The treasure of the Little People in Fox-Amphoux

"Pass through the gate and enter the woods, kingdom of the Little People. At your side, Aguia the mischievous guide will lead you to the four Communities. Help him find the lost treasure...

Developed by the Provence Verdon Community of Communes, "Randonner Autrement" aims to introduce families to the natural heritage, outlying built heritage, landscapes and their evolution over time, as well as views of the villages, in an educational and fun way.

Details

2405643
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 53 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 53 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 486 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 449 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Family trail and treasure hunt in the woods of Fox-Amphoux on the theme of fantasy. Car park and departure point at the intersection of the RD 32 and RD 232. GPS coordinates of the departure point: 43.580734 / 6.105648

(S/E) The sign showing the route is located in the car park, but the actual starting point for the walk is a few metres to your left at the side of the road (RD32). Go through the gate, which indicates that you are entering a fantasy world. Then, throughout the walk, follow the yellow markings indicating thePR® Provence Verte et Verdon "La forêt de Fox-Amphoux" (Fox-Amphoux Forest). At certain intersections, look up into the trees to find Aguia, your guide.

(1) At the well, take the path on the right, as indicated by Aguia and the yellow markings. At the next intersection, turn right again. On the left, the small path that you should not take leads to a field. You will also notice wooden engraved signs made by the municipality of Fox-Amphoux at various points along the route. These will help you find your way.

(2) You will soon come to a road, the RD13. Just before it, turn left and take the path that runs alongside it. The road will then be on your right.

(3) The circuit passes in front of the cisterns, which are used to protect the forest against fires. Then, a huge oak tree with a yellow marker next to a picnic table at the side of the road indicates that you should take the second path on the left through the woods. Aguia is also present. At the next junction, turn left again. You are now on a forest fire defence track leading to the Chapel of Saint-Ulphar. The entrance to the track, marked in yellow, is indicated by a B0 "B zero" sign prohibiting traffic.

(4) You will arrive at the Saint-Ulphar Chapel. At the chapel, Aguia and the yellow markings indicate that you should go straight ahead at the intersection. You are now just over halfway along the route.

(5) At this point, turn left after the wooden barrier. You will soon enter an area called Estagnon or "little pond".

At the exit of the Estagnon, turn right, still following the markings. One last surprise awaits you at the final intersection. Continue straight ahead, heading to the right.

You will soon arrive at the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 471 m - Car park and hiking trail sign
  2. 1 : km 0.37 - alt. 482 m - Well
  3. 2 : km 0.84 - alt. 455 m - Path along the edge of the RD 13
  4. 3 : km 1.44 - alt. 471 m - DFCI water tanks and table at the intersection
  5. 4 : km 2.51 - alt. 479 m - Saint-Ulphar Chapel
  6. 5 : km 3.31 - alt. 452 m - Entrance to the Estagnon
  7. S/E : km 4.49 - alt. 471 m - Car park - return to the start of the circuit

Notes

Please respect other people's property and nature.
Remember to check the fire risk alert map on the Var Prefecture website and find out about hunting seasons, hunting days and battues.
Emergencies: 112
Fox-Amphoux Town Hall: 04 94 80 71 92

Picnic tables at the DFCI water tanks on the edge of the RD 13 (3), next to the Saint-Ulphar Chapel (4), in the area known as Estagnon (5)

Worth a visit

During the hike

Treasure hunt
Aguia invites you to discover the Little People and the lost treasure in a fun and educational way. There are around thirty panels, some of which are hidden, to help you solve the riddle of the table of secrets and find the treasure chest.

(S) At the start, you enter a slightly open wood. The area was burned down a few years ago. Even though nature is reclaiming its rights, the traces are still visible (dead and living trees scattered around, black trunks, low vegetation, etc.) at the start and end of the trail. The woods close in, moss and lichen cover the oak trees. Three panels introduce Aguia, the Little People and their four Communities: 'Water', 'Bush', 'Stone', 'Bark' and the story of the hidden treasure.

(1) With the context set, you will soon arrive at the well to meet the character of Bline. You are invited to find her and not forget her, because she, along with representatives of the other communities and three other guardians of memory, holds a piece of the secret message that will lead you to the treasure. Caution: do not climb on the well.

(2) On this section, the most exposed part of the trail, you will come across some magnificent oak trees. And soon, a huge stump. This was Carabougno, the patriarch of the Bark community. Before disappearing, he passed on his part of the sacred phrase to the Cabassou acorn, carried away by a jay, which you will have to find further on.

Between (3) and (4), further along the path, next to a cairn, you will meet Pèirounet, the builder of cairns. You will notice that there are many of them in these woods. A member of the Stone community, he gives you an important clue to find another member of his community: old Cabliero, keeper of the secret message.

Have you noticed the abundance of sarsaparilla in these woods? It is a climbing plant with small hooks and heart-shaped leaves. Sigo, the representative of the Bush community, is hiding behind a curtain of sarsaparilla. Go and find her.

(4) After finding Sigo, then Cabliero, you arrive at the Saint-Ulphar Chapel, which is presented on a sign by Bline. A haven of peace and coolness, you can enter the chapel. A system allows rainwater to be collected and stored in the chapel. Picnic tables behind the monument offer a place to take a break.

(5) You will encounter a dead tree that tells you news of the Cabassou acorn it saw passing through the jay's beak. The bird buried it not far from there. Cabassou must have grown into a beautiful oak tree.

