Bandol walks

A hike in the Bandol countryside. A beautiful climb in the heart of nature. Step off the path a little for better views. The return trip is along the coastal path. You will walk along the Mediterranean Sea and its red earth or the water against a blue-green backdrop. A very pleasant narrow path, a steep descent and numerous steps await you. A hundred metres before you arrive, don't hesitate to go down the steps to the Baie de la Rénécros for lunch on the beach.

The Gros Cerveau massif can be divided into three hikes. This one, the westernmost, is perhaps the easiest. It starts in Sanary-sur-Mer and climbs up to the Demi-Lune cave. There are some beautiful views of Sanary-sur-Mer and Bandol, as well as the inland area and the quarry.

Here is a variation on the hike I described previously (La Roche Curade above Sanary-sur-Mer), which allows you to discover a new trail, climb up to the Pointe du Gros Cerveau fortification, follow the ridges, visit the Garou cave, and approach La Roche Curade from the opposite direction. Only the last quarter of the route is the same as the previous route, but in the opposite direction.

A short walk in the Gros Cerveau massif above Sanary-sur-Mer to discover two geological features, including the Roche Curade, and some remnants of Provence’s former agricultural and industrial activity.

A tour of Gros Cerveau, climbing through the woods with magnificent 360° views of the coast. The red route, which follows theGR® at times.

Here is a short route that allowed us to explore two little-used paths with a view to incorporating them into one or two other hikes, but which stands on its own as a pleasant and easy walk.

This circular walk starting from La Cadière d'Azur will take you along theGR®®51to the Gros Cerveau ridge, where you can visit an old fort and a cave and enjoy an exceptional 360° view covering the Île de Porquerole and La Ciotat. The return journey is via a shaded path descending along the Val d'Aren.

A very easy walk that will allow you to see some fossils, surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, with beautiful views of the hilltop villages of Le Castellet and La Cadière d'Azur. Between 1824 and 1949, a lignite mine (a type of coal between peat and hard coal) was operated at the Fontanieu site; a few very discreet remains of this operation can still be seen here and there. Those interested in geology will enjoy "reading" this landscape.

This beautiful circuit complements the existing walks and brings them together. A stroll through the vineyards, then along a golf course with a beautiful view from Roustagnon, and finally a lovely walk along the coast. The paths are very easy to find. See Practical information.

A beautiful hike along the coastal path with several coves for swimming. Access to the Port d'Alon cove and the coastal path is temporarily prohibited by municipal decree.The unusual weather conditions that have prevailed for several weeks, including heavy rain and strong winds, have weakened the pine forest. Several trees have been uprooted,and as a result, access to the Port d'Alon cove is prohibited by municipal decree for obvious public safety reasons. News from 17/02/2026.

The Gros Cerveau massif can be divided into three hikes. This one, in the centre, offers magnificent views of the bays of Bandol and Sanary, as well as Saint-Mandrier and Cassis. At the summit, you can visit the Gros Cerveau fortifications, consisting of abandoned military buildings. To the north, you can enjoy views of the pretty villages of La Cadière d'Azur, Le Castelet and Evenos, with the Sainte-Baume massif in the background.

This short walk is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, with beautiful views all around Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and a pleasant route that starts at the edge of vineyards, then goes under pine trees and along a rocky ridge, ending with a descent down the famous sand hill.

This modest walk is a variation on the one I have already published: "La Gâche and the Colline de Sable". We do not climb up to the La Gâche viewpoint, but take a few different paths and make a detour via the Château des Baumelles estate.

A picturesque little 11th-century chapel in the middle of an olive grove, an old iron mine, a peaceful and refreshing retreat and a breath of fresh air, all just a stone's throw from the town of Six-Fours: these are just some of the attractions of this short walk, which is a pleasant way to spend a morning or afternoon.

This is a very easy walk that follows part of the circular "Boucle au-dessus du Plan du Castellet" route, allowing you to visit the north-western slope of the Pibarnon hill and enjoy the beautiful views it offers over the bay of La Ciotat. Please note that two-thirds of the route is on paved roads, although they are very quiet. Therefore, it is not suitable for those who dislike tarmac.

