Défens d'Eyguières - Lamanon, Grottes de Calès

Description

Start from the Fontaine des Bormes in the REYRE quarter of Eyguières. Well over half the route follows the long-distance path GR6 (red and white markings).
Head up the road away from the town centre, past the Calvary cross on the left and follow the road round to the right.
At the junction, head left towards the Fontaine de Gilouse.
Cross over the Canal des Garrigues.

(1)At the Fontaine de Gilouse, take the lane opposite towards Lamanon.
Where the lane heads left at the intersection after 400 m, stay on the GR6. The route is well marked and for a while follows the overhead power lines.

(2)At the top, you arrive at a black pylon. Turn left, then right after 50 m.
After the mast, bear right, still on the GR6. Carry on.

(3)Careful! On a wide bend on the way down, take the GR6 to the right. (If you miss it, you can pick it up again by turning right at the next intersection).
Pass in front of the cistern and follow the GR6 to the left as far as the Grottes de Calès site.
N.B. Access to the site is forbidden by municipal order following rock falls.
You can find information and a map of the site on the blog of the Association Calès-Saint Denis. The address is given in the "Useful information" section.

(4)Return to the cobbled path leading down to Lamanon. You are no longer on the GR6. At the car park, go down the lane "Montée de Calès". At the bottom, at the Place du Cabaret, turn right down the main street.
Pass the church and the castle. You are now on the Eyguières road.

(5)Take the path to the right level with the road sign. This is a nature trail. Follow the main track. After 1500 m cross over a wide lane beneath an overhead power line. Continue straight on to the end of the lane.

(6)Turn right, pass in front of the cistern to reach an intersection with three lanes after 15 m. Take the leftmost lane and follow it for 2000 m. At an intersection, keep right.

(7)On reaching a water point covered in graffiti, start up the concrete road leading up to the right. After 10 m, take a path heading off to the left. At the end of the path (which leads down to the left), take the lane heading right and continue along it.

(8)Follow the track which leads past private residences.
At the end of the Vallée des Baux canal, return to the Fontaine des Bormes.