Citadel Circular

de fr

In the Sainte-Victoire region, there is an easy circular in the heath with several points of interest: the Citadel oppidum, the Lambruisse farm and chapel, and the Sinne observatory.
Beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire and even the Alps.

Details

n°9854665
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 250 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 259 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 721 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 531 m
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Photos

La Sinne
Hamlet of Lambruisse
A bucolic trail
Following the cliffs

Description of the walk

Park in the Col des Portes car park.

(S/E) From the car park, a trail climbs directly uphill. It disappears a little on the slope, but just keep climbing. You will reach a beautiful trail.

(1) Take it to the left and join the path that climbs up from Col des Portes.
See alternative route in Practical Information.

(2) Continue to the right, following the cliffs of the Citadelle (yellow markings). Follow the marked trail until you reach a wide track.

(3). Take this track to the left and ignore the nearby observatory, which will be on the way back. Continue along this wide track marked in yellow until you come to a new track and theGR® markings, elevation 599.

(4). Follow theGR® trail to the right until you reach the farm on the Lambruisse departmental estate. Don't hesitate to visit the small hamlet and its chapel. There is also a shelter that is ideal for picnics.

(5) Continue on theGR® trail, staying on the track that passes the farm and climbs to the right. Pay attention so you don't miss the fork to the right. Pass a well and, further on after a left turn, look for a path leading off to the right.

(6) Take this shortcut, which avoids a long bend in the track. Return to the track you left earlier.

(7) Continue on theGR® trail to the right until you reach the Sinne site and its small observatory. Continue on the GR® trail.

(8) At this junction, leave theGR® trail to the left and continue along the track. You will come out onto the road.

(9) Turn right to return to the car park, a few dozen metres away (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 589 m - Col car park - Col des Portes (631m)
  2. 1 : km 0.37 - alt. 641 m - Path to the left
  3. 2 : km 0.68 - alt. 667 m - Right towards the Citadel
  4. 3 : km 2.82 - alt. 634 m - Track to the left
  5. 4 : km 6.43 - alt. 604 m - Turn right
  6. 5 : km 8.46 - alt. 532 m - Lambruisse farm. Continue along the track.
  7. 6 : km 9.24 - alt. 558 m - Shortcut
  8. 7 : km 9.51 - alt. 613 m - GR to the right
  9. 8 : km 10.7 - alt. 592 m - Ignore the GR and stay on the track.
  10. 9 : km 11.48 - alt. 580 m - Turn right onto the road.
  11. S/E : km 11.73 - alt. 589 m - Car park - Col des Portes (631m)

Notes

(S) Possible alternative at the start:
another option is to follow the road towards Col des Portes and, just before the hairpin bend, find the yellow-marked trail that climbs to the right towards the Citadel and arrives at point (2) to continue the route to the left.

Access to the mountains is regulated in summer, so it is essential to check before setting off.

Some trails are very exposed to the sun, so take care during the summer months.

Worth a visit

The Sainte-Victoire mountain range... obviously

 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

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
nefertilou13
nefertilou13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

From the car park, we crossed the road and followed a small path leading to the Col des Portes; from there, crossing back over, we followed the track leading to point 2; the rest of the route is well described and clearly signposted.
From point 6 to point 7, the slope is very steep, but you can make it easier by taking the track that branches off to the left and, after about 250 metres, following the track completely to the right to rejoin the original route.
There are some beautiful 360° views of Sainte-Victoire, the snow-capped Alps, Mont Chiran, Mourre de Chanier, Mont Ventoux, and more.
Picnic at the Lambruisse farm (several tables and a working fireplace).

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rebufa
rebufa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant, risk-free hike with children, but the starting point is a little difficult to find.

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Alain83140
Alain83140

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRETTAINE HIKE WITH A START THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO FIND, BUT YOU JUST NEED TO FOLLOW THE TRACK WITH YOUR GPS. BEAUTIFUL VIEW AT THE SUMMIT AND A FINAL CLIMB THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT BUT DOABLE IF YOU TAKE YOUR TIME.

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Biquette13
Biquette13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route, avoid in summer due to the heat.

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fanmirando
fanmirando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb view, easy route, beautiful scenery and, above all, very few people.

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Hélène chartier
Hélène chartier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We went to the Lambruisse farm because there is a large, open, permanent shelter with a very large fireplace, a large table inside and another outside. We go there regularly, collecting wood on the way to light a fire and cook our barbecues. It's a very pleasant place. We always leave wood for the next people to use. There are often other hikers there at the same time as us. That was the case last Friday: they were very happy to be able to cook their food on the embers we left for them! It's a very beautiful walk. However, if you search for "Lambruisse", Visorando doesn't seem to know it...You have to ask for the circular 'Citadelle' to get the passage through Lambruisse, which could be the subject of a walk in itself.

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Michèle d'istres
Michèle d'istres

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk on mostly wide paths. As described. The idea of a picnic in the hamlet of Lambruisse is wonderful.

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karaoké13
karaoké13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful scenery and a tour of the citadel, lunch in Lambruisse. It was a most enjoyable day.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike with no navigation issues (except that we struggled at the start: you have to take the path that starts at the eastern end of the car park). Beautiful views along the route.

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omallinger
omallinger

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular starting from the Col des Portes, with no difficulty.
The first part of the route is more "wild" before arriving at much wider paths.
The Lambruisse estate is well worth seeing.

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MBL
MBL

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route up to point 3, after which it becomes less interesting as it leaves the footpath and becomes a track suitable for vehicles. Nevertheless, the Lambruise estate is still very pleasant, as is the Sinne observatory, which we will revisit during a stargazing activity.

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