On the shores of the Étang de Berre via Port Albert Samson

de fr

Discover a pleasant and accessible walk along the shores of the Étang de Berre via Port Albert Samson. This walk, ideal for the whole family, offers a mix of natural and maritime landscapes, featuring tranquil stretches of water, local wildlife and an authentic harbour atmosphere.

Details

n°67462658
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.66 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 30 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 30 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 36 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Walk with a view of the Butte
Port Albert SAMSON
Car park
Serge ANDREONI Promenade

Description of the walk

The route starts from the car park on Avenue Lazare Ponticelli, where you’ll find plenty of free parking spaces.

(S/E) From the car park, take the path leading down towards the lake, then follow the path to the right which leads to La Butte, a small hill offering a lovely view of the Étang de Berre. Take a moment to enjoy the scenery before continuing on your way.

(1) Head back down and turn right towards the Esplanade Lucie Aubrac. Then turn right onto a path and then left. Keep going straight ahead until you reach a Fork in the road where you can go no further.

(2) Keep left towards the esplanade. Continue to the esplanade, following the lake. The Esplanade Lucie Aubrac is ideal for a relaxing break, with unobstructed views and benches to rest on.

(3) Continue along the route to Port Albert Samson. Discover the charm of the pleasure boats and observe the aquatic wildlife whilst enjoying the harbour atmosphere.

(4) Walk along the marina on the right-hand side. Continue along the path, taking the path on the left, and walk to the end of the jetty (passing the municipal sailing school) to enjoy a beautiful view of the lake.

(5) Turn around, passing the sailing school again, and head towards the esplanade as you leave the harbour. Then turn right and then left onto Chemin de la Promenade Serge Andreoni.

(3) Turn left at the square, then right along Avenue des Hydravions until you reach the monument.

(6) This spot is ideal for a final contemplative pause before concluding the walk by turning right, then left, and continuing straight on until you can go no further. Then turn right and continue straight ahead to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 7 ft - Av Lazarre Ponticelli car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.15 - alt. 36 ft - Butte
  3. 2 : mi 0.55 - alt. 3 ft - Y-junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.88 - alt. 3 ft - Esplanade Lucie and Raymond AUBRAC
  5. 4 : mi 1.14 - alt. 3 ft - Port Albert Samson
  6. 5 : mi 1.47 - alt. 3 ft - Jetty
  7. 6 : mi 2.01 - alt. 7 ft - Monument near the Claude Jouve swimming pool
  8. S/E : mi 2.66 - alt. 7 ft - Av Lazarre Ponticelli car park

Notes

There are several children’s play areas along the route (skatepark, pump track, playground, etc.)

Worth a visit

Berre town centre with the charming Place Jean Moulin and its shops.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
gise13
gise13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After hiking across the plains, we arrived at the edge of the pond.
We were pleasantly surprised by this discovery and how easy it was to do both hikes by moving
our car... Well, we were out of season! Perhaps in good weather, we wouldn't have found a parking space.
Thank you for suggesting these two hikes. We had a lovely day despite the unpleasant cold wind.

Machine-translated

Zouzou13
Zouzou13
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk, which we did at 7 a.m. due to the heat and lack of shade. We saw small fish in the pond and a few small jellyfish.
There is construction work underway to build a new urban beach, so from the Lucie Aubrac esplanade, you can no longer go straight to the port. You just have to go around the construction site by taking the road.
The walk took 1 hour and 5 minutes.
We made a detour via Place Foch, which is very pleasant in the morning, to have a quick coffee.

Machine-translated

buffille
buffille
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A great route for a family walk! Or a morning stroll!

