A loop via the Auberge de Pichauris, the Puits de l'Aroumi

A hike through the pines and scrubland of the Massif du Garlaban, so dear to Marcel Pagnol.
Starting from the Pichauris car park, the circuit first leads you to the Puits de l'Aroumi (the wells of Aroumi) then the Mont du Marseillais along beautiful, well marked paths, often along ridges, offering magnificent views over Marseille, Sainte-Victoire, Mont Ventoux and, in good weather, the Préaples de Provence. The intense luminosity of the rocks under the brilliance of the sun will leave no-one indifferent.

Technical sheet

209332
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 513 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 513 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 664 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 306 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: from Allauch, go in the direction of Logis Neuf and then follow the D908, in the direction of Peypin. Turn right on the D46a when you get to the Auberge de Pichauris and park in the large car park located about a hundred meters further on.

'Yellow PR® route markers''

(S/E) From the car park, walk towards the monumental stone gate, pass it on the right-hand side and follow the wide trail up to a major intersection marked with a large marker post.

(1) Turn right (signposted Château de Ners), ignore a path to your left and reach a fork about 150m further on. Turn left following the PR®4 signs. At the following intersection that comes just after two stone walls on either side of the path, follow the wide track that curves to the right and quickly joins an open space.

(2) Take the first track on your left, and stay on this main path going in a general south-south-east direction, ignoring all paths going off to the left and right. Keep going until you reach a large intersection (tank n°480 on the right).

(3) Don't take the track to the left as prompted by the signpost "Puits de l'Aroumi" but continue straight on for a hundred meters to reach the next junction. Turn left off the wide track onto a narrower path that goes southeast in the direction of a few clearly-visible rocky ledges. Walking between the shrubs is a little more difficult on the trail which closes in like a ravine with a few rocky but easy sections.

Further on, ignore a path going off to the right and keep following the PR®4 markers, pass a ledge with a small shepherd's stone hut and carry straight on to reach a large track.

No markers

(4) Follow this track on the left until an intersection where you'll find a VTT6 marker post. Turn right to get to the Puits de l'Aroumi which is located under the trees on the right.

'Yellow PR® route markers''

(5) Take advantage of this idyllic rural location to enjoy a break. Rejoin the wide, flat path and follow it right up to a fork marked with a double marker post (PR®4 and ATV6).

(6) Leave the path to turn left onto a small stony trail which passes two successive intersections where you keep left. At the next fork, turn left (signposted Lascours).

(7) At the fork, continue straight (signposted Mont du Marseillais - Pichauris) on a stony but pleasant path that leads to a large intersection (tank 525).

Yellow PR® markers + yellow and red GRP®

(8) Take the first, wide path on the right leaving the tank on your left-hand side.
At the following intersection, continue straight ahead temporarily leaving the double markers that you'll rejoin shortly after. Turn left and continue until a wide track that accesses the facilities of the Mont du Marseillais.

(9) Follow this track right up to the summit.

(10) Go between the installations then fork left, climb the steep slope (carefully) and go right at the last pylon to follow a path that's not very visible at the start but where you'll soon get back to the double markers.
Once on the track, go right and follow it for about 300m.

No markers

(11) About 50m before a marker post visible on the right of the track, turn 90° left and drop down to another track that you can seen below (be careful because this route isn't well defined and you need to be vigilant).

'Yellow PR® route markers''

Turn left on this track, pass a tank on your right-hand side and continue straight ahead until you reach a T-junction.

(12) Turn right and continue to descend to a small road that you join at a bend. Follow the road to the left until the fourth turn (to the right).
Go carefully because the road is narrow, the visibility is poor and there is no verge on the majority of this section.

No markers

(13)At the turning point, leave the road to take a large path on the left that goes through undergrowth. Ignore the first path on the left and then a second on the right.

(14) At the intersection, continue straight on and then, after a hundred metres, fork left on a particularly steep-sided, ravine-like path, which descends rapidly. Go straight at the next intersection (spot height 383) and continue for about 300m.

(15) When you get to a small cairn (not obvious and easy to miss) go right on a small path that meanders through the bushes. Very soon you'll come across lots of paths and possible routes. The best option is to follow the tracks in the direction of the partially ruined buildings of the hamlet of Pichauris which can bee seen clearly opposite, leading to a large, flat trail on the edge of the grassland.

