Circular Sainte-Victoire and bottom of Lake Bimont

Park in the upper Aurigon car park, leaving the first car park on your right.

(S/E) Go to the end of the car park and pass the two retractable bollards that prevent vehicles from passing. Cross the concrete bridge and then take the small wooden footbridge on the right to cross the large meadow towards the north-east. Enjoy the view of Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Reach the end of the meadow and cross the bridge.

(1) Take the uphill track on the right marked with green lines and the^GR® 653A: this crossroads is also used on the way back.
Climb up the track. At the hairpin bend to the right, go straight ahead on the path that continues eastwards. This is a shortcut that rejoins the track a little further on.

(2) Continue east on the track that takes you near the Hameau du Trou and the Refuge Cézanne. Leave them on your right and head north.

(3) Leave the track and take the path that winds between the low walls of old terraces. As you cross the ridge, take a look at the rock called "Le Baiser" (The Kiss). Follow the path up through the rocks called "Pas du Dinosaure" (Dinosaur's Footsteps). You will come to a crossroads.

(4) (546m) Take the path on the right marked "Difficult" and marked with red lines. You will soon reach the "Pas du Berger". This is a fairly vertical slab of about 5m which is climbed on the left and then to the right (good holds on the right). The trail is then steep, turning right after a ledge, then left onto slabs. Follow the markings carefully to Pas du Moine, where you will reach the Imoucha trail.

(5) (767 m) Here you will discover the northern slope of the mountain. Head for the wall above you. Instead of following the blue markings, turn left, heading due east, and walk along the wall, first at the bottom and then at the top, until you reach the white-red marked trail, which is the^GR® 9, Chemin des Venturiers.

(6) Descend this path, which becomes a rescue track. The descent is steep until you reach a hairpin bend to the right.

(7) (370 m) Take the unmarked path on the left, leaving the^GR®9here, which climbs slightly at the beginning, through the undergrowth. The path then descends, passes along the edge of a field and runs alongside a river called La Cause. Follow the river and cross it twice. You are now following a track on the left bank. Leave it by turning north to enter the land left vacant when the lake was drained.

(8) Cross the ruined bridge. Continue to the centre of the empty lake to reach the gorges.

(9) The landscape opens up onto a vast space overlooked by the dam. Two posts have remained there since the reservoir was filled. Pass by the metal post and continue south-west. Head back up towards the bank because if you stay at the bottom until you reach the dam, you will not be able to climb back up due to unstable cliffs.

(10) Follow the edge of the vegetation towards the south and descend as soon as possible into the dry valley. Walk up the valley from the bottom. At the edge of the vegetation, take the unmarked path uphill.

(11) Cross the Imoucha Trail (351m) and continue climbing south-southeast. You are now in the Vallon de la Dispute.
You will come to a fairly level track. Turn right, heading due west. Five minutes later, the track descends.

(12) Turn left and take a track that descends. You will see a few green dots and the^GR® 653A markers. At the bottom of a concrete track, you will find yourself in an old shooting range, the eastern part of which is sometimes off-limits (275m). Cross it towards the south, taking the path that is slightly to the left of the previous track. Follow the stream to the initial crossroads.

(1) Go around the meadow on the left along the stream via a path to reach the car park. (S/E).

The Imoucha trail is closed. More information here.

Please note: there is no path at the bottom of the lake as the area has been under water for 60 years. If it has rained recently, there is a risk of getting stuck. Do not venture out alone.

Please note: between¹ June and 30 September, access to the forest areas is regulated by prefectural decree. Please consult the official website.

Please note: The Prieuré de Sainte-Victoire has reopened, but access is restricted; please consult this page for more information.

• No water source, no shelter.

• Good footwear for rocky terrain, sun protection.

• Climbing the Pas du Berger may be difficult for some people, who will need to be secured.

• Be prepared to cross the river: in certain conditions, you will need to wade through the water between (8) and (10).

• After (7), if the water level in the lake prevents you from continuing the hike, there is an alternative route: join the D10 road to the north at its junction with the^GR® 9, take bus 140 (Cabassol stop) towards Aix, where you can take bus 110 towards Puyloubier. Get off at the Aurigon car park in Roques-Hautes. If the Bimont dam is open, i.e. on Saturdays and Sundays during the works, until 2019, you can also join the D10 then the D10f, cross the dam and reach the (12).

• To avoid the lake, you can choose to reach the starting point via the Imoucha Trail. From the (5), turn left and reach the (11) by following the blue markings.

The article "la" is not used before Sainte-Victoire: say "A walk to Sainte-Victoire" or "A walk to Montagne Sainte-Victoire".

• TheRoman aqueduct pier at the entrance to the car park.
• (1) Location of a resurgence; when it is dry, it is fed by Lac du Bimont, if it is full.
• (3) The hamlet of Le Trou, in ruins except for the Refuge Cézanne, which is locked. If you have time, visit this hamlet: chapel vault, threshing floor, well, building remains, viewpoint. You can make a circular tour by taking the metal stairs.
• Between (3) and (4), take a look at the rock called "Le Baiser" (The Kiss), where you can see a couple kissing when you look at it from above, about a hundred metres away. The woman is on the left and has her arm around the man's neck.
• (5) The Mur du Pré des Moines has been restored. An information plaque is affixed to the western end.
• (5) From this point, you can take a detour via the Priory (Imoucha trail marked in blue) and the Croix de Provence (marked in red and white), then descend via the Priory and the red and white marked trail to (6). Allow an extra hour to enjoy the scenery. Please note that you should check this website to see if the Priory is open.
• Between (8) and (10), you can find freshwater shells.
• Between (10) and (12), at an altitude of 351 metres, you can follow the Imoucha Trail to reach the Bimont Dam. If it is open (only on weekends until 2019), you can cross it to reach a fountain before the Bimont car park. Allow an extra 40 minutes. On the right bank (north), just after the dam, there is also an orientation table and information panels about the Canal de Provence and the dam.