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Arriving at Saumane, park at the entrance of the village, by the playground or just above it, after the bend.
(S/E) Start walking towards the centre of the village (South).
(1) At the junction with the Montée du Château, continue ahead, slightly to the left in a cul-de-sac to enjoy the view. From this junction it is possible to go to the castle and then retrace your steps.
Return to the junction.
(1) Continue towards the centre of the village. On the left, note a wash-house. Carry on towards the town hall. At the square, head along the Rue des Fontaines. At the fountain of the Place de la Libération, carry straight on.
At the next junction, keep straight on the road Chemin de la Tapy, which then becomes a tarmac road. Watch out for a track heading right, near three plane trees. Take this track and cross the Combe du Haut stream. Continue uphill until you reach a fine drystone structure on the right with a small water cistern. Bypass this structure and then bear left at the junction. You then arrive to a restored rock shelter under an overhanging rock.
(2) At the shelter, enjoy the fine view of the cliffs a little further ahead. Turn back to the junction (at this point, it is possible to head right to retrace your steps back down to the village), and continue to the left. The track leads up through an area of terraces built with stones taken from the cultivated land (bancaou). On the left, you then come to a fairly large scree slope.
(3) Shortly afterwards, take the track which leads down to the right through the scrub. Just behind, there is a splendid, very well-preserved stone hut. Carry on towards the round table, leave a second hut on your right and return to the track which arrives at the long-distance footpath waymarked in red and yellow (the “GRP®”). Bear left. The track is tarmacked in places.
(4) At the signpost “Marculy” turn left towards the Château de Saumane. Continue straight ahead on the widest track. Pass through a further area of terracing and continue on the main track (downwards) to the tarmac road, the Chemin de la Tapy (here it is possible to turn left to rejoin the outward leg and follow it in reverse to return to Saumane). Turn right on the tarmac road. At the end of the concreted section, continue steeply upwards on a dirt track to arrive at a path heading off to the left, which is marked by two cairns.
(5) Follow this path through the undergrowth. At the junction, take the track which heads off slightly to the right. At the next junction, bear left. The path climbs steeply to the ridge. Turn left again. A little further on, there is a fine view of Saumane and the Alpilles. Rejoin the long-distance footpath (red and yellow waymarks and cycle route signs).
(6) Head left on this long-distance path until you reach Saumane (the castle car park). The path leads down along a fence and then passes by the shrine of Saint-Gens. When you reach the castle car park, carry straight ahead on the road.
(7) At the signpost “Château de Saumane”, bear left towards Saint-Gens Marculy. At the next junction, turn right along the foot of the cliff until you reach a flight of stairs. Go down to the village. Join the road D57A and head right, then at the junction bear left into the Rue du Petit Barry.
(8) At the end of the street, turn left onto the esplanade of the Church of Saint Trophime to enjoy the view over the plains. Leave by the Rue de l’Église.
(1) At the wash-house follow the D57A to the left and return to the car park at the entrance of the village (S/E) .
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