From Salon-de-Provence to Grans via small paths

Depart from the hypermarket car park, 551 Avenue du 22 Août 1944.

(S/E) Head towards Miramas and, at the roundabout, after passing under the bridge, follow the D113 to the left towards Marseille. Take care until you reach the motorway roundabout (exit 14).

(1) Take the second exit, D16, towards Grans, then immediately left onto Chemin des Crozes. Take a small tree-lined road (GR® de Pays 2013) into the village and join Chemin du Micocouliers on the left.

(2) Follow this road and continue to the bottom, passing in front of the mill (well-known locally for selling organic flour), then cross the Touloubre.

(3) Then go up Chemin du Moulin à Blé, slightly to the left, and follow it to the roundabout.

(4) Take the first exit, Avenue Germaine Ronchier, and head towards the old village of Grans. Cross the^D70E. Pass under the archway, slightly to the right, and head towards Saint-Pierre Church.

(5) Take Rue Vieille, go around the church, then turn left. Pass the bar and shops, then turn right onto Chemin des Lunières and head for the footbridge at Grand Pont.

(6) To the right of the footbridge, on the left bank, before crossing it, you will see a flood gauge and houses vulnerable to flooding from the Touloubre river. Cross the footbridge and turn left to pass in front of the village hall and the historic oil mill in Grans, which is still in working order.

(7) Continue along the Montée de la Glacière and go straight on along the Chemin des Areniers to return to Bel-Air, through quiet little lanes and beautiful farms and meadows characteristic of the Crau Verte. Continue straight ahead, even after crossing the railway line, and at the end of the road, turn left to rejoin the road between Salon-de-Provence and Miramas.

(8) Turn right and climb onto the bridge to cross the motorway. Take care on this section of road for about 700 metres. On the descent, cross carefully to reach Chemin de la Renardière on the left.

(9) Take this quiet path along the Canal des Alpines, one of the irrigation canals of Craponne, the blue gold of the Salonais region. Take the first carriageway on the right, just before a bridge.

(10) Follow it along an irrigation canal until you reach the tarmac road (Vieux Chemin d'Istres).

(11) Turn right and head towards the entrance to Salon-de-Provence and the hypermarket car park (S/E).

(3) You can leave this route to join the 18 km route that goes to Cornillon, the Mur des Abeilles, the Fossé de Cornillon and the Château de Confoux, thus making an additional circular loop.

(6) Alternative: you can make a return trip on the left bank of the Touloubre, towards the Fontaine Marie Rose, to follow the Touloubre on a shaded carriageway reserved for bicycles and pedestrians, or join the fountain car park and then return to Grans to take the Chemin des Areniers (+ 4 km).

The route starts off on the busy D113 towards Marseille, passing over the motorway and between the (8) and the (9). The rest of the route is on pleasant, quiet paths, including one that corresponds to the 2013 GR® de pays.

Pont du Moulin, Saint-Pierre Church, footbridge and flood ladder over the Touloubre, Grans oil mill.