This peaceful walk, a classic route around the village of La Cadière-d'Azur, will first take you through woods and vineyards, beneath the cliffs of the La Cadière plateau, before climbing up to the plateau and returning to the village via the ridges, which offer sweeping views of the Bay of Saint-Cyr, the Bay of La Ciotat and part of the Beausset Basin

A nice little hike just to relax and enjoy some beautiful views. Moderator's warning on 24 April 2021: Please note! Reviews of this hike indicate that the start of the route is difficult to find. GPS or the Visorando app are useful

You don't have to go far to take a little trip back in time. In Six-Fours, between La Coudoulière, Cap Nègre and the Sauviou corniche, by observing the rocks, you can easily travel from ages of over 500 million years to a few thousand years in just a few hundred metres.

Île des Embiez, owned by the Paul Ricard Foundation, is just a few minutes by boat from the port of Le Brusc, in the commune of Six-Fours-les-Plages. It is a small, unspoilt world where you can enjoy a day, or even several days, of complete change of scenery and freedom.

A beautiful hike in the hills above Ollioules and Sanary, off the beaten track. Exceptional views of the coastline from La Ciotat to Porquerolles, and inland from La Cadière-d'Azur to Le Revest, the Sainte-Baume mountain range and the Ollioules gorges.The hike alternates between shaded sections in the Mediterranean scrub and sunny sections on the limestone rocks of the La Colle massif.See important notes in Practical Information.

Depart from the lively little village of Sainte-Anne d'Évenos to reach the Château d'Évenos in the hills, with its magnificent view of Toulon harbour.

This is a classic walk in Sainte-Anne d'Evenos, near Toulon. It is easy as it is mainly on forest tracks, but never boring as it alternates between crossing a sometimes very dense forest around the Bérenguière valley and beautiful views of the Beausset basin, the Sainte-Baume mountain range and the bed of an intermittent river.

Climbing up to the old village of Évenos from Sainte-Anne d'Évenos is a classic in this part of western Var, but you never tire of it and, above all, the walk can be a little more rewarding each time if you take the trouble (or rather the pleasure) to look around you: this landscape has a lot to tell us.

If you’re looking for an easy, peaceful walk amongst vineyards and pine trees, or perhaps a picnic sheltered from the wind with a beautiful view before you, this unpretentious walk is for you. Two-thirds of the route is on tarmac, but there’s virtually no traffic. It’s a lovely, peaceful alternative to give your legs a rest, for example, between two more challenging hikes.

This short route in the hills above the pretty village of Le Beausset offers, over a short distance, the chance to get a bit of exercise with a fairly steep climb, to follow lovely paths through woodland, and to enjoy superb panoramic views of the stunning landscape in this beautiful corner of the Var. It follows the same climb (a classic) asa walk described previously, but with a completely different descent.

The town of Six-Fours les Plages is actually made up of a large number of hamlets, each bearing the name of an old family. A single walk, however long, is not enough to cover them all. Here we will see only a few of them, as well as the famous Fort de Six-Fours, located on the site of the old hilltop village that has now disappeared.

Climb up to the sanctuary of Vieux Beausset via the Chemin des Oratoires, then stroll back down along small country roads through terraced olive groves and vineyards. This is a walk that can be done all year round, but I would recommend doing it in spring to appreciate the mildness of the landscape.

A short urban hike can be enjoyable, especially when the town is called Ollioules. Built in an amphitheatre at the exit of its gorges and spread out across its fertile plain, irrigated by a network that has been skilfully managed since medieval times, Ollioules has a rich heritage that is as varied as it is lovingly preserved. After the relaxing stretch of irrigation channels, the climb may seem arduous, but you will be rewarded by the panoramic views that gradually unfold before you.

Climb above Ollioules and see the witnesses to the country's history: a Celtic-Ligurian oppidum, a medieval castle, a Chappe telegraph, cadastral markers and a water tower. This is what I offer you over a few kilometres on this peaceful walk, which does have a fairly steep incline.

