Circular Loop of the Sources de l'Huveaune from Saint-Zacharie

Park in the car park in the La Foux Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of Saint-Zacharie heading towards Nans, 500 m after the school roundabout. It is also possible to start from a small car park about 1 km further on, on the left bank of the Huveaune, at Pont de Coulomb.

(S/E) Follow the D50 for 100 m towards Nans. Turn right and cross the Huveaune

(1) Immediately after the bridge, turn left onto the path that follows the Huveaune. Walk past the Moulin de la Sambuc restaurant and arrive at Pont de Coulomb (another possible starting point).

(2) Continue straight on along the Huveaune for about 900 m.

(3) Turn left onto the lower path, which then turns right to continue following the river, joining the^GR®9and^GRP® Sainte-Baume Circular Route after 500 m. Follow the^GR® for 2.8 km.

(4) Continue along the path, or follow the circular loop along the river, then rejoin the^GR® on the left^.

(5) Leave the^GR® before it crosses the Huveaune, and turn right onto a track. Pass a track on the right, which you will use on the return journey, and continue straight ahead.

(6) At the next fork, at the sign displaying the municipal decree on the protection of springs, follow the path to the left along the river for about 800 m to admire the magnificent travertine limestone pools.

(7) Retrace your steps back to the sign.

(6) Continue to the right for 50 m, and once you’ve rejoined the track you left on the way out, head up to the left for about 180 m. At the fork, turn right towards the north and follow the path for 1.3 km until you reach an open valley.

(8) Take the path on the right and descend into the valley. At the bottom, head left then right to join the track leading to La Taurelle, near two ruined and fenced-off buildings.
Walk past the^second building and head down towards the track.

(9) Continue straight on along the track marked with a^{PR® sign} until you reach the D480 (Route du Plan d'Aups).

(10) Turn left onto it for 20 m, then take the path on the right which climbs towards the Pas de Peyruis and follow the light blue markings which lead you to a ford (elevation 429).

(11) Cross the ford and follow the track to the left, marked in blue with the sign: Saint-Zacharie. Pass two tight bends on this track and continue for 150 m until you reach a fork.

(12) Then take the marked path on the right, which cuts across the final bend. Back on the track, continue climbing to the right until you reach the cistern (elevation 546).

(13) From the cistern, continue along the path to the left for 500 m until you reach a fork.

(14) Follow the path to the right as it descends, marked by an arrow indicating Saint-Zacharie 5.4 km away and the Source des Nayes 3.9 km away.

(15) At the fork in the tracks (elevation 421), continue right along the track that descends for 200 m, then turn left onto a small path that descends into the valley.

(16) Reach the road (elevation 349 m) and follow it to the right, going uphill to pass by the entrance to the Domaine d’Orgon (private property), then continue along the road for about 200 m to find a small path marked in blue which, for about a hundred metres, avoids walking along the roadside. Then walk another 100 m along the roadside.

(17) Take the path to the left of the road, which crosses the Ruisseau de Peyruis.
But be careful not to follow the markings that go downhill along the road.
Head back up to the right, moving away from the stream

(18) At a junction with a path coming from the left, take this path for 10 m before immediately joining another path that climbs to the right for about 350 m before reaching a wide track where you’ll find the blue markings. Follow it to the left until you reach a cistern (elevation 418).

(19) From the cistern, follow the track down for 150 m and take the path on the left, still marked in blue. After about 350 m, rejoin the^GR®9and its red and white markings.

(20) Follow it to the left and, 450 m further on, cross the track and follow the red and white markings of the GR^®.

(21) Back on a track, follow it to the right to head back down towards Saint-Zacharie, still following the^GR® markings^. You’ll reach a fork 200 m after a sharp right-hand bend.

(22) Then turn right onto the^GR®9path, which descends towards La Castillonne.

(23) Cross the private road at La Castillonne and immediately afterwards take the path on the right which will lead you back, either by following the Huveaune river or by following the path from the pumping station to the bridge you crossed at the start.

(1) Turn left and cross the river to return to the car park (S/E).

No drinking water available along the route.

In the Orgnon estate, there is a chapel which can be visited, by appointment only, on the last Saturday of each month. (Tel: 04 42 84 21 77).