The Saint Sixtus chapel and the "Tête du Long Jean"

The route starts from a typical village of the Alpilles, takes you past a chapel famous for its beauty in a delightful setting, and continues round a hill with views of the north slope of the ridge and the plain of Mollégès. On the return leg, there is a superb view of the old village of Eygalières.

Technical sheet

148925
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 117 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 110 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 155 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 81 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the Eygalières village hall (S). With your back to the building, head left down the "Avenue Léon Blum" towards thevillage centre.

Long-distance footpath waymarking (white and red)

(1) At the crossroads, with the town hall on the right, continue opposite on the road D24b towards Orgon.

No waymarks

After 300m, turn right down the lane "Chemin du Bagna". Further on, cross the "Chemin de Pestelade", pass alongside the houses and gardens and continue straight on for about 1.5 km. At a slight bend to the left, ignore the two lanes to the right.

(2) Continue to the left and go straight down the "Chemin de Saint-Sixte" to the chapel of the same name, which is on the left. It is seldom open but you can walk round it before continuing on your way. Rejoin road D24b.

White and red waymarking, path GR653D

(3) Follow the D24b to the right. A clearly marked path parallel to the road provides safe walking. After about 300m, cross the road and follow a firefighting access track to the left. Note the sign "Chemin de Costebonne". Stay on this track, keeping an eye out for the red and white waymarks and aiming for the power line at right angles to your route (about 1.8 km from the road).

No waymarks

(4) Head left up the path following the power line to a little outcrop of rock and one of the electricity masts. Follow a path downwards for 200m, departing a little from the power line and then returning to pass under it.

Leave this path (5) pass through a gate and follow a good track to the left (the "Piste du Long Jean") which winds its way around the foot of the hill "Le Contras". Ignore a track off to the left leading up to the "Tête du Long Jean" watchtower.

(6) Pass through a gate and turn right. Turn left after 200m. Continue on this path, whichis initially in rather poor condition. After a gentle rise, there is a wide view of the Alpilles and the village of Eygalières. The path bends to the right. Ignore a path to the right leading to the "Mas des Loups" property and head left. Continue straight on, noting the Monastery of the Epiphany and its chapel on the left (these are often open).

(7) On reaching the road, continue straight on along the "Chemin du Moulin de Marc" (signpost). Cross a bridge and shortly afterwards you will reach the road D74a - the "Route de Jean Moulin". Cross over and continue on the other side, still following the "Chemin du Moulin de Marc". This intersects with a track running a right angles to it. Aiming for the old village of Eygalières (a very fine view), continue straight on to come out on a narrow road which you take to the left. It leads to the "Porte de l'Auro" (8) (Windy Gate), the remains of a rampart. Pass through to walk down the main street through the village. On the right, note the "Pago Tard" (late payers!) square.

Red and white waymarks

At the crossroads after the church, head right along the Rue des Écoles. In passing, note an old petrol pump painted red. A little further on, level with the school, turn left to return to the car park..

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 108 m - Departure from the salle des fêtes
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 110 m - At the crossroads, continue straight ahead
  3. 2 : km 0.46 - alt. 104 m - Fork
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 125 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 2.92 - alt. 99 m - To the right, path parallel to the road
  6. 5 : km 5.09 - alt. 107 m - To the left, path beneath the high-voltage line
  7. 6 : km 5.65 - alt. 126 m - Take the track on the left
  8. 7 : km 7.35 - alt. 128 m - Barrier
  9. 8 : km 8.69 - alt. 85 m - Opposite, chemin du Moulin de Marc
  10. 9 : km 9.98 - alt. 133 m - Crossing the "Gateway to Auro
  11. S/E : km 10.36 - alt. 108 m - How to get to the car park

Practical information

At present, the long-distance route GR 653D follows the road D24b towards Orgon from the start of the "Chemin du Bagna" to the Saint Sixtus chapel. It is planned to divert the route via the "Chemin du Bagna" and the "Chemin de Saint-Sixte" (described as unmarked in my description).

In the nearby area

It is possible to turn left just after the "Porte de l'Auro", to do a little loop by the upper part of the old village. Go past the museum and climb up to the tower crowned by a statue of the virgin (there are very fine views over the Alpilles and the village).
To complete the tour of the village, continue straight on after the church as far as point (1) and return to the car park.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 82 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Jean N
Jean N

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Still this cursed route on the Orgon road after Saint Sixte. No alternative possible.
Before Eygalières, the signallers were in the process of modifying the route.
Saint Epiphanie cannot be visited.

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Teksaintmitre
Teksaintmitre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk.
The first part on a tarmac road to the chapel is a bit long, but the chapel site is very beautiful.
We climbed to the top of the Tête de Long Jean. It was a beautiful panorama: on a clear day, we could see Mont Ventoux and the snow-covered Vercors beyond. The IGN map indicates another path down, but we couldn't find the start.
The vaulted chapel of the monastery is a former sheepfold, a nun told us.
It's well worth the walk to the top of the village of Eygalières.

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lasauvagine
lasauvagine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

hello hikers
we did the route yesterday 3 Nov in beautiful sunshine
ideal for the temperature
very nice! we ended up in the old village of Eygalieres.
on the other hand, I would have put "easy" in the difficulty description
the path is well maintained and there are no major ascents or descents
you can do it with children without any problem

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alqatari
alqatari

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Easy, very pleasant ride; walked in reverse, a little too much tarmac at the end.

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michris
michris

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

it's a shame that this route starts with 3 km of tarmac, but the arrival at the chapelle saint sixte and the rest of the route make it well worth doing, and the finish in the old village of eygalieres is much appreciated.

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Croumich
Croumich

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Avoid very hot weather in summer because part of the route is on tarmac. I do this walk twice a week, just on the track from the Epiphany monastery, with a short stretch of tarmac as far as Costebonne and then nothing but track.

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MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk typical of the area
The old village is very pretty

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BLANCJOEL
BLANCJOEL

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

at the start and for 3 km the walk is on tarmac, and the last km too, what a pity! plus there's no shade on the route, so avoid it if it's hot!

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tarasconrando13
tarasconrando13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Route taken in the opposite direction - with a visit to the village and a climb up to the Virgin Mary at the start of the walk.
From the chapel of St Sixte (on our return route), the path changes: it passes through an old wash-house and then follows the narrow bed of a stream (dry, of course).
Short passage under the high-voltage power line, which can be avoided by taking a small side path.

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TG13300
TG13300

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

a leisurely stroll in the alpilles park .

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Isabelle Segretain
Isabelle Segretain

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant half-day winter walk!
Beautiful views and the village of Eygalières on the way back.

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barbbu
barbbu

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : No

Not a great circuit for me!

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tatisane
tatisane

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

we did it during the week, so it wasn't very busy
the finish in old Eygalières brings this lovely walk to a close and it's a pleasure to do it again.

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randonneusedudimanche
randonneusedudimanche

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We did it last week, so the weather was grey, which was a shame! Nothing to say about the route, we just missed the old gate at the end; we took a path to the left and arrived on the road... There's a little monastery on the way, with a simple church that was open... It took us a good 2 hours 45 minutes.

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Muzecrin
Muzecrin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant and quiet walk: the almond trees in flower around the Chapelle Saint Sixte added to the charm of this hike.
One small regret: we should have climbed up to the lookout post at Long Saint Jean, where the view must be magnificent. This would be an option for the more courageous.

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