Circular route between Le-Bar-sur-Loup and Gourdon

Start from the car park at the Le-Bar-sur-Loup cemetery. 

(S/E) Follow Avenue du Souvenir Français northwards, keeping the cemetery on your right. Continue along Chemin de Bessurane to Chapelle Saint-Claude (marker 19).

(1) Then turn left and immediately take a path on the left. Climb steadily. Just before marker 18, at the top of the climb and before reaching the plateau, you can see the concrete water pipe buried underground.

(2) At marker 18, continue straight ahead and follow the^GR®®51(red and white markings, direction "Canal du loup") to the north-west. A few cemented mouths will be visible along this path, which follows the buried canal and is relatively flat here.  Shortly afterwards, you will see the village of Gourdon overlooking the valley on your right, as well as the canal above ground. On this flat section of the buried canal, walk under the relative cover of the trees.

(3) There are two options: either follow the path or go down the five steps leading to an unlit tunnel through which the canal runs. At the tunnel exit, rejoin the path and cross a wooden bridge over the Riou de Gourdon (a pleasant spot to stop).

(4) At marker 4, take the left-hand side of the Chemin du Paradis, which climbs towards Gourdon. Climb up to the Aqueduc du Foulon, where you will find a water source.

(5) Cross the canal and take the path that climbs to the right: the canal is now visible and runs below the path. Climb steadily, following the winding path, until you reach Gourdon.   At the last bend, you can admire the buildings of Gourdon clinging to the rocky outcrops. Take the opportunity to visit the village, which is very popular in the summer season. Go around the village on the right to arrive near the castle (very pretty view of the Pre-Alps and the Mediterranean from Nice to the Estérel).

(6) Descend to the right along the Montée du Village. Cross the roundabout (marker 7) and take the road opposite, towards Caussols. At the end of the bend, on the left, take a path to the right of the road, which cuts across the bend to the next bend. When you reach a fork, cross the road, following the yellow markings opposite.

(7) At marker 8, take the "soft mobility" path, Chemin de Naouq, located below the road. Pass marker 13, continuing straight ahead towards Embarnier, Caussols, Bois de Gourdon, then a wash house with two parallel basins on the right.

(8) In front of a DFCI basin, at marker 14, take the wide DFCI path on the left to cross a small stone bridge, heading towards Bois de Gourdon, La Sarrée, and Grasse. The track is relatively wide, winding along flat ground and passing through wooded plateaus. On your right, the DFCI is lined with large boulders, and you will come across what appears to be an old quarry, one of whose boulders is topped by a massive stone cross. Reach marker 15, which is located at the end of a bend, where a massive juniper tree is planted.

(9) Leave the track and take a narrow path on the left towards Bar-sur-Loup, La Sarrée and Grasse. At the start of this path, you will see large flat granite slabs on the ground. The path is lined with rockroses and deciduous trees, such as oaks.

(10) After a few metres, cross the track (Chemin de la Laouve) and keep going, following the yellow and white markings (path opposite).

(11) Continue downhill to the next intersection: be careful, the path is very uneven, with lots of stones. Then take the wide track on the right. You will reach a car park: at the top of the car park, a very narrow path leads to the D3. Cross it with caution.

(12) At marker 17, head towards the Canal du Loup and the DFCI Garagaï Van106 track (direction indicated as Le-Bar-sur-Loup via Chemin de Bouscarle).

(13) At the next intersection, continue downhill (narrow path on the right; yellow markings or white stripe with a red dot in the centre) until you reach a road. Turn right onto the road.

(14) At marker 23, leave the road and take the path that is closed to cars and motorbikes except 4x4s and trial bikes (path with two wide concrete strips, continuing as a dirt and gravel path). Reach marker 22, behind which the canal is visible in its aerial section.

(15) Follow the path towards the Canal du Loup, Le-Bar-sur-Loup. Continue until you reach a tarmac road: Chemin de Bouscarle. Leave the path on your left, marked at its entrance by marker 18a, and continue downhill on the tarmac road (little traffic, residential area). The markings are always yellow until you return to the village. Walk past houses and long cypress hedges, then arrive at a fairly steep descent, leaving the various streets on the right and then on the left.

(16) When you reach the Chapelle Saint-Michel, take the road on the left. Pass marker 21 at the entrance to a car park, then the police station and the pharmacy. Please note: there is no pavement, so walk past the Place de la Chapelle des Sœurs Trinitaires, take Rue du Général de Gaulle (going up on the left), and you will come out onto the village square with the town hall and a bistro on your right. Follow the main road down towards the cemetery and the Pont du Loup bridge to quickly reach the car park (E).

There are two water points along the hike: at the Foulon aqueduct (just before crossing the aqueduct) between points (4) and (5), and in the village of Gourdon.
Easy parking in the village of Bar-sur-Loup near the cemetery: either Avenue du Souvenir Français (recommended) or Avenue de Yorktown. (Coming from Pont de Loup: there is a car park after the Groupe Scolaire Amiral de Grasse, on the right-hand side of the road).

It is possible to start at Gourdon, but this will require ending the hike with a climb between the villages of Bar-sur-Loup and Gourdon.

Don't hesitate to visit the pretty villages of Gourdon and Bar-sur-Loup.
There are many craft shops in Gourdon.