The Thoronet Abbey Circular

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A circular starting from Thoronet Abbey, allowing you to visit it. Through vineyards, forests and pretty, peaceful hamlets on tracks, paths and small country roads.

Details

n°32531990
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 222 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 217 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 200 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 96 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the abbey car park on the left of the D79 coming from Le Thoronet.

(S/E) Take the path that runs alongside the D79 towards Carcès. At the three-way junction, continue right on the D279, following the red and white markings ofthe GR® 653A, until you reach a road on the right.

(1) Turn right towards Les Gazans, following theGR®653A, and continue straight on until you reach Les Camails, which you cross.

(2) Leave theGR® 653A and turn right onto Chemin des Camails. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead for about 30 metres.

(3) Turn left onto Chemin de la Lonnette, which climbs slightly, then at number 107, descend towards the D84 via an unpaved road. Follow the D84 to the right for 100 metres.

(4) Leave the departmental road and head left towards Les Févriers, following the Canal de Sainte-Croix. Cross the hamlet and follow a lane lined with street lamps.

(5) At altitude 104 (sign bearing no. 1410 pointing towards a house), turn right and take a path going up alongside a vineyard.

(6) Turn left towards Clapier. At a cistern (TRT03), turn left again. Cross Clapier following the path of the same name, which further on makes a sharp right turn.

(7) At the crossroads, turn left and descend towards the Argens. You will come out onto Chemin du Moutas (elevation 101) and follow it to the right along the Canal de Sainte-Croix and, beyond that, the Argens.

(8) Just after house no. 700, turn right to cross the canal and head towards Le Villard via the Vallon de Gaurand. Keep left at the next fork and join the hamlet at Impasse de Gaurand. Continue straight ahead until you reach the T-junction (post boxes) and turn right, following the red and white markings ofthe GR® 51GR®653A.

(9) Continue straight ahead and descend to the D84.

(10) Cross carefully and continue opposite, following theGR® markings on a path that runs parallel to the D79 and then turns right to run parallel to the D84.

(11) Continue to the left, then turn left at the intersection, following the GR® markings.

(12) A few metres before reaching the D79, follow the path running parallel to it on the right, then cross it to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 178 m - Abbey car park
  2. 1 : km 1.1 - alt. 191 m - Fork to the right
  3. 2 : km 2.8 - alt. 134 m - Les Camails
  4. 3 : km 3.23 - alt. 126 m - Chemin de la Lonnette
  5. 4 : km 3.52 - alt. 109 m - D84, turn left
  6. 5 : km 4.4 - alt. 104 m - Reference 104, no. 1410
  7. 6 : km 4.99 - alt. 149 m - Junction, on the left
  8. 7 : km 6.67 - alt. 139 m - Clapier, on the left
  9. 8 : km 7.66 - alt. 97 m - Crossing the canal - Argens (fleuve)
  10. 9 : km 9.39 - alt. 193 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 10.09 - alt. 172 m - D84
  12. 11 : km 11.66 - alt. 152 m - Fork to the left
  13. 12 : km 12.87 - alt. 181 m - Path on the right
  14. S/E : km 13.47 - alt. 179 m - Abbey car park

Worth a visit

Visits to the Cistercian Abbey of Thoronet can be self-guided or guided. Allow about 1 hour. 2023 price: £8. Group rates for 20 people or more.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

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

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 16 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 11428378

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied and interesting route. Unfortunately, point 7 is no longer relevant, as it is no longer possible to turn right just after house number 700. The path is now blocked by a garage and is no longer passable. You will need to reach the hamlet of Le Villard by road.

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User 149406

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike with varied landscapes. However, it is necessary to check the GPX route frequently. We finished with a visit to the abbey, which was magnificent. We greatly appreciated the cool water fountain at the reception area!!!

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User 25917878

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the end of the route after the hamlet of Villard is less well explained than the eastern part of the hike

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DanielCat
DanielCat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb, easy route for getting back into shape at the start of the season

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celfin
celfin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Alternating paths, tracks and roads allowing you to pass through pretty hamlets, which makes this hike very interesting.

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christdona
christdona
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

GPS tracking, Visorando map, no problems.
Varied landscape, vineyards, olive trees and forest.
Some tarmac but little or no traffic (except from the start to point 1 on the Carcés road, as the path on the left is not very well cleared)

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alain83400
alain83400

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There are many small roads and tracks, but this circular route is nevertheless interesting, with numerous hamlets featuring beautiful traditional houses and a very pleasant forest trail.
Don't forget to visit Thoronet Abbey at the end of your hike.

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GTIE
GTIE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful abbey, understated, excellent guide. Lovely walk. Make sure you wear good shoes, as some paths are very stony.
As for the description, I prefer to follow the trail, so I don't have an opinion. I don't know if it exists, but an audible warning would be useful to get us back on track and allow us to admire the view rather than constantly checking.

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mimimousse83
mimimousse83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, with no difficulties whatsoever. Very enjoyable at this time of year, the only downside being a little too much tarmac for my liking.

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gégérando
gégérando

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike to follow, with some points of interest, particularly the hamlets and the dams on the Argens river.

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ma.delbauffe
ma.delbauffe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike we did before visiting the abbey.
Beautiful walks through vineyards and typical regional landscapes.
The hike is mainly on small tarmac roads, but these are very quiet.

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Jean-Noël 83
Jean-Noël 83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, even with heavy rain at the end of the trail.
Some great photo opportunities!

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aymericbrd
aymericbrd

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike begins with 1 km of lightly travelled country road, followed by a mix of private tarmac roads and hiking trails, offering a good variety of landscapes without too much elevation gain.
We had a great time!
Be careful at the end, as the walk includes small paths along the road to return to the car park. Follow the trail carefully

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yves.drapp
yves.drapp

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A hike that allows you to visit Thoronet Abbey at the start or end of the route. No difficulty. Numerous passages near the vineyards that are ubiquitous in the region. We completed this hike in about 3.5 hours.

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Crapet
Crapet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with charming hamlets to pass through and beautiful views. However, quite a bit of the route is on small roads, which fortunately are not very busy.

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