GR®78-7 Chemin de Fontcaude to St Jacques de Compostelle (Santiago de Compostela)

Over 61km (37.9miles), the Chemin de Fontcaude (GR®78-7) is a two-way route between Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare and Capestang.

It establishes a link between :

- The route from Arles to Santiago de Compostela (GR®653).
- Via Tolosana - in the mountains from Saint Gervais sur Mare.
- The future Piedmont route (future GR®78-1) in the plain from Capestang.
It is marked out in red and white.

The route can be broken down into 3 sections:

• Section 1: Capestang - Cessenon sur Orb  (23 km-14.2miles)
  Section 2: Cessenon sur Orb – Le Poujol (23 km-14.2miles)
  Section 3: Le Poujol – Saint Gervais sur Mare (13 km-8miles)
  
  Connections with other networks :
  - GR®653: route from Arles to Santiago de Compostela or Via Tolosana,
  - GR7 (to Madale),
  - the Grande Traversée de l'Hérault (at Plaussenous),
  - the Orb (in Roquebrun),
  - Canal du Midi and future GR78-1 "Chemin des Piémonts" from the Cévennes to the Pyrenees following the ancient Roman and medieval routes (at Capestang)
  - the Voie Verte at Poujol-sur-Orb
  
  - Points of interest:
  
  CAPESTANG: Canal du midi, Collegiate church, painted ceiling and Château des Carasses in Capestang.
• PUISSERGUIER: Saint Paul's church, Castle and ramparts, Milhau pine-tree castle in Puisserguier.
• CAZOULS LES BEZIERS: Orientation table of AOC, Menhir.
• CAZEDARNES: Saint-Amans Church, Group of springs and fountains, Fontcaude Abbey, Fontcaude Abbey Oil Mill in Cazedarnes.
• CESSENON-SUR-ORB: Saint Pierre de la Salle church, Cessenon's keep and ramparts, Belvedere, Jacquaire's House and Saint-Roch Chapel, Baker's Oven Urban ensemble and circulades.
• ROQUEBRUN: Urban ensemble of Roquebrun, Parish Church of Notre-Dame des Vignes, Carolingian Tower, Mediterranean Garden, Irrigation system in Roquebrun, Bread oven of Laurenque.
• VIEUSSAN
• LE POUJOL-SUR-ORB: Saint Jean's church, Château des Thésan, Voie verte Passa Païs at Poujol sur Orb.
• COMBES: Church of Combes.
• SAINT-GERVAIS-SUR-MARE: Abbey and bell tower of St Pierre de Neyran in Saint Gervais.
  
  

Itinerary labelled and signposted by the Comité Départemental de la Randonnée Pédestre de l'Hérault, in partnership with the Pays Haut-Languedoc and Vignobles.

For more information on the routes to Santiago de Compostela: Association de Coopération Interrégionale "les chemins de St-Jacques de Compostelle" (ACIR Compostelle):
https://www.chemins-compostelle.com/en/itin