Circular Saint-Pons route towards Coursegoules MR

Circular walk starting from the new car park in Saint-Pons (commune of Gréolières) towards Coursegoules, passing under the Cheiron. A very varied route passing by the 6th-century Saint-Michel Chapel. Return via the Chemin de l'Autreville and the Vespluis and Taillet valleys, with a small ford that is easy to cross. Ideal for a full day out with a nice stop in Coursegoules: restaurant or picnic, bakery and water point.

Details

64719332
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 586 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 586 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,203 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 783 m

Description of the walk

Car park opened in 2024 at the foot of the village of Saint-Pons, plenty of spaces.

(S/E) At marker 178, head towards Coursegoules, following the yellow markings. Climb a small hill for 150 metres and then turn right after the reservoir. Pass the junction at marker 179 and continue to the next one.

(1) At marker 180, turn left towards Small Pass of Gilibert - Col de Coursegoules, a beautiful spot for a break.

(2) Continue left following the yellow markings. After a meadow, the path widens and leads to some pretty terraces.

(3) Continue eastwards, following the yellow markings (some of which are missing in places); a few cairns make up for this. The path becomes wide and easy to follow to reach the Chapelle Saint-Michel.

(4) Coursegoules is in front of you. Continue to reach the small ford on the Foussa.

(5) Cross it and take the small path that turns to the right (south-west) and, via a few steps, arrive at Coursegoules on the square with boules courts, benches and water: an ideal place for a picnic.

(6) Go down to the bottom of the village via various shortcuts across the streets and arrive at Rue de la Placette.

(7) Take it to the left, then turn right towards Chemin Neuf. Follow it, turning right, and you will reach the D8, Route du Ferrage, which you follow until you reach a roundabout (marker 16).

(8) Turn right in front of the old mill towards "l'Autreville - la Colette" via the small Route du Moulin and continue to the bend heading due north (marker 17).

(9) Leave the small road, turn left towards Saint-Pons and arrive at a small ford.

(10) Cross it and go around L'Autreville on the right. The path becomes more difficult for 1 km. Continue north-west to a new ford, that of Vallon de Vespluis and Taillet, to reach La Ganière.

(11) Cross it and continue opposite, following the yellow markings until you reach marker 180.

(1) Continue straight ahead and retrace your steps to reach the new Saint-Pons car park in Gréolières (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 783 m - New car park in Saint-Pons in Gréolières.
  2. 1 : km 1.1 - alt. 922 m - Marker 180
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 1,037 m - Collet de Gilibert
  4. 3 : km 2.6 - alt. 1,057 m - Terraces
  5. 4 : km 5.04 - alt. 1,133 m - Saint-Michel Chapel
  6. 5 : km 6.14 - alt. 1,013 m - Ford on the Foussa
  7. 6 : km 6.33 - alt. 1,028 m - Boules court
  8. 7 : km 6.46 - alt. 1,006 m - Rue de la Placette
  9. 8 : km 6.81 - alt. 955 m - Roundabout (marker 16)
  10. 9 : km 7.13 - alt. 962 m - Marker 17
  11. 10 : km 7.68 - alt. 969 m - Ford
  12. 11 : km 10.22 - alt. 929 m - Ford - Ganière (rivière)
  13. S/E : km 12.05 - alt. 783 m - New car park in Saint-Pons in Gréolières.

Notes

Coursegoules: water point on the boules court, benches and bakery.

Worth a visit

(4) 6th-century Saint-Michel Chapel, restored in 1980.

(6) Coursegoules: worth seeing, the castle which has become a church and multipurpose hall, north gate, town hall square.
House of Diane de Poitiers (the gate), the wash house, the façade of the Freinet School. All in the village.
Around Coursegoules: Roman road, well and aqueduct.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
diy06
diy06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It is better to allow seven hours rather than five for this hike, including one hour for lunch in Coursegoules.

Machine-translated

isa du sud
isa du sud

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Route suitable for mid-season. This year, May is not too hot.

Machine-translated

laurent.carraro
laurent.carraro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with beautiful views and the chance to discover the pretty village of Coursegoules.
Wear sturdy shoes, as some of the slopes are rocky.

Machine-translated

dayson
dayson
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route that is accessible to all.

Machine-translated

yvesmunier
yvesmunier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Delicate, even slippery passage to the place known as Autrville

Machine-translated

vidji7
vidji7

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Doing it in reverse and starting from Coursegoules is a pleasant alternative if you already know the area or if the weather is overcast. For those who are unfamiliar with the area and if the weather is fine, opt for the Baisse du Vierou hike, which offers much more panoramic views. Thank you for sharing.

Machine-translated

renato52
renato52

With Visorando, you can select the "Go to departure point" option, which is very handy and would have taken you to this car park without any problems.

Machine-translated

josefa Andreu
josefa Andreu

A very beautiful hike with a visit to Coursegoules, and I added the Autreville archaeological site, which is located next to the return route.
Hike completed on 29/10/2024

Machine-translated

patouschmol
patouschmol

Overall rating : 3 / 5

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

Very poor directions for the starting point in Gréolières. The turn-off for the St Pons car park is not in Gréolières at all, but 2.7 km before it, on the road to Coursegoules.

Machine-translated

hubpliss
hubpliss

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Done today. Nice route. Visiting Coursegoule halfway through is a good idea.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.