UPDATED OCTOBER 2026

LES BALCONS DE TAURINYA

A walk through mountain scenery, forgotten mines and Catalan history

By Tim and Chris Parker

If you enjoy a walk with spectacular views and a fascinating story to tell, Les Balcons de Taurinya is well worth discovering. This circular route explores the foothills of Canigou, passing through woodland and open countryside, visiting the remains of an old iron-mining complex and revealing glimpses of the region’s industrial and religious heritage.

There is plenty to interest the curious walker: abandoned railway tracks, enormous furnaces, the ruins of a mining settlement and an old irrigation canal. Add superb views of the Canigou massif, and you have a rewarding day out with considerably more to offer than just a good workout!

It’s a walk that reveals a different side of the Pyrénées-Orientales, where nature and history sit comfortably side by side. And if you have time afterwards, the magnificent Abbaye St Michel de Cuxa is well worth a visit.

THE WALK AT A GLANCE

Starting point: Espace Jacint Verdaguer, Taurinya
Type: Circular walk
Distance: Approximately 12 km
Walking time: Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes
Ascent: Approximately 566 metres
Difficulty: Difficult
Waymarking: Follow the markings and signs indicated on the current official route guide.
Map: IGN 1:25,000, Massif du Canigou, 2349 ET.

Allow extra time if you want to explore the mining remains or stop for photographs and a picnic. The route includes some steep sections, so sturdy walking shoes or boots and a reasonable level of fitness are recommended.

GETTING THERE

From Perpignan, take the N116 towards Prades. Continue through Prades and follow the D27 towards Taurinya. Park at Espace Jacint Verdaguer in the village, where the walk begins and ends.

THE ROUTE

Starting in Taurinya

From Espace Jacint Verdaguer, walk uphill along the village’s main street, the Camí del Canigó, for approximately 500 metres.

Turn left into the Camí de las Tarteres, following the direction of the El Passatge gîte. Continue for about 200 metres until you reach a junction.

Take the path to the right, then the smaller path to the left, which runs alongside a stream and passes the gîte. When you reach a wider track, turn right and follow it uphill. You will pass the remains of an old industrial hopper, an early indication of the mining activity that once dominated these hills.

At the Vall Panera junction, at approximately 704 metres, leave the track and take the path to the right. You are now entering the old mining area, where a fascinating collection of industrial remains awaits.

The old iron mines of Salver

One of the highlights of the walk is Les Mines de Salver, a remarkable reminder of the area’s industrial heritage.
The iron mines began operating in 1879 and closed in 1928, when cheaper imported iron ore made the operation uneconomic. They reopened in 1958 but closed permanently in 1962.
Although the industry has long since disappeared, numerous remains survive. These include enormous hoppers once used to load the extracted minerals, the bed of an old railway, furnace remains and the ruins of accommodation used by the miners.
Mine 703 takes its name from its altitude of 703 metres. Behind its entrance grille lies an extensive network of underground galleries.
Further up the hillside, the remains of roasting furnaces offer another glimpse into the processes used to treat the iron-bearing ore.
Information boards at the site explain the history of the mines and the methods used to extract and process the minerals.
It’s a fascinating place to pause and imagine the activity that once filled these now-quiet hillsides
Please take care around the old industrial structures. Do not enter mine galleries, cross barriers or venture into restricted areas.

After approximately 300 metres along the mining path, turn left and climb the steep, stony incline leading towards the oldest roasting furnace. These furnaces were used to heat iron-bearing carbonate ore as part of the processing operation.

Continue climbing to the main mining platform, where the remains of the miners’ buildings stand to the right and a second, enormous furnace rises ahead.

The scale of these structures gives a real sense of the work that once took place here. Information boards explain the mining history and the techniques used to extract and process the ore.

An old locomotive can still be seen behind the grille at the entrance to Mine 703, named after its altitude of 703 metres. The underground galleries are extensive, but the entrances are not places to explore without authorisation.

