From Col de l'Ange to Fenêtre du Brigou

An easy hike to a local geological curiosity: the Fenêtre du Brigou.

Details

n°31044389

Creation:
23 Feb 2023

Last update:
28 Feb 2023

Last review:
03 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.76 km
Average duration: 4h 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 442 m
Descent: - 436 m
Highest point: 573 m
Lowest point: 218 m

Country: France
Area: Sainte-Baume (Massif)
District: Cuges-les-Pins (13780)
Start/End: N 43.266028° / E 5.669876°
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Description of the walk

The hike starts from the well-known Col de l'Ange car park, 3 km before Cuges-Les-Pins when coming from Aubagne.

(S/E) Head towards the track to the north-east and take the^GR®98immediately to the left after the barrier. Cross the track and rejoin it further up.

(1) Cross it again and continue straight ahead on the^GR®98, climbing steadily. After 400 m, you will reach a fork.

(2) Turn left and continue for 1 km, ignoring a path descending to the left. You will reach a fork.

(3) Leave the path and climb up to the right, still on the^GR®98, for 200 m.

(4) Leave the^GR®98and turn left, heading due west, onto the track. Follow it for about 1.8 km until you reach a crossroads with multiple directions.

(5) Take the first path on the far right, heading east-southeast, marked Mont Cruvelier. Continue to the top of Mont Cruvelier and its lookout point.

(6) Enjoy the view, then descend the track east-north-east for about 350 m until you reach a left-hand bend. Take a path on the right for a short visit to the Sommet du Brigou.

(7) Viewpoints. Retrace your steps.
Continue down the track to the right for 200 metres until the next left turn.

(8) At this bend, climb up to the right onto a path and, after 250 m, ignore a path descending to the left and continue between the trees, along a winding path, for 250 m.
Note a wooden post with no sign on the left. Take the path it indicates between the kermes oaks and continue over the rocks to the left. After a bit of scrambling with your hands, you will arrive at the Fenêtre du Brigou.

(9) Return in the opposite direction. Turn left at the wooden post and join the^GR®98towards elevation 482.

(10) Cross it, descend to the right and take the descending track opposite towards the north-east. Leave a track on the left and arrive at another fork in the tracks.

(11) Continue on the track on the right, follow it for about 3 km and rejoin the^GR® 98 at the initial fork in this hike.

(1) Descend on the left in the opposite direction to reach the Col de l'Ange (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 218 m - Car park - Col de l'Ange
1 : km 0.52 - alt. 280 m - GR98. Crossroads of the circular
2 : km 1.01 - alt. 351 m - Fork, path on the left
3 : km 2.15 - alt. 432 m - Fork, climb to the right
4 : km 2.38 - alt. 463 m - Fork, track on the left
5 : km 4.27 - alt. 445 m - Multiple crossroads, 1st path on the right
6 : km 4.98 - alt. 573 m - Mont Cruvelier
7 : km 5.46 - alt. 573 m - Summit of Brigou
8 : km 5.8 - alt. 527 m - Track bend, path on the right
9 : km 6.35 - alt. 515 m - Fenêtre du Brigou
10 : km 6.65 - alt. 484 m - Crossroads. GR98, descent to the right
11 : km 7.26 - alt. 445 m - Fork, track on the right
S/E : km 10.76 - alt. 218 m - Car park - Col de l'Ange

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

Max83

03 Nov 2025 at 21:55 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Geological curiosities to see, varied landscape

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Gijean

20 May 2025 at 08:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that starts with a slight climb. Don't forget to climb to the top of