From Pichauris to Le Ratier, at the foot of Mont Julien

From Allauch, follow the Route des Thermes (D908) towards Peypin and Cadolive. At the Auberge de Pichauris, turn right onto the D46A. Park in the free car park near the park’s large gate.

(S/E) From the car park, head east along the path that runs alongside the D46A. At a bend, cross the road and go through the barrier to take the path opposite, which leads into the forest, following a stream bed.

(1) Turn left onto the path that climbs northwards and moves away from the stream bed.

(2) Turn right, pass under a high-voltage power line, then turn left onto the wide track that climbs gently.

(3) At the fork in the road, turn left to reach an open area planted with olive trees.

(4) Keep to the left and you’ll come across two restored wells on the Domaine de la Bastidonne. Continue along the track heading north. Ignore the paths to the left and right and you’ll reach fire hydrant no. 478

(5) Turn right onto the wide track, then left at the Fork in the road (elevation 415). Admire Mont Julien, and further on, opposite, the Sainte Victoire mountain. Ignore the paths to the left and right and arrive at the Route des Thermes D908 (elevation 393). Cross it carefully to take the DFCI track (ET215) opposite, which winds its way up before levelling out with Mont Julien in your sights.

(6) Keep strictly to the left at the track junction (elevation 421) and pass by fire tank no. 521. Turn right at the hairpin bend and go round the back of the tank. Further on, you’ll reach fire tank no. 602 and a signpost (elevation 522)

(7) Turn left towards Pichauris. The path descends, passes under a high-voltage pylon, then climbs again before levelling out. You’ll reach a signpost.

(8) Turn left, heading south-east, following a cairn and yellow markings. Join a DFCI track.

(9) Turn right onto the track, then 30 m further on turn right (elevation 411) onto the path that passes next to a pole and heads towards the valley. Cross an old limestone quarry. The path then becomes a stream bed with denser vegetation. Pass over a few flat, smooth rock slabs (watch out for slipping)

(10) Take a sharp left-hand bend onto the path that climbs through the vegetation (marked with purple dots). About a hundred metres further up, look out for a karstic cave on the right. You’ll reach a DFCI track; turn left onto this track. Pass two fire cisterns, nos. 523 and 522, in succession. Turn right at a track junction to reach the D908 road.

(11) Cross it carefully and turn right at the signpost. After about 50 m, take the path on the left which leads away from the road.

(12) Turn right, following the yellow and red markings. Keep to the right at all times.

(13) Keep to the right, pass by an observation post, then head down a less visible path towards the Auberge de Pichauris. Turn left into the Jarret riverbed. Join the road again at the bridge, pass by Andréa’s well, then head to the car park (S/E).

Warning: in the Ratier area (points (6) to (10)), wild boar drives are organised every Tuesday and Friday from September to March . Do not venture into this area.

To simplify the route and alter the final descent from point (13), instead of turning right towards the observation post, you can head straight on, heading south. Then follow the path down to the D 46A. Cross the road carefully and follow the path alongside it back to the car park (reversing the start of the route).

It is possible to shorten this walk by 3 km (by omitting the Ratier section) by continuing straight on from the point (9) to rejoin the DFCI track, which you should take to the left.

For reference: the author’s time for this route was 4h00 (excluding a lunch break)

Mont Julien, the Grotte des Voleurs, the Grotte des Fées