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Park in the Notre-Dame de Salagon car park near Mane.
(S/E) Take theGR®653D, marked in red and white, following the road towards the south-west. You will reach the calvary.
(1) Take the track that descends to the left. 50 metres further on, on the left side of the path, you will see a water reservoir gallery. Then turn right and head towards the 12th or 13th century Romanesque bridge.
(2) Cross the bridge and, further on, turn right and climb up onto theGR®653D. Turn left at the first crossroads, cross Rabol, Les Craux and then Le Petit Sauvan.
(3) Turn left and, at the top of the hill, enjoy the view of Mane and Forcalquier, the Lure mountain and the Alps. Continue straight on theGR® and you will reach a crossroads.
(4) This small path on the left leads to a half-ruined drystone shelter and the old quarries.
Continue following the markings to reach the Porchères Chapel.
(5) Enjoy the visit before continuing on theGR®653D, ignoring all the paths branching off to the right or left, to reach the crossroads at the water treatment plant in a place called Le Pigeonnier.
(6) Take the road on the right and climb towards the village of Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire. Once you reach Rue Grande (D5), continue left to finish crossing the village.
(7) At the village exit, continue to follow theGR® trail by taking the road on the right, which indicates the direction of the Reculon ford. At the junction ofthe GR® andPR® trails (elevation 549), turn left to reach the Chapelle Saint-Paul chapel.
(8) Still on theGR®, take the path on the left towards the Reculon ford, cross the hamlet of Les Craux and continue south to the crossroads.
(9) Here, you have two options:
- take the path on the right, leaving theGR® for a short while to reach the D4100 (option shown on the map);
- stay on theGR® via the path on the left. The only advantage of following theGR® is that it takes you to the road at the Prieuré d'Ardène, where there is a chapel. However, this is private property and cannot be visited. In addition, you will have to walk along the road for about 300 metres.
(10) Cross the D4100 and rejoin theGR® which runs along the road below to arrive, further on, at the Reculon ford. Rejoin the D4100.
(11) At the crossroads, cross the D4100 (take care) and take the D105 opposite (towards Saint-Michel). 200 metres further on, follow theGR® on the left, a mule track that climbs towards the village of Lincel. Cross a small road and continue uphill opposite to join another road.
Leave theGR® and turn right, following the yellow marked trail (PR®). You will reach the Grand-Fontaine spring, which includes a cistern, a wash house and various basins.
(12) Continue along the path that goes around the hill to reach the well below a house.
(13) Continue along the path to reach the tarmac road.
(14) Turn left towards Lincel, then quickly turn right onto the path. Go straight ahead at the fork immediately after. This is the least interesting part of the route. Walk along the hamlet of La Blancharde, then turn right towards the Ravin de Valvinière.
(15) At the crossroads, go straight ahead to reach the end of a stony path.
(16) Leave the road and follow the path on the left until you reach the D5. Cross it at the Croix du Chêne crossroads, first turn right then left to follow the path towards Saint-Michel. Pass through Chemin des Plaines to reach Chemin des Eyssards.
(17) Do not turn right towards Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, but continue straight ahead. You will reach the boundary wall of the Observatoire de Haute Provence.
(18) Walk along the right-hand side and you will arrive in front of the buildings. Further on, turn left onto the path that descends towards Saint-Michel. Turn left across the field to join the D305, which is the road to the Observatory.
(19) Turn left onto the road and then immediately leave it to take the road on the right (yellow markings), towards Forcalquier. Leave the access road to the Chapelle Saint-Jean on your left, turn left at the junction just after and reach the bottom of the Ravin de l'Été valley.
(20) Go up the path opposite to arrive in front of the Châteauneuf estate. Cross the small road and take the path opposite, which runs alongside it for about a hundred metres before turning sharply left.
(21) Turn right to pass under a shed, then right again to reach Ravin de Pinet. Continue straight ahead to reach the River Laye. Cross the bridge and go up the road on the right to reach the first crossroads.
(1) Turn left to return to the car park where you started (S/E).
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Moderate 
Association / Club / Walk leader
