Boulbon and the Moulin Bonnet

Enjoy an easy stroll through the hills of Boulbon, passing by the Moulin Bonnet.

Details

58083
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Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.10 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 449 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 446 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 486 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 36 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Boulbon (13150)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.86133° / E 4.69317°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3042OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: Place Gilles Léontin in Boulbon.

(S/E) From the car park, turn left onto Rue de l'Église, then Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, which branches off to the left. When you reach Rue de l'Enclos, turn right, then immediately left onto Rue de la Clastre.

(1) Turn right onto Chemin de la Montagne, then very quickly right onto Chemin du Prieuré, which climbs to the right towards the church and cemetery.
Go around the cemetery on the right, go through a gate and follow a path that climbs up to the right towards Moulin Bonnet.
This path was probably marked in yellow at one point, but there are hardly any trees or markings left. Continue along this path, take a sharp right turn, leave the path that branches off to the left and continue uphill on the track for about 200 metres.

(2) At the crossroads, turn right to visit Moulin Bonnet, which offers a beautiful view of the village of Boulbon.

(3) Go around the mill and retrace your steps to return to the crossroads you left earlier.

(2) Then go straight ahead on this main track to continue climbing up the ridge of the Montagnette. Ignore all the paths branching off to the right or left and stay on the main path. At one point, there will be more yellow markings. Continue until you reach a crossroads with several tracks. A small artificial reservoir on the left will serve as a landmark.

(4) Do not take the path on the left that leads to the Abbaye Saint-Michel-de-Frigolet (you can make a return trip to see it, but the markings are not good and there are many trails).
Do not take the path opposite, nor the one that branches off slightly to the right, but the one that branches off sharply to the right, marked by a cairn. It descends into the valley and is well marked in yellow until you reach the village. Descend this valley without worrying about the other paths.

(5) When you reach a bridge, take the path on the left that goes around the castle. Then take Rue Gaston Raousset opposite and then Rue du Barri, which turns right and takes you back to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 36 ft - Parking: Place Gilles Léontin
  2. 1 : mi 0.35 - alt. 39 ft - On the right, Chemin de la Montagne
  3. 2 : mi 0.97 - alt. 341 ft - On the right at the crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.14 - alt. 354 ft - Moulin Bonnet
  5. 4 : mi 2.94 - alt. 453 ft - Important crossroads
  6. 5 : mi 3.8 - alt. 105 ft - On the left on the bridge - Château de Boulbon
  7. S/E : mi 4.1 - alt. 39 ft - Parking: Place Gilles Léontin

Worth a visit

Visit the village of Boulbon and its medieval castle.

In 2002, the Moulin Bonnet underwent a complete restoration: the tower was re-roofed and the sails were replaced. It is the first windmill in the Bouches-du-Rhône to have been restored to working order.
Open to visitors every other Saturday, it is put into operation on days when the Mistral wind is blowing.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 72 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
GUYDECAUMONT
GUYDECAUMONT

A short, easy walk to get back into shape or to start again!
We did the route in reverse, starting with our feet in the water and returning via the mill!
We picked some wild asparagus along the way!

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mesokanto
mesokanto

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk with some beautiful views.

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GUYDECAUMONT
GUYDECAUMONT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy hike to get back into shape or start exercising again!

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Golanski
Golanski

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb route through the hills, where we admired the mill and splendid views of the Rhône valley and its surroundings. Visit to Boulbon Castle.

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Chris et Jim
Chris et Jim

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thanks to the very clear explanations, we completed the hike without getting lost! This was greatly appreciated.
We took the detour suggested by Moulin Bonnet to the orientation table, which was a real bonus.
A very beautiful hike in the hills.
As we've just arrived in the area, we really enjoyed this route.

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Claje
Claje

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty course in the middle of the heath
A beautiful view
Easy but not suitable for pushchairs

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Nathalie30
Nathalie30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike. Takes about 2 hours.

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manuprost
manuprost
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk during the Christmas holidays with few people around.
In summer, it must be a different story: heat (little vegetation), potentially crowded (very accessible and easy to get to).

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marie3084
marie3084

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy and enjoyable walk.
Don't miss the mill.
Suitable for children.

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Malga30
Malga30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with some nice discoveries in the village: a mill and a castle. Enjoyable with children aged 4 and 6.
On the way there, follow the signs for the Bonnet mill and be careful not to miss the descent back to the village on the right at the crossroads marked by a cairn.

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Didou30
Didou30

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike, but beware: two-thirds of the route is in direct sunlight. Best done in mid-season or early in the morning or late in the evening in summer. The nicest part is the last third, on the descent back down to the village. The start is on wide tracks (DFCI) which I didn't find particularly interesting.

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Envisageons
Envisageons

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant and peaceful hike.
Beautiful views of the region and the medieval castle.

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Azimut71
Azimut71
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

When passing through the village, do not follow the directions. The street names are correct, but their locations are not. Fortunately, there are signs to guide you.
The Bonnet mill is very charming.

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annecollongues
annecollongues

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this hike, perfect for a stroll and a view without too much effort (especially when pregnant . Note that it took me 1.5 hours walking alone, without any real breaks (except to drink and look around), and the beginning of the trail has no shade, so in summer it's best to do it early in the morning or late in the day. The wooded section comes at point 4, when you descend towards the village (amidst wonderful smells).

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billbock
billbock

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike starting from a beautiful village, few people, no particular difficulty, ideal for stretching your legs.

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