Saint-Nazaire: Lagoon, Hiking Trails and Village History

Discover Saint-Nazaire from several perspectives: the Étang de Canet-Saint-Nazaire, its hiking trails and the village’s history. When planning your stay, you can focus on wildlife watching, a particular route or traces of the past. Around the lagoon, wildlife watching and seasonal visits take centre stage; canals, crossings and historic buildings tell the story of how the landscape was used in the past.

Lagoon, birdwatching and seasonal activities

The Étang de Canet-Saint-Nazaire is part of the European Natura 2000 network. Among other things, 246 different bird species can be observed there from February to May and from August to October, including around 200 migratory species. Species counts may be updated by the site managers.

During the season, the intervention team of the Conservatoire du Littoral offers guided tours of the lagoon. Check whether these seasonal tours are available during your travel dates. The Fête de l’étang takes place every year in June and includes guided tours, conferences, exhibitions and workshops. Before your trip, check the dates and programme for the relevant year.

Hiking trails between the river, vineyards and lagoon

The Sentier Transhumance is a 5.8 km circular trail starting in Saint-Nazaire. It is considered an easy family walk and leads to the edge of the lagoon, where pink flamingos rest. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

The 8.7 km Sentier du terroir starts at a sign opposite the town hall, at the entrance to the car park. It runs along the Réart River between orchards and vineyards. Saint-Nazaire’s local produce includes hand-picked Roussillon apricots protected by an AOC designation.

The routes can be compared directly by distance and course: the Sentier du terroir is 2.9 km longer than the Sentier Transhumance. The shorter trail is a circular route; the longer one runs along the Réart between orchards and vineyards. This makes it easier to choose the trail that best suits your planned outing in terms of distance and landscape.

Waterways and village history

La Fossella is a man-made diversion canal. It supplied Saint-Nazaire with water and irrigated the farmland below the village. La Passa was the crossing used by lagoon fishermen to reach the land and the village’s original site. The two places therefore represent different historical uses of the landscape: irrigation and access from water to land.

The Chapelle de l’Arca was built by local residents around 1890 to replace the church of a former village that had long since been abandoned. The municipality restored the chapel and turned it into a place for recreation. The park of the Chapelle de l’Arca is used for festive evenings, celebrations and other gatherings; specific uses may depend on current arrangements.

The parish church and the Tour à signaux also reflect different aspects of the area’s building and local history. Saint-Nazaire’s parish church replaced the former Romanesque village church dating from the 12th century. It is built of river pebbles and decorated with red brick, typical of the late 19th century. A fountain was built on the foundations of the former signal tower at the Tour à signaux; remains of its walls can be seen behind it.

Getting around Saint-Nazaire

Sankéo line 22 serves Saint-Nazaire Monday to Saturday with several journeys a day; on Sundays and public holidays, the service is available by reservation. As timetables and operating arrangements may change, check the current timetable and reservation requirements before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Le Tech, Trouillas, Baixas, Les Angles, Pas De La Casa, Rasiguères, Villemolaque, Clara.

See the broader travel guide: Pyrénées-Orientales.