Capeu Gros is one of the peaks of the Croupatier massif, whose ridge leads to Baou des Quatre Ouro. The route, an extended version of the Rinckenbach route (Cuves du Destel), first follows the bed of the Destel with handrail climbing, chains and passage through the vats. It then passes along the Croupatier ridge. On the way back, you will see the Chappe telegraph and the boundary markers of the municipalities of Ollioules and Évenos. Breathtaking views from La Ciotat to Giens, via the bay of Toulon. 25/03/2024: the route ofthe GR® 51, which passes north between the Col du Taillan and the summit of Cape Gros, has been modified and now passes between the Col de Taillan, the telegraph and the summit of Capeu Gros. The IGN map has not been updated.

This very challenging route takes the hiker to the site of the Château du Diable and its remarkable caves and the Destel gorges, with their astonishing giant's kettles or cauldrons. Nice sections with chains or ropes.

This easy hike offers beautiful panoramic views, a visit to the old hilltop village of Le Castellet, a walk through a cool valley that would not be out of place in Provence Verte, and finally a stroll through a pleasant neighbourhood of the village of Le Beausset. Please note, however, that most of the route is on tarmac, but on small roads with very little traffic.

You'll never tire of this walk, which is very popular with the residents of Six-Fours, between the pretty port of Le Brusc and the tip of Île du Gaou, very close to Île des Embiez, along the fragile and protected lagoon.

This active route will take you through the Croupatier to the Baou de Quatre Ouro, one of the four "Toulonais brothers". Paths and ledges where you have to use your hands, passages with ropes, discover the main caves of the massif, where the famous caves of the Château du Diable make the route more interesting.

We have been using the small road between Le Brûlat and Sainte-Anne du Castellet for some time and wanted to explore the surrounding area. This modest walk allowed us to discover charming countryside planted with vines and olive trees, where absolute calm reigns. Please note that the entire route is on paved roads, as there are no accessible footpaths or tracks, but the small roads are very pleasant and not very busy. A getaway in a pretty plain surrounded by hills.

This short hike will take you along the sunken lanes of Courrens, then on a beautiful panoramic forest trail between Roumagnan and Francillon. You will pass through two old hamlets of Six-Fours, which was originally made up of numerous villages.

A truely beautiful balcony hike between sea and mountains towards Cape Sicié arriving at Notre-Dame de la Garde or du Mai 360 ° view.

Starting from a fairly classic walking spot for the residents of Six-Fours, you can enjoy an enriching walk between the wild coast, rock shelters, volcanic rock veins and an old gold mine.

A hike in the outskirts of Toulon where you get a 360° view of the amazing countryside. A big meeting place for spies who monitor Toulon harbour.

This walk offers magnificent views of Toulon harbour and the hinterland.

A hike featuring some little-known sections with splendid views over the Bay of Toulon and the Gorges d’Ollioules. Pass by the Chappe telegraph station and near a lime kiln.

Circular hike starting from the Château Vallon car park, passing through the Chelo, Croupatier and Patrimoine caves, as well as the Oppidum de la Courtine. Interest varies depending on the season: entirely on the sunny side.

This circular hike starts from Chemin des Plaines Baronnes in La Ciotat, alternating between tracks and paths, and takes you to the summit of Le Télégraphe. The route offers some beautiful views of the Golfe d'Amour and the various surrounding mountains: Calanques, Sainte Baume, etc. Along the route, you can see the remains of ancient dwellings: jas, drystone shelters, Cade ovens, charcoal kilns... some of which have been restored by associations of enthusiasts.

This magnificent, challenging hike takes us up the Destel river with its truly unique potholes. This hike is classified as very difficult due to the passage through the gorges from (6) to (2) (a). Please note: the duration calculated by the software seems to be greatly underestimated (see reviews at the bottom of this page).

On this hike, we will approach La Roche Redonne from an original angle and describe fossil structures and a Roman bridge along the way.

A nice tour from Sainte-Anne passing by different juniper kilns producing lime and pitch.

This circular route allows you to enjoy the sumptuous landscapes from Cap Sicié to Notre-Dame du Mai without having to retrace your steps. It starts near a cistern where there is plenty of parking space. Please note that part of the route can be quite slippery, so do not do this hike after rain.

