La Croix des Prairies. Puimissom. A walk in the Languedoc.

Puimisson. The way of the crosses. 7km, 2H Blue markings. (The yellow walk is 11.5km, 2H.45, can be biked in 1H) The blue walking route is shorter. Lovely walk through vineyards and olive groves, opening on pechs, hillsides and plains. 

There is a lot to see if you do the yellow route with a chapel, an abbey and two châteaus, The walk begins in the village of Piumisson and the 12 century Feudal Château. Follow the yellow bike markers or blue if you see them down through the village heading south-west) to the where it becomes fields. 

You will see a sign for the start of the walk near the pech (A small ridge rise). The path starts as a grassy track and then narrows as it follows the contours of the ridge. It then crosses a track and goes into the small grassy and overgrown path running between vineyards (it's not a problem, they are only wild flowers). 

There are two lovely domaines here. When you reach the edge of Pailhes you will come to a little road which takes you up to the D154. At this junction turn right and walk a short way down the road until you see the track on you left. 

Take the track and keep to the right at the house if you are following the blue path (this is where the blue path reappears) or turn left to do the longer walk that takes you to the chapels. Keep walking down this track as it descends off the little ridge. There are more beautiful views of the Avant Monts up here and you can see the Caroux too. 

At the bottom of the track turn right onto a wide track between the vineyards and follow it all the way back to Puimisson, passing a lovely cross on the way and enjoying the views of the Chateau. The yellow route returns this way too, but then turns left just before the village to enter the village from the north via the old Abbey of St Joseph of Montrouge. 

It's a lovely old circler village with some lovely little streets, little shops in the village square and a little bar too. On the walk you will see lots of wonderful wildlife, including orchids, deer, butterflies and other beautiful wild flowers.