Machine-translated

Lina1350
Lina1350

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant family stroll along the waterfront

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking The plains and beautiful landscape of Berre-l'Étang

Local authority
Les plaines et la beauté du paysage de Berre-l'Étang
↔5.50 mi ↗+23 ft ↘-23 ft ◔2h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Berre-l'Étang (Bouches-du-Rhône)
This nearly 9 km hike starting from the Berre-l'Étang cooperative offers a beautiful immersion in the heart of varied and peaceful natural landscapes. With a very low elevation gain of 7 m, this loop is accessible to everyone, young and old, regardless of your level of fitness. The route starts at the cooperative car park (cooperative roundabout) and quickly leads you to flat paths surrounded by plains and unspoilt natural areas. You can enjoy the vast expanses typical of the region, walking along the lake with its reflections changing throughout the day.

Walking From Rognac to the small pass Redon

Visorando Member
De Rognac vers le Collet Redon
↔10.53 mi ↗+1,171 ft ↘-1,168 ft ◔5h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rognac (Bouches-du-Rhône)
This is a long, easy circular route starting from Rognac and heading towards the small pass of Collet Redon, passing by a permanent spring, the Malaga waterfall (Rognac fountain) seen from below and then from the top of its cliffs, and the Fontaine de l'Oule fountain. After passing through the bottom of the valley and around the small pass of Redon, the route rejoins the GRP®2013 and then follows the cliffs of Rognac to the cross overlooking the town. Finally, a last detour to the remains of an ancient oppidum and the ruins of Castellas Castle before returning to the starting point. A magnificent and varied landscape throughout the route.

Walking The Vitrolles Plateau

Visorando Member
Le plateau de Vitrolles
↔4.93 mi ↗+308 ft ↘-308 ft ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Vitrolles (Bouches-du-Rhône) (Bouches-du-Rhône)
An easy hike starting from Vitrolles Hill and continuing across the plateau.

Walking From Rognac to the small pass Redon (V2)

Visorando Member
De Rognac vers le Collet Redon (V2)
↔8.64 mi ↗+807 ft ↘-778 ft ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rognac (Bouches-du-Rhône)
An easy circular starting from Rognac towards the Collet Redon hill, passing by the Malaga Waterfall (Fontaine de Rognac) and then the Fontaine de l'Oule on the way there. After going around Collet Redon, the route rejoins theGRP®2013 and then runs along the cliffs of Rognac to the cross overlooking the town. A magnificent and varied landscape throughout the route.

Walking The Grand Arbois Plateau starting from Rognac

Visorando Member
↔10.45 mi ↗+994 ft ↘-1,007 ft ◔5h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rognac (Bouches-du-Rhône)
A long, varied circular route with stunning unobstructed views of the Étang de Berre, Velaux, Sainte-Victoire, the Étoile massif and the Pilon du Roi, and the Réaltor reservoir. The paths are sometimes very stony. A few steep climbs to spice things up.

Walking Between the source and the waterfall, starting from Rognac

Visorando Member
Entre source et cascade au départ de Rognac
↔1.87 mi ↗+210 ft ↘-210 ft ◔1h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Rognac (Bouches-du-Rhône)
A short, peaceful family walk along wide paths, with a magnificent view of the lake, which is even more beautiful at sunset. To see a beautiful waterfall, plan your walk a few days after rain, as this is Provence.

Walking Circular along the edge of the Rognac cliffs and Roquefavour aqueduct.

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle en bordure des falaises de Rognac et aqueduc de Roquefavour
↔12.55 mi ↗+791 ft ↘-797 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Rognac (Bouches-du-Rhône)
A beautiful hike along the cliffs of Rognac: superb views of the town of Rognac with the Étang de Berre lagoon and the surrounding towns of Vitrolles, Berre and Velaux.

Walking Saragousse and the Croix de Rognac

Visorando Member
↔4.15 mi ↗+328 ft ↘-325 ft ◔2h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Velaux (Bouches-du-Rhône)
A family-friendly walk, best undertaken when the wind isn’t too strong as the Plateau de Vitrolles is very exposed. You can stop for a picnic and a break halfway along the route at the cross, with an extraordinary view of the Étang de Berre and the lake’s surroundings.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.