Col de l'Ouillat

This loop follows the Tech valley downstream from Pyrenees Cycling Club, making use of the car-free "voie verte" where possible. After passing the town of Céret, known for being the home to Pablo Picasso and its cherry orchards, we head on to the Col de Panissars and the remains of the Roman Road and Temple. In 71 BC Roman General Pompey had his trophy monument built here - one of the earliest of the Roman Empire. This location was strategic for the Roman Empire as it was the crossing point of two major Roman highways- The Via Augusta and the Via Domitia.

On the same site you will see Fort Bellegarde, a 17th century military fort. The inside is not open to visit, but you can explore around the moat and the outer walls of the castle.

After passing the village centre of Le Perthus, we start the major climb to the Col de l'Ouillat. The climb is on a surfaced road and takes you up to a spectacular view. The climb is 15.5km long and bridges 971 vertical meters with an average gradient of 6.3%. At the col there is a restaurant and picnic areas.

Here we take the fireroad (gravel) to descend, but if you have time you can ride and out and back to the very summit of the Neolous for a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Roussillon plain.

The descent is very wide with rough sections that you can ride on a gravel bike with 40mm tyres (if you have a moderate to good level of technical skill). This looooooong descent takes you into the pretty village of Laroque des Alberes where you can get a coffee.

Return up the valley floor to Pyrenees Cycling Club is by a mix of small surfaced roads and the car-free voie-verte (greenway).