fr
es
enClue de la Fou
Listed siteJust south of Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, the Agly cuts through a limestone barrier by way of a narrow gorge: an old bridge, giants' kettles, lukewarm springs and a free via ferrata, a few kilometres from the Galamus gorges.
Visit Opening hours, prices, access and events on site ↓Overview
South of Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, the Agly, having crossed the Fenouillèdes valley, escapes towards the plain by piercing a limestone barrier. This narrow passage, a “clue” as it is called in Provence and in the Pyrenees, measures only about fifteen metres across between its walls.
At the bottom of the clue, the river has hollowed out giants’ kettles in the rock, rounded cavities polished by swirling water; a local legend tells that fairies came here to wash their linen. An old bridge, said to be Roman and already described by travellers in the early 19th century, spans the Agly. Close by, lukewarm springs gush forth, which fed a small spa establishment between 1906 and 1914.
The site is listed and forms part of a natural zone of ecological interest, the serre de la clue de la Fou, which overlooks Saint-Paul to the south. The cliffs of the Fenouillèdes and the neighbouring Corbières are frequented by large birds of prey.
The clue can also be discovered from above: the free via ferrata “La Panoramique” offers a plunging view of the gorge. And a few kilometres upstream, on the same Agly, lie the Galamus gorges.
Key figures
- River
- the Agly
- Width
- about 15 m
- Rock
- limestone
- Spa
- in operation from 1906 to 1914
- Zone of ecological interest
- about 465 ha
- Galamus gorges
- about 5 km upstream
Wildlife, plants and landscapes
A cluse
The Agly pierces the limestone barrier that borders the Fenouillèdes valley to the south: this is what geographers call a cluse.
Giants' kettles
The river's eddies have hollowed out round, smooth cavities in the rock.
The washerwoman fairies
According to a local legend, fairies came to wash their linen in the kettles of the clue.
Lukewarm springs
Near the bridge, springs of lukewarm water gush forth, which supported a small spa in the early 20th century.
A so-called Roman bridge
Travellers were already describing it in 1821 as being of Roman origin, an origin that excavations have not confirmed.
A free via ferrata
"La Panoramique" offers two routes, one for discovery and one for more sporty climbers, with a plunging view of the clue.
When to go
The site is freely accessible all year round. The via ferrata is closed at night and in strong wind. Swimming in the pools of the Agly is not supervised: the pools are deep and the river can rise quickly after a storm; in summer, a supervised swimming pool is open in Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet.
Getting there
From Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, take the D619 southwards, towards Ansignan and Sournia, for about 1.5 km to the pont de la Fou, where you can park. Walkers can also set off from the village. The outing is easily combined with a visit to the Galamus gorges, north of Saint-Paul.
Not to be missed
- The old bridge of La Fou
- The giants' kettles carved by the Agly
- The lukewarm springs and the remains of the spa
- The via ferrata "La Panoramique" and its view of the clue
- The Galamus gorges, close by
Plan your visit
Sources
- Tourisme Pyrénées-Orientales : clue de la Fou
- Tourisme Pyrénées-Orientales : via ferrata de Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet
- INPN : ZNIEFF 910030495 « Serre de la clue de la Fou »
- DREAL Occitanie : liste des sites inscrits et classés
- Wikidata Q48757936
Text written by Éden Catalán from these sources. Spotted a mistake? Write to us.