Follow this track to the left, keep right at the next intersection and rejoin the first markers.
Turn left, go back over intersection (1) and you'll soon arrive back at the start-point car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 306 m - Pichauris car park. Close to the - Jarret (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 319 m - Large crossroads, signpost, turn right
  3. 2 : km 0.76 - alt. 332 m - Fork, PR4 signpost, turn left
  4. 3 : km 2.36 - alt. 424 m - Crossing, tank 480, straight on
  5. 4 : km 4.45 - alt. 651 m - Wide track junction, turn right
  6. 5 : km 5.15 - alt. 631 m - Junction, VTT6 signpost, right
  7. 6 : km 5.83 - alt. 627 m - Spur, signpost PR4/VTT6, left
  8. 7 : km 6.34 - alt. 542 m - Fork, Mont du Marseillais beacon, straight on
  9. 8 : km 7.3 - alt. 586 m - Crossroads, tank 525, turn right
  10. 9 : km 8.38 - alt. 609 m - Access track to Mont du Marseillais, on the right
  11. 10 : km 8.9 - alt. 618 m - To the left along the steep slope - Mont du Marseillais (628m)
  12. 11 : km 9.6 - alt. 549 m - Leave the track and turn left at the top of the slope
  13. 12 : km 10.51 - alt. 484 m - T-junction, turn right
  14. 13 : km 11.24 - alt. 450 m - Turn right, take the path on the left
  15. 14 : km 11.98 - alt. 487 m - Crossing, go straight on
  16. 15 : km 13.05 - alt. 395 m - Small cairn, leave the path, turn right
  17. S/E : km 14.58 - alt. 306 m - Pichauris car park

Practical information

Important notes on the markers for this hike.
- Apart from a few sections of the circuit, namely those between(4) and(5), and for a hundred metres after (11) and (13), the yellow PR® marker is consistently present.
However, taking into account the number of trails and routes marked in yellow in this part of the Massif du Garlaban, be very attentive at intersections and follow the description carefully.
- AVTT marker and GRP markers are mentioned from time to time.
The VTT markers can be found on different parts of the circuit but references to this have been limited so as not to cause any confusion by multiplying markers.
- On the other hand, do not rely fully on the directional signposts because the route described here is not the most direct route.
This is particularly the case for reaching the Puits de l'Aroumi where several signs might lead you off onto a different route. Here also, follow the description carefully.

There are several wells (puits) along the route, but the quality of the water is not controlled for most of them. You'll therefore need to take extra water accordingly, especially during hot periods because most of the hike is in the sun.

Good walking shoes necessary due to the numerous stony and difficult sections on which you could hurt your ankles.
Walking poles recommended for the same reason.

In the nearby area

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
lolovad
lolovad

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Hello
Alone or accompanied, a great hike, with a magnificent view
of our beautiful region 🤩
thanks to our Visorandoneur 😉

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Joss23
Joss23

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thank you for this wonderful tour. I was accompanied by 16 people, all of whom were delighted by this beautiful route with magnificent views.
I'd just like to make a comment on point 10 where you say that the sheer drop is vertiginous, you really have to get close to the edge to see the void. I think that people who are afraid of heights won't go there, which is a shame because the views are breathtaking.
And at point 12, 10 metres further on, at the edge of the road on the left, there's a yellow line just behind a big tree so you don't have to take the road.
Thanks again for a great hike.
Joss 23

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brice s
brice s
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk with magnificent views

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piat colette
piat colette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice easy hike with a more technical section after the Aroumi well.
Otherwise well signposted and very pleasant, with the balcony section of the trail giving a view of the Parc de Pichauris.

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bernardgemenos
bernardgemenos

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely hike with varied scenery (we set off from Lascours and added the ascent of Mont des Marseillais via the Chemin des Tourdres to join the route described and came back down via the Grand Vallon). There were no particular difficulties, and the views as far as the Alps were beautiful as we crossed the Grands Ubacs on the GR.

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manonroro
manonroro

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk with beautiful views. Varied route with tracks and paths. Without a GPS from point 13 to point 15, given the large number of paths and tracks, we went due west and arrived without any problems.
A walk worth doing.

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Philippe Issa
Philippe Issa

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant walk. No particular difficulties.
A succession of magnificent landscapes.
Description not always clear.
Better to trust the GPS.

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joelala13
joelala13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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ChristinePP
ChristinePP

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very fine walk, some of it sporting. Beautiful views of the Ste Baume - the Ste Victoire - Marseille - the Garlaban ......

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al1701
al1701

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Beautiful walk, respect for the route. Variety of routes, tracks, paths, climbs and descents, 360° views of the Monts du Marseille. A hike to enjoy with family or friends.

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CRESMAN
CRESMAN

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 31, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

very nice walk

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mamicasto
mamicasto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

hike today. The weather was fine.
Magnificent view for most of the way.
Lots of rocks. You have to watch where you put your feet but there is no danger and no real difficulty.
In short, a recommended hike.

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J?rôme
J?rôme

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely, quiet walk
To avoid following the road after point 12, it is possible to follow the yellow route that starts just before the start of the climb.
From point 13 onwards, we did the route filling in, as there are a multitude of paths, but if you head west you will soon come into view of the Pichaurris.

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Pytheas_13
Pytheas_13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Due to the weather conditions, we only did half of the walk in the opposite direction to the circuit so that we could return down the GR route.
Beautiful route with great views of Ste Victoire and the Huveaune basin. Ideal route for the season.
Use of a GPS to follow the route, which corresponds to the route on the map.

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you phildaix

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