Défens d'Eyguiéres - Lamanon les Grottes de Calès (alternative route)

Alternative route to the Défens d'Eyguiéres - Lamanon les Grottes de Calès hike. It bypasses the caves, which are closed to visitors, and passes in front of the chapel and the spring.
Hike starting from Eyguiéres with its two fountains, Bormes and Gillouse.
Walk in Défens d'Eyguiéres, beautiful views of the ruins of Roquemartine Castle, the Durance Valley and, in good weather, Mont Ventoux.
Return via the olive groves of Défens d'Eyguières.

Details

n°852275

Creation:
30 Oct 2017

Last update:
14 Nov 2017

Last review:
13 Jan 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 13.30 km
Average duration: 4h 30
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 238 m
Descent: - 238 m
Highest point: 308 m
Lowest point: 96 m

Country: France
Area: Alpilles
District: Eyguières (13430)
Start/End: N 43.696029° / E 5.036861°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3143OT
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park at Fontaine des Bormes, Faubourg Reyre, in the village of Eyguières. The trail follows the^GR®6for a good half of the hike.

(S/E) Go up the road opposite the town centre, leave the calvary on your left, and the road turns to the right. You will reach the Oratoire crossroads.

(1) Turn left towards the Fontaine de Gillouse. Cross the Canal des Heaths and arrive at the Fontaine de Gillouse.

(2) Take the path on the right towards Lamanon. After 400 metres, at the intersection, the path branches off to the left. Continue on the^GR®6. The path is well marked. Follow the high-voltage power line for a while to reach the black pylon at the top.

(3) Turn left and then right 50 metres further on. After the antenna, turn right, still on the^GR®6, and join a large curve to the right.

(4) Take the^GR®6on the right. You will come out at the cistern at the edge of the path.

(5) Take the path on the left and leave the^GR®6. Continue to the next intersection 200m away with the main path. Take it on the right and go down this wide path to the second cistern on the right.

(6) At the clearing just after, take the path on the right at the edge of the clearing. Enter the forest and continue along the path. At the next intersection, rejoin the^GR®6and follow it to the left. Continue north to arrive in front of the Saint-Denis Chapel.

(7) Continue downhill, passing the Source Saint-Denis on your right, until you reach the road. Turn right onto Chemin de la Source (take the path on the right-hand side of the road) and continue to another crossroads.

(8) Make a right-left turn and follow Route de la Tuilière (D72E). At the post office, take La Grande Rue opposite, pass Place du Cabaret, the church and the castle and join the educational trail crossroads at the football field.

(9) Turn right onto this path and follow the main track. Further on, you will come to a large path under a high-voltage power line. Cross it and continue along the path until you reach a new cistern.

(10) Turn right and walk past the cistern. You will soon reach a new four-way crossroads. Turn 90° onto the path on the left and follow it until you reach a water station covered in graffiti.

(11) Follow the concrete road that climbs to the right for a few metres and take a small path that branches off to the left. Stay on this path to reach the starting point at the Oratory.

(1) Turn left and follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 96 m - Fontaine des Bormes
1 : km 0.22 - alt. 105 m - Carrefour Oratoire
2 : km 0.56 - alt. 108 m - Gillouse Fountain
3 : km 3.07 - alt. 308 m - High-voltage pylon
4 : km 4.79 - alt. 220 m - Take the GR trail on the right
5 : km 5.11 - alt. 209 m - On the left before the Citerne
6 : km 6.29 - alt. 135 m - On the right after the cistern
7 : km 6.85 - alt. 146 m - Saint-Denis Chapel
8 : km 7.71 - alt. 115 m - Follow the La Tuilière road.
9 : km 8.68 - alt. 114 m - Educational trail
10 : km 10.27 - alt. 139 m - Turn right
11 : km 12.03 - alt. 122 m - Water station tagged
S/E : km 13.3 - alt. 96 m - Fontaine des Bormes

Notes

Walking shoes.
Check with the Tourist Office to ensure that the Alpilles trails are not closed due to fire risk.

The caves site is closed to the public.
You can find information on the Calès website.