You will soon enter an area called Estagnon or "little pond". Picnic tables offer another cool place to stop. Be careful. This is a basin area that floods during heavy rains and is sometimes a favourite spot for mosquitoes. As an anecdote, when the water level rises significantly, it can move the tables and a boat may be necessary to cross the Estagnon, but the site is above all a huge clearing of soft green, with magnificent oaks and hawthorns. In this meadow, you will meet Cabassou, the memory keeper of the Bark community. Once you have met the four representatives of the Little People, it is time to go on a treasure hunt. Four sighting markers in the woods will first lead you to the table of secrets. Each memory keeper will give you part of the coded phrase. Follow their instructions and look up at the trees to try to find the treasure. You will have no other clues.

Near the hike

The Provence Verdon Community of Communes belongs to the Provence Verte Verdon Land of Art and History. Discover the heritage trails of the villages: "Let us tell you about the Land of Art and History..."

Whether or not you take the car, opposite the car park, via the RD 232 climb, take the time to discover Vieux-Fox, its heritage trail "Let Fox-Amphoux tell you its story", its orientation tables, its troglodyte chapel...

Fox-Amphoux is a village made up of several hamlets.
In the hamlet of La Bréguière (town hall, school), in the former cooperative, you can discover an exhibition on dinosaurs (check with the town hall beforehand for opening times and days).
In the hamlet of Amphoux, the castle ruins have been restored to host festivals and shows.

Hikes to discover
- coming soon: Randonner Autrement "Stones and Games" trail in Tavernes
- coming soon: Randonner Autrement circuit "The slopes of history" in Pontevès. Le Petit Bessillon has been developed for the comfort and safety of hikers. Two orientation tables have been installed at the eastern summit.
- EuroVelo 8, the Mediterranean cycle route. It crosses Provence Verdon from Rians to Fox-Amphoux
- other hiking ideas can be found in thePR® guide "La Provence Verte... à pied" (Green Provence... on foot)

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 18 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Sarrade
Sarrade

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A charming and enjoyable short walk. A lovely, easy route.

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Djoulaïe
Djoulaïe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed by two adults in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Very clear signage, with signs for playing with the little people scattered regularly along the way. At this time of year, the shade was pleasant, and the clearing with the oak trees is wonderful. There are numerous picnic tables along the route. At the start, the roadside car park is large and easily accessible. In short, I recommend this short hike for a family outing or even on your own. We didn't see anyone else, which is a shame as it's not very well known.
However, be sure to bring mosquito repellent for the end of the trail, as the old pond is a breeding ground for them.

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jess2510
jess2510

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I went on this walk with my 5-year-old son and my husband. The treasure hunt is great for children, and with the heat, the fact that 99% of the route is under trees is very pleasant (but beware of mosquitoes in some places )

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Gérard Rintjema
Gérard Rintjema

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, straightforward and enjoyable walk for the whole family.

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AALEC
AALEC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb idea for a walk for children, grandchildren and adults alike. A wonderful initiative by the local council and the county. The beautiful oak clearing provides a peaceful ending to the walk. Five stars, thank you very much.
Alec

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Le piaf 83
Le piaf 83

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and enjoyable walk with children. Shady and not very busy, it's very pleasant.

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pierre.bonifay
pierre.bonifay

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant walk in the shade of an oak forest near the small village of Fox Amphoux in the Var hinterland. The Notre Dame du Bon Secours chapel is a nice place to stop for a rest.

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kiwinousse
kiwinousse
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An excellent trail that can be recommended to young and old alike. What a great initiative to have created a walk that constantly stimulates interest and curiosity and gets everyone involved.
What a pleasure to know that MAGICAL FORESTS STILL EXIST; let's hurry up and discover them!

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JeanKer
JeanKer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant walk among the oak trees. The route is well signposted. Such tranquillity!

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nenelle 75
nenelle 75

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We regretted having to walk along the road for a while. It completely ruined the magic that had been created at the start of the walk.
Perhaps another route further into the forest would be better?
Otherwise, we really enjoyed the peace and quiet of the place and all the well-designed signs.
Of course, we were lucky because we didn't meet anyone else.
The large oak tree clearing is magnificent
This is the opinion of four adults aged between 40 and 75

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fatalitas1944
fatalitas1944
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy and pleasant route - Safe - With points to keep children's attention if they are present.

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Laurence P.
Laurence P.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk in the shade of the forest, which can be important in hot weather.
As for the clues to find the treasure of the little people, they were a little too far apart for my 12- and 8-year-old children's liking: they found it a bit long.
The chapel is cute and the altar is filled with pine cones.

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223190GUY
223190GUY
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very enjoyable tour.
Best enjoyed with children aged between 5 and 10

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andréh
andréh
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a lovely little walk with no one around on a weekday at the end of February.
you can extend the walk a little by turning right at the chapel, winding your way through the undergrowth (with rosemary), and returning left at the intersection marked with a red dot to rejoin the main route. +600m approx.
Don't forget to visit the village.

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Perlipopette
Perlipopette
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A leisurely stroll enjoyed by a family of adults (all over 50!).
This treasure hunt allowed us to observe the surroundings much more closely.
We particularly enjoyed Estagnon, a very peaceful place, home to magnificent oak trees. Next time, we will take the time to sit down and share the tranquillity of this beautiful space with them.
A big thank you to the organisers and, of course, to the little people of the forest.

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