WELCOME TO THE ROADS OF THE SOULSOURE AND ITS MANY CURIOSITIES!
Looking for a change of scenery just a stone's throw from home? Between Saint-Hippolyte and the Etang de Salses-Leucate lies a small haven of biodiversity. Embark on a nature walk at the edge of the pond!
A preserved natural environment
The Salses-Leucate lagoon complex
The commune of Saint-Hippolyte boasts a vast natural area. Its boundaries extend from the north of the village to the Etang des communes de Salses-le-Château and Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque.
a key ecological and environmental interest
This vast 49-hectare wetland has been classified as a Natura 2000 and ZPS (Zone de Protection Spéciale) site. The classification is justified by the presence of 280 species of birds that frequent the area, including some 30 protected species (pink flamingo, white and black stork, great horned owl, purple and ox heron, hobby falcon, white stilt, etc.).
nature walk at the Soulsoure site
For this nature walk, we're taking you to the Soulsoure site. Also known as "Solsora" in Catalan, this was originally a small agouille, an irrigation canal. It runs through a marshy area between the town of Saint-Hippolyte and the étang de Salses-Leucate. The agouille was turned into a canal by Pierre-Paul Riquet, the famous engineer and builder of the Canal du Midi, in the late 17th century. You'll walk along the canal before arriving on the banks of the pond.
During this walk, you'll enjoy an exceptional natural and wild environment! A rich fauna and flora thrives here. Admire nearly 280 species of free-ranging birds and more.
Côté Flore
Glasswort, Obione, Tamaris, Phragmites (sanills in Catalan) for building fishermen's huts, Canne de Provence, Orchids...
Wildlife
- Canal Riquet: Coot, Common Moorhen, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Muge (fish), many passerines...
Perhaps you'll come across an "Emyde lépreuse" turtle, most of whose French population is concentrated in the Pyrénées-Orientales!
- The banks of the pond: Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Cormorant, Greater Flamingo, Little Egret, White Stilt (April-August), Elegant Avocet (March-August), Little Tern (April-September), European Bee-eater (April-September) Long-billed Gravelot, Marsh Harrier...
- In the Sagnette: Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Coot...
Along the way, you'll also come across a number of small dwellings. These are communal vacants. Uninhabitable, they have always served as the granaries of Saint-Hippolyte, particularly during the Occupation. In the second half of the twentieth century, they were also a haven of peace and tranquility on the shores of the lake for the people of Saint-Hippolyte, who loved to gather there on sunny days. Today, the communal vacants are an integral part of European programs for the protection of endangered species, such as Natura 2000, European wetlands, etc.
With family or friends...
This walk is for families, walkers, hikers, runners and cyclists alike... In addition to the flora and fauna, the walk offers splendid panoramas and a variety of landscapes. The walk will even offer you some beautiful colors: ochre, shades of blue and green, a fusion of sky and sea... secret paths, winding wooden pontoons and ribbons of earth follow one another.
Start this nature walk from the town center
Park near the church of Saint-Michel, then head up Boulevard de la Marine. Pass the medieval "castell" at the corner of rue Jeanne d'Arc and you'll come toavenue Paul Riquet and the wine cellar. From here, continue straight ahead to the canal, skirting it on the left. Then take the first or second footbridge to the opposite bank. You'll then reach the pond and the Bonança site, home to traditional fishermen's cottages and Catalan boats restored by enthusiasts.
The place is known as "la Fount del Port". Perhaps you'll have the chance to chat with these men, who are the living memory of the pond and will tell you their stories.
Access to the site is by car, with parking available.
2 signposted walks at the mouth of the Canal Riquet
A Natura 2000 panel presents the Salses-Leucate lagoon complex and discusses the challenges of preserving it.
Natura 2000 is a European network of remarkable areas essential to the survival of certain rare or endangered species and natural habitats.
Turning left
Stroll through the Sagnette along a path lined with ganivelles. These palisades guide the discovery paths and protect biodiversity. Admire the "Barraca ", traditional fishermen's dwellings made of reeds and wood. You'll then come to an observation table offering a 360° panorama. You'll then reach an observation post on a small mound, where you can watch the ballet of the many birds present on the site.
Turning right
Head for the pontoon built by the famous engineer Latécoère. It served as a base for seaplanes. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the pontoon via wooden decking that winds past the pond.
