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A family-friendly walk as it is not too long and has a reasonable elevation gain, with lovely views of Sainte-Victoire, the Étoile range, Sainte-Baume and Garlaban. Most of the route follows good tracks; only the final section is stony. In its first section, the walk follows the GRP® Sentier Provence Mines d’Énergies trail.

A walk starting from the cemetery at Camoins-les-Bains towards Angèle’s farm (a film set built by Marcel Pagnol) and then on to the Baume du Plantier, also known as Manon’s Cave, offering beautiful views over the Marseille region.

A walk around Julhans, a château that once provided a setting for the romance between Napoleon and Désirée Clary. Some lovely views of the Saint-André Chapel and Cuges-les-Pins, with a more than reasonable elevation gain.

A short summer walk beneath the deciduous trees of Saint-Pons Park in Gémenos, taking you to discover an astonishing spot: the Gour de L’Oule, a resurgent cave which, in winter or spring, features a lovely little waterfall thanks to the Torrent du Fauge.

A walk offering beautiful views throughout, taking in Cuges-les-Pins, Gémenos, the Garlaban, the Marseille region and La Ciotat. It starts from the well-known car park at Grand Caunet, a lovely, well-shaded picnic area.

A walk presenting no particular difficulty, offering the chance to enjoy the magnificent view from the Calanques viewpoint and, as an added bonus, a beautiful panorama of the town of La Ciotat on the return journey towards the Chemin de Saint-Loup.

A classic route starting from the Grand Caunet car park, beginning with a descent towards the Louisianne district to the north of La Ciotat, followed by a climb up to the telegraph station, named after Claude Chappe, who invented this means of communication during the revolutionary years of the late 18th century. Beautiful views of La Ciotat and the surrounding area will brighten up the climb to the summit.

A summer walk best done early in the morning to avoid the heat. It is mostly shaded by vegetation and offers the chance to discover some cool spots in Carnoux. There’s a lovely view of the surrounding area once you reach the cross.

A fairly challenging route which has the advantage of being situated on the western slope of the Sainte Baume massif and is therefore sheltered from the sun in summer if you set off early. The Col de Brest offers a beautiful panoramic view of the massif and the Marseille coastline.

Kythira (in Greek Kythira) is an island situated fifteen kilometres south of the Peloponnese. It offers a number of archaeological sites and pleasant sandy beaches in summer. This is a coastal walk between Agia Pelagia (Sainte-Pélagie) and Diakofti. There are magnificent views and an abandoned shepherds’ village.

Pomègues and Ratonneau are two islands off the coast of Marseille which, together with the Château d’If, form the Frioul archipelago. They have been connected by a causeway since the 19th century. They are easily accessible from Marseille’s Old Port via a ferry service which, in spring and summer, runs every half hour (link in the ‘Places to see’ section). The two islands are characterised by numerous small coves and some very interesting monuments. We didn’t make it to the tip of Pomègues due to tiredness, but the more adventurous should certainly head to Cap Caveaux to explore the coves of La Crine and L’Escondelle, as well as Fort de Cavaux.

A walk combining town and countryside with a visit to old Brignoles, a stroll through the vineyards, then a walk through Camps-la-Source, a pretty little Provençal village, the climb to the Chapelle Saint-Sébastien and, above all, the lovely view from the Rocher du Gueit.

An alternative route around La Roque-d'Anthéron with a 300 m climb to the Rocher du Castellas, which we did not want to go to the end of for safety reasons, although it is quite possible without difficulty (if you are careful). The view from the top is worth the trip.

This is a variation on one of my old circular hikes , "Circular Walk of Ceyreste via Pas d'Ouillier and Cabanon des Gardes", which is a little longer and 40% new, with magnificent views of Cassis, La Ciotat and the Bédoule countryside.

This is an unpretentious hike that allows you to discover the beautiful autumn landscapes near this peak overlooking Saint-Zacharie. Unfortunately, we were unable to climb this hill because part of the path is private and has been closed off. The GR®9A is completely inaccessible from the points (2) and (3) (perhaps the route will be modified at a later date).

A short, easy family walk that takes you from the beautiful Pont du Diable bridge in Céret to the Château d'Aubiry and its grounds. The imposing Canigou massif dominates the Têt valley in the distance. The château was built by Jean Bardou (founder of the JOB brand) for one of his children.

A hike to the highly original Aire de la Moure with its panoramic view of the Marseille region. Avoid Thursdays, as this is when Canadairs and other Dash 8 aircraft practise their drops.

An easy hike around the Fontaine des Genièvres with beautiful views of the Nans-les-Pins plain and, above all, the eastern part of the Sainte-Baume mountain range. A curiosity: the Petit Saint-Cassien karstic cave.

This is a variation on one of my previous hikes, From Saint-Zacharie to La Mouère, which takes a different path to a lovely viewpoint above Saint-Zacharie. In hot weather, walking under the trees for most of the route is very pleasant.

This is yet another hike on the Siou Blanc plateau, but it offers a beautiful view of the Aiguilles de Valbelle and the surroundings of Signes. Please note that the Chemin de Siou Blanc is closed during the summer from 15 June to 15 September.

An easy walk through the Mazaugues State Forest with lovely views over the Agnis plateau and the village of Mazaugues. The famous Pivaut ice house is right next to the starting point and is well worth a look.

