars of Religion by the cruel Seigneur de Faugeres , Claude de Narbonne.The ruins can still be seen standing up to 3m high in the middle of the vines and well worth going to have a look at. Walk back to the sign and beside the little stream turn left and then right. Follow the blue markers carefully down the field to a junction crossing the stream once again and turning left up a little track with a couple of twists to the right and the left again and then right and left once more before coming to a little track going over the railway track. Cross the bridge and turn right straight away, walking uphill alongside the railway for a short distance. The little path goes between scrubland here until it reaches the road. At the road turn right and walk along the road until you come to a corner, take a right turn here and then another right down a tiny path through the brushes (this is different to the original route (green markers, it's the only bit of the walk that a little ramshackle for a short distance). Follow the path for a while and it turn to the left and keeps beside a little wall until it turns left again to join a track running beside the railway once again. At a bridge bare to the right and then you will come to a crossing of paths. Go straight across and you will be on "Le Causse" another scrubby area. Finally the path bares to the right and after a while you will reach another railway bridge. Cross this and go pass some house and down to join a little road into the village. At a junction take a left turn and then the next right to come into the centre of the village beside the river. Keep to the left and go down some steps to join the river itself and you will be back at your car. This route appears complicated but if you follow the ample blue signage you will have no problems. There are only and few undulations and it is not taxing at all. The village has a wonderful history and it's lovely to visit too. Some very good history on this web page.http://www.e-britain.co.uk/laurens/visitors.htm