Please keep to the paths, respect barriers and do not enter the galleries or other restricted areas.

Continue along the path to the left of the building beside the large furnace. It climbs in stages, winding through the woodland before descending towards the Costes d’Anglada.

Follow the path downhill until it meets a wider track.

At La Socarrada, take the path descending to the right, which overlooks a goat farm. The farm used to sell goat’s cheese but we believe that the farm shop is now closed.

Continue downhill towards Les Colomines de Dalt, where the route reaches a road. Follow the road downhill for approximately 500 metres.

Leave the road by taking the path to the left, which descends through holm oak woodland towards the Tour de Corts.

On the descent, pass the Font Envoad, a spring associated with the story of Saint Romuald and Doge Peter Orséolo, who are said to have lived in the area during the tenth century.

In the tenth century, Pietro Orseolo, the Doge of Venice, abandoned his position and travelled to the Abbaye Saint-Michel de Cuxa to become a monk. Accompanied by the hermits Romuald and Marinus, he sought a life of prayer and simplicity in the foothills of Canigou.

Orseolo remained at Cuxa until his death in the late tenth century and was later recognised as a saint. Romuald eventually returned to Italy, where he became an influential figure in the development of the hermit tradition within Benedictine monasticism.

Local tradition links the former Chapelle Saint-Pierre Orséolo and the Font Envoad with these remarkable visitors. So, as you walk through the woodland around Taurinya, remember that these peaceful hills once offered refuge to a man who had exchanged the power of Venice for the solitude of the Pyrenees.

Le Tour de Corts: a village lost to time

The walk also takes in Le Tour de Corts, where the surviving tower, or donjon, and another building are all that remain of an old mining settlement.
It’s a quiet, evocative spot that offers another glimpse into the lives and industries that once shaped this landscape.

From here, the route descends towards the valley and the Canal de Bohère, another fascinating feature of the walk.

According to the original route notes, this historic irrigation canal stretches approximately 41 kilometres between Serdinya and Marquixanes.
It was used from 1879 until 1933, when improved methods of supplying water using pumps made it redundant.
Today, its course offers a reminder of the ingenuity that once helped communities manage water across this mountainous region.

At Col de Clara, at approximately 654 metres, take the first path to the right, descending towards Taurinya.

The path passes the remains of an old watermill before reaching the River Lliterà.

Cross the bridge over the river and follow the path downhill to the right. After approximately 50 metres, take the path to the left, which climbs towards the village.

At the junction with Carrer del Baus, turn right and follow the street alongside the Church of Saint-Fructueux. Turn left into Carrer de l’Església, then turn right when you reach the Camí del Canigó.

Continue to Espace Jacint Verdaguer, where you began the walk.

You can now put your feet up and congratulate yourself on having explored one of the area’s most interesting combinations of mountain scenery and industrial heritage.

Please check the current official route guide before leaving for any changes or diversions.

WORTH A VISIT: ABBAYE SAINT-MICHEL DE CUXA

If you have time before heading home, consider visiting the nearby Abbaye Saint-Michel de Cuxa.

The abbey was established in the tenth century, with records dating its beginnings to 956, and it was consecrated in 974.

Its remarkable architecture and long history make it one of the area’s most important historic sites and a fitting addition to a day spent exploring the region’s heritage.

The abbey is particularly appealing to anyone interested in the history, architecture and culture of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Check current visiting arrangements before travelling.

A WALK WITH A STORY TO TELL

Les Balcons de Taurinya offers far more than beautiful mountain scenery. From the abandoned iron mines and the remains of a forgotten settlement to the historic irrigation canal and the nearby abbey, the route reveals the many layers of history that have shaped this corner of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Allow yourself plenty of time, keep an eye out for the spectacular views of Canigou and take a moment to imagine the miners, villagers and engineers who once worked in these hills.

It’s a rewarding outing for walkers who enjoy discovering not just where a path leads, but also the stories it has to tell.