A walk to the well-known St-André de Julhans Chapel, offering beautiful views of Sainte-Baume and the Gémenos plain, with the Marseille region visible in the distance. The walk starts at the fork in the road where the Gémenos and Cuges-les-Pins roads meet, 4 km from the entrance to Aubagne; there are plenty of parking spaces available at this junction.

Miramas-le-Vieux is a pretty little medieval village overlooking the northern part of the Étang de Berre, which is well worth a visit at the start or end of your walk. This route crosses the site of the former national gunpowder factory, which can be visited on Wednesdays or Sundays, heading towards the Chapelle Saint-Michel, which overlooks Istres, the Étang de l’Olivier and its fountain, and the Étang de Berre. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the planned circular route as, as is often the case in Provence these days, wire mesh barriers have sprung up since our last visit two years ago, so we had to settle for the route published today.

One of three or four hiking routes that take in the beautiful site of Castrum Saint-Jean above Rougiers in the Var. This one passes via the Colline de Piégu, offering a fine viewpoint and the ruins of an ancient oppidum.

The chapel overlooks the entrance to the Caramy Gorges next to Tourves. Saint Probace came to evangelise Provence in the1st century AD and is said to have died in Tourves. Perched on a hill that is quite difficult to access, we chose to approach it from the Route de Mazaugues, which is easier, to the west of Tourves.

A walk where three-quarters of the route is shaded, around the famous Source des Nayes, which is particularly pleasant during the hot summer months. The area has been attractively landscaped with small streams flowing from the spring’s outlet.

A fairly easy walk in the Calanques National Park, offering beautiful views of the area.

A short, unpretentious walk with lovely views of the Aix countryside, and longer in good weather.

This walk is an extension of the route from Saint-Zacharie to La Mouère; it is longer and offers some beautiful views of Sainte Baume.

As part of the ‘short summer walks’ series – best enjoyed in the shade and done early in the morning – here is a variation on the ‘Around the Escampons’ walk, which still takes you to the magnificent viewpoints of Marseille’s calanques.

A walk that is particularly worthwhile for its stunning section in the Vallon des Chênes, featuring a path running beneath a cliff face where the cool air provides a very refreshing respite from the heat.

A walk, largely in the shade during hot weather, around the wonderful Parc de Saint-Pons. Only 1,500 metres of the trail are in full sun. However, it is best done in the morning during the summer.

A fairly challenging hike, starting from the pretty village of Revest-les-Eaux, above Toulon, which you visit at the start to explore its charming little streets and its majestic 13th-century tower. The route has been amended today (20/03/2024) to avoid unpleasant surprises such as closed or private paths.

A pleasant little walk to explore Mont Gibaou with lovely views of Roquefort-la-Bédoule and the surrounding area, followed by a stroll through the Bois de la Marcouline and a return via pleasant tracks.

A walk on the Siou Blanc plateau, heading for the summit of La Croix, a launch site for paragliders offering beautiful panoramic views.

A pleasant little walk to the "Grotte de Manon" on the Mauregoun plateau.

Yet another walk on the Siou-Blanc plateau, which stands out for its route above Belgentier and its beautiful panoramic view.

A variation of the Quatre Frères de Mumdanny hike takes you to the Maramouyé chasm, an impressive abyss in the heart of the Siou Blanc plateau.

A fairly easy hike that leads along the Riboux valley and then towards the Château Renard estate, made famous by the film "Jean de Florette".

In my opinion, the most beautiful views of the Calanques massif can be seen from this ridge, with Sormiou on the right, the Marseilleveyre massif further away and Morgiou, Mont Puget and Grande Candelle on the left. In the distance, you can see the Bec de l'Aigle. You are in the Calanques National Park, which is subject to specific regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a fine of up to €1,500.

A slightly less challenging variation on one of my previous walks, which will take you to two ‘landmarks’ of the Sainte-Baume massif: the Pic de Bertagne and the Grande Baume.

An easy hike in the woods above Simiane-Collongue with some beautiful views of the Pilon du Roi, the Étoile and the Aix region with Sainte-Victoire in the background.

A pleasant hike around the Domaine de Saint-Pons, at the foot of Sainte-Baume, with invigorating fresh air.

Une petite randonnée d'été dans les sous-bois du Plan d'Aups, bien agréable en ces temps de canicule.

A walk through the forest for most of the route, which is particularly enjoyable on these summer days, taking in the Source des Nayes and the Ruisseau de Peyruis – which is unfortunately dry at the moment – with the return route along the banks of the Huveaune.

A beautiful hike offering varied panoramic views of Sainte-Victoire, the Vauvenargues valley and the Durance riverbed from the crest of Montagne des Ubacs.

An unpretentious walk with some lovely views of the Étang de Berre.

An easy hike that takes us beneath the beautiful cliffs of Luminy and Mont Puget, with magnificent views of Marseille and the Calanques massif. You are in the Calanques National Park, which is subject to specific regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a fine of up to €1,500.

This is a fairly challenging hike that takes you to several highlights of the Garlaban massif, such as the Col de l'Amandier, the Parloire and the Barre Coupé, the Plaine de la Grive (a strange, undulating plain), the Col du Tubé and the Taoumé. All this with beautiful 360° views of the entire region. This plain should not be confused with the Corniche des Tourdres (thrushes in Provençal), which is located above Lascours.

An easy walk to the beautiful cliffs of Petite-Sainte-Baume around the Grand Rouvière wine estate.