This walk takes you through varied landscapes: undergrowth, ridges, cliffs overlooking the sea, and two hill tops with 360° views of the coast and the mountains. For the more adventurous, an optional athletic route takes you down to the foot of Cap Sicié and the sea.

The 400-hectare Janas Forest is a natural area with numerous trails that many people enjoy. I suggest a brisk half-day route to keep you in shape. The route is mainly through the woods with a few cardio sections. Everything you could want!

Short walk to reach the summit of Notre-Dame du Mai facing the Mediterranean. The 360° view is one of the most beautiful on the French Riviera. Best done early in the morning or in the evening at sunset to see the amber colours that the sun casts on the surrounding mountains, or in the middle of the day when the weather is very nice to see the azure sky and sea. Unforgettable photos and memories!

A challenging walk with magnificent views and interesting historical points of interest.

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.

An easy hike that can be enjoyed by the whole family.Pretty paths through pine woods and heathland. ⚠️ 29/04/2025: Hike modified to follow the signposts between 5 and 3 and avoid aggressive dogs.

Route along small unmarked paths, views of Toulon harbour, the Toulon hills, Sanary, Bandol, La Ciotat and Giens, numerous magnificent viewpoints, little tarmac and few tracksMuch of the walk takes place in woodland.The technical difficulty of this hike is fairly easy, suitable for any regular hiker. This hike is strongly recommended with GPS tracking as the Janas forest is teeming with small unmarked paths

This hike is suitable for groups or families and is of moderate difficulty, but requires a minimum level of fitness given the cumulative elevation gain. It is mostly on wide, easy paths with a few trails to add variety to the route, offering beautiful views of La Ciotat, Pic de Bertagne and Dents de Roque Fourcade.After about two hours of walking, you arrive at the Cabanon des Gendarmes, a very friendly place where you can have a barbecue. Tables and benches are provided, with beautiful views of La Ciotat.Note: it is possible to make a circular pattern; see the chapter on practical information for details.

This is a very short hike leading to a refuge with a fireplace, along a ‘DFCI’ track. It is suitable for everyone, including children on bikes. It takes you to the Refuge des Gardes, which offers a stunning view of La Ciotat. The spot is very peaceful and welcoming. The short distance means you can pack plenty of food to enjoy a feast in the heart of nature.

A long but straight-forward hike overlooking "Baie de la Ciotat" and a beautiful view over Sainte-Baume mountain range and Sainte-Victoire Mountain.

An easy walk that won’t put too much strain on your ankles. Much of the route follows a DFCI track, and a lovely section takes you through the woodland on a narrow but very passable path, without the risk of getting scratched. Those who love the woods will be in their element. You can see the Bédoule watchtower, the Cabanon du Marquis and the Cabanon des Gardes (with opportunities for barbecues over a wood fire in the huts).

This hike starting from Grand Caunet will take you to a beautiful panorama facing the Pic de Bertagne and Sainte-Baume, from where you can look down on Cuges-les-Bains. From there, you will pass under the Barres de Font Blanche and climb back up into the Font Blanche forest via the Vallon de Carafa. On the way back, shortly before arriving, you will discover the Gouffre du Grand Caunet, a karst feature unique to the region.

This walk will surprise you with its views of all the main Provençal mountain ranges.Perched on a rocky outcrop at the foot of a cliff, you will discover the ruins of an old village abandoned in the 17th century, as well as a pretty stone chapel. A walk in the clouds.

An easy hike with views of the Sainte Baume mountain range. Please note that the path is very steep and unstable.

A peaceful walk amidst the scent of pine trees and heath. After the climb to the Tête de Nige, which offers a magnificent viewpoint over Cuges-les-Pins, the Pic de Bertagne and the Sainte-Baume, the return journey will provide stunning views of the Pointe Grenier, the Baie des Lecques and the vineyards of the Bandol appellation. That said, you’ll need to pace yourself carefully to tackle the two steep climbs that punctuate this route as effectively as possible.

This is a fairly long walk that offers a striking contrast between the dark, steep-sided valleys and the sunny ridges, where the view stretches from the coast to the limestone mountains of the hinterland.