Peynier aux Michels loop

A lovely, very easy family walk between Peynier and Les Michels, with an elevation gain of just 120 metres. You will pass an old miner's house, enjoy beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire and walk along an ancient Roman road, some of whose cobblestones remain.

Technical sheet

7548965
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 153 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 148 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 397 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 270 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Rousset, head towards Peynier. At the entrance to the village, turn right towards Les Michels. After about 400 metres, turn left towards Chemin du Puit de l'Auris. 200 metres further on, there is a small car park on the right.

(S/E) Take the path at the end of the car park. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, then leave the track and turn right to go around the almond tree field. Follow it to the end.

(1) At the corner of the field, turn left and join another path. Continue along the tracks to pass to the right of an old mine house. Cross an olive grove and reach a path to follow on the right. 100 m further on, turn right onto the tarmac path that passes in front of the DFCI cistern. At the next junction, follow the path on the right to Vallat du Puits de l'Auris (stream).

(2) At the three-way junction, continue on the middle path, slightly to the left, which climbs gently to the next intersection.

(3) Turn left onto the path that climbs slightly and ignore the paths branching off to the left.

(4) At the fork at the end of the climb (altitude 390 m), turn right and continue straight ahead for 1.4 km until you reach a three-way junction.

(5) Descend gently to the right towards Les Michels. Enjoy a beautiful view of Sainte-Victoire.

(6) At the tarmac road, turn right. The tarmac gives way to a dirt track. Continue for about 200 m and follow the path that descends to the left and then climbs up the hill.

(7) At the top, turn left onto a path that quickly turns right. Follow it until the path passes between mounds of artificial earth.

(8) Take the small path on the right (yellow and red markings on a tree). After 50 metres, follow the path down to the left. Ignore a path on the left and then on the right and walk past the vineyards. Notice the traces of the old Roman road on the ground with large flat stones. Continue along this small path, which turns right, until you reach the path you started on. Continue to the left and return to the car park at Chemin du Puit de l'Auris (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 281 m - Car park at Chemin du Puits de l'Auris
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 293 m - End of the olive grove
  3. 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 306 m - Three-way junction. Stream
  4. 3 : km 1.63 - alt. 342 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 2.73 - alt. 392 m - Fork
  6. 5 : km 4.14 - alt. 340 m - Turn right
  7. 6 : km 4.91 - alt. 287 m - Intersection
  8. 7 : km 5.88 - alt. 324 m - Fork
  9. 8 : km 6.7 - alt. 279 m - Turn right
  10. S/E : km 7.78 - alt. 282 m - Car park at Chemin du Puits de l'Auris

Practical information

This family walk is easy, alternating between forests and fields planted with vines, olive trees and almond trees. You will pass by the Puits de l'Auris and see the remains of an ancient Roman road.
You can shorten the walk by taking shortcuts.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 27 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
MALTERRE Thierry
MALTERRE Thierry

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

nice walk, 2 hours. It is necessary to have the app on your mobile phone as many trails intersect along the route.

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Jeanlin
Jeanlin

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk that started mid-morning and took 1 hour 50 minutes. We walk quickly, but the route is well suited to this.
There are lots of paths, but with the app, it's an easy walk without getting lost. We recommend it.

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KrisVal
KrisVal

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Short, easy walk
Great if you have children as it is easy

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cornille
cornille

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

i had a lot of difficulty doing this hike because there were often several paths in the woods and few landmarks to distinguish between them and choose which one to take, especially from point 4 onwards!
I came back by road because it was impossible to find the path; the ground had been recently ploughed and it was impossible to see anything...
I should add that I am a beginner when it comes to using the app...

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SGRG
SGRG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk for novice walkers.

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Chantal&Olivier
Chantal&Olivier

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice for a little afternoon stroll

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cc_ribas
cc_ribas

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Easy walk. Past fires, by destroying the vegetation, have revealed the impressive work of ancient farmers who built terraces that abound.

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doud2103
doud2103

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant hike in February.
Perfect for children aged 8-10 and above.

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Darkhann
Darkhann

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Easy family walk

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anne-richard
anne-richard

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Many paths cross each other. You really need to follow the route and its trail carefully so you don't get lost.
A beautiful, easy and pleasant walk.

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Catherine léger
Catherine léger

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We're not going to lie to you, we got lost... but we reread and reread and looked at the map. Finally, we found where we had misinterpreted the description and ended up on the right path. The interpretation of a three-way junction made us laugh; my husband and I didn't see the same animal... we're going to do it again, and get it right the first time this time!

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MIW
MIW

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A family walk, shaded in summer, also suitable for an autumn afternoon.

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Petrucio
Petrucio

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

An interesting hike with a beautiful view of Sainte Victoire. But:
1) Between points 1 and 2, what does "follow the trail" mean? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say: "continue straight ahead, leaving a magnificent oak tree on your right, to reach the botanical trail and take it on the left"?
2) If you pass point 1, then 2, then 3 in order, when you reach 4 you turn right and not left as written in the description. Moreover, this intersection is quite far from the end of the climb. It is closer to point 3.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely little walk, with no difficulties. Some beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire and pleasant woodland. The map is more or less OK (but 20 metres before point 4, you must turn right, not left, as shown on the map).

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Micka Macabi
Micka Macabi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Strangely enough, there were two of us using Visorando, and one had nine stages and the other had eight stages.

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