Worth a visit

Magnificent plane tree in Lamanon.
The springs of Eyguères.
Les Baux-de-Provence and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
The Luberon, its hiking trails and magnificent villages.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

LIONEL13118

13 Jan 2026 at 20:46 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you so much for sharing, it was a great afternoon!

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Dode Jean paul

27 Oct 2025 at 16:12 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, superb views, two forks in the road to watch out for, very varied, best done in good weather
Be careful on days when wild boar are being hunted

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viale guy

24 Sep 2025 at 07:28 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, beautiful views, varied terrain. The return route runs parallel to the road, and although you are quite far away at times, you can still hear the traffic noise.

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phildaix

17 Jan 2024 at 16:39 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with magnificent views; unfortunately, the weather was very overcast today. However, the route is pleasant and does not present any particular difficulties.
The map could be more precise in places, for example at the junctions between 2 and 3.
Otherwise, important news: the water station at point 11 is no longer tagged! And it's better to park between points 1 and 2 (there's space near the bins).
Thank you for this alternative route!

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Les fantastiques

11 Dec 2023 at 11:17 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through the village of Lamanon during the Christmas holidays, brilliant.

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Le champsaurin

31 Oct 2023 at 18:45 3600 • Edited: 31 Oct 2023 at 18:52 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very NICE!!!
This hike offers superb panoramic views throughout, especially in the first part. The description is perfect and should be followed to the letter (for example, the black pylon should not be confused with another red and white pylon located before it). The route is very cool, with no difficulties. However, I think the car park at the Gillouse fountain is easier to access and is also located opposite the start of the hike. Do not attempt this hike without knowing the safety conditions for accessing the massif and the weather conditions (risks during storms on ridge trails and little shade in some areas).
For my part, I made a small detour to the outskirts of the Calès site (without entering it) and the Saint Denis chapel, which are worth a visit.
Thanks to the visitor-hiker.
I recommend going there and leaving your crampon marks!

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nanou13430

26 Sep 2023 at 14:32 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, I highly recommend it.

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Gépa

10 Apr 2023 at 16:20 7200

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike through wooded areas. High-voltage power lines are very (too) prominent in the first part of the route. The fact that access to the Cales caves is prohibited makes the hike less appealing.

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manonroro

25 Feb 2022 at 19:41 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very easy hike with beautiful views. Despite the mistral wind that day, the walk was pleasant.

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Micmich

10 Jan 2022 at 10:20 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I only did part of the route. Between points 3 and 4, at the cistern, I turned right to return to the plain via the east of the Redaresse valley and reach point 10 before returning to Eyguières.
Walking time for this variation: 3 hours.
A beautiful hike, mainly on forest tracks, with some stunning views, including 360° panoramas of the surrounding mountains. The brush had just been cleared to prevent fires (50 metres on either side of the track), which meant we could walk in very open spaces and get a better view of the landscape!
Don't miss a stroll through the village of Eyguières with its many fountains and the old village perched on its rock!

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cachoute

15 Feb 2021 at 09:36 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Eyguières, where the hike starts, is very easy to reach from exit 13 of the A54 motorway. This hike is particularly interesting if you add the Calès Caves, which are marked as off-limits by a sign but have no barrier or safety cord blocking the entrance. Simply take the small path on the right just before point 7, visit while remaining very cautious, and retrace your steps to return to the route. The path between Lamanon and Eyguières is particularly pleasant, very flat and without any difficulty.

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mirapen

25 Jan 2021 at 19:03 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

Good evening,
There is only a small car park at the Fontaine des Bormes, but there is a large car park at the very beginning of Faubourg Reyre.
Alternatively, drive to the end of the road, turn left at the crossroads onto Chemin de la Fontaine Gilouse, and 400 metres further on, on the left, there is a small car park with about ten spaces, right next to the fountain, which is shaped like half a barrel.
This is where the hike starts.

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pescalune

24 Feb 2020 at 09:00 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

nice route

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Vvio

14 May 2018 at 11:19 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy hike offering beautiful panoramic views, though not breathtaking.
Suitable for people who want to walk without difficulty.

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