Canal de Marseille walks

Leaving from Ventabren, a walk in the surrounding hills and then along the Canal de Marseille and ending at the Aqueduc de Roquefavour.

This hike offers three different environments: first in the woods, then on a plateau with very little vegetation, and finally on a hillside with breathtaking views. The start is initially a single track climbing to the height of the Roquevafour aqueduct. The path then widens considerably and is very easy to walk on. After the Domaine de Meynes, the landscape changes to a plateau.

An easy, family-friendly hike in a little-visited mountain range along the refreshing banks of the Durance. 15/05/2024: Route modified in (10) to avoid walking along the D66E.

Short, easy hike with a steady climb at the start. Views of the Durance, the Luberon and Mont Ventoux. After the hike, you can visit the12th-century Silvacane Abbey with its simple, perfect architecture.

Come and discover part of the Chaîne des Côtes, a 10 km long and 6 km wide mountain range separating the Touloubre Valley from the Durance, at the exit of the village of La Roque d'Antéron, very close to Silvacane Abbey. The start and finish are in the holiday village of La Baume.

This short hike is ideal for a family outing in open countryside (avoid days when the mistral wind is blowing). In summer, you may encounter a herd of red goats on the plateau. These are Rove goats. This hike is dotted with information panels about the environment.

A short hike along the Marseille Canal in the heath.

From the Grand Arbois plateau to the barren landscape and green, lightly wooded valleys, this hike offers beautiful panoramic views of the Arc valley, Sainte-Victoire and L'Étoile.

This is a two-part hike, with a shaded and refreshing first section along the banks of the Canal de Marseille to the Roquefavour Aqueduct. The second part offers a more desert-like landscape on the wide tracks that criss-cross the Plateau du Grand Arbois and pass through the Jas des Vaches. There are varied landscapes throughout the hike.

Hike on the central part of the Arbois plateau with a variety of views: Marseille canal, ruins, Arbois plateau, pine forests, cliffs, Étang de Berre. Return via the charming Mion valley, which is covered in its entirety on this hike. Despite its length, this walk is not difficult and can be shortened or lengthened.

From the Cistercian abbey of Silvacane to the village along the Durance. An easy walk combining history and nature. Moderator's note: this is a fairly old hiking guide; please refer to the comments at the bottom of this page

Walk through a little-known public park offering splendid views of Marseille and its harbour. Urban hike with three geocaches for enthusiasts.

A short walk of about an hour. Beautiful views of the Luberon and the villages of Vaucluse.

A varied hike between the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Anne de Goiron and the ridge line of the Côtes mountain range, which offers beautiful panoramic views: from Mont Ventoux to the Massif de l'Étoile and beyond to the Étang de Berre, passing through the mountains of the Haut Verdon.

A beautiful hike along the cliffs of Rognac: superb views of the town of Rognac with the Étang de Berre lagoon and the surrounding towns of Vitrolles, Berre and Velaux.

Hike from Silvacane Abbey (worth visiting) and climb up to the ridges for beautiful views of the Luberon, Mont Ventoux and the Alps. The descent through the Castellas valley, which follows the bed of a torrent, is tricky in places but possible in dry weather.

This short, very easy hike on a wide, even trail is ideal for a family outing. Avoid it on mistral days and in summer, as there is no shade and the plateau is very exposed to the wind. Beautiful unobstructed views of Aix-en-Provence, Éguilles, the Chaîne de l'Étoile, Gardanne and Sainte-Victoire.

This route will take you past Mont Trésor, Cuou de Peyrou, the Marseille Canal and the Sainte-Anne Chapel in Goiron, with beautiful views of the Durance plain, the Luberon, the village of Malemort, etc.

A very pleasant walk that first takes us to the Croix de Saint-Marcel, where there is a superb view over the Huveaune valley as far as Sainte-Baume to the east and the bay of Marseille to the west. It continues along a little-used path towards the old castrum of Saint-Marcel. Please note: read the reviews carefully before setting out on this hike. The section between (6) and (7) is very ‘wild’, and at several points the path disappears completely. You are in the Calanques National Park, which is subject to specific regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a fine of up to €1,500.

An easy walk along a wide DFCI track.

Set in the Calanques National Park, this challenging hike involves climbing the Sommet de Marseilleveyre and Béouveyre, which offer two superb vantage points over Marseille and the islands. Crossing the Pas du Pin, along with several sections involving climbing up and down rocky terrain, add a challenging element to this route, which should only be attempted if you are comfortable on rocky terrain. You are in the Calanques National Park, which is subject to specific regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a fine of up to €1,500.

An alternative route around La Roque-d'Anthéron with a 300 m climb to the Rocher du Castellas, which we did not want to go to the end of for safety reasons, although it is quite possible without difficulty (if you are careful). The view from the top is worth the trip.

It’s a short but somewhat strenuous hike, offering magnificent views of Marseille. It consists largely of DFCI trails and a few single tracks, but overall it’s very easy to walk. The hike includes a few short technical sections, but nothing too difficult. There’s also a short tarmac section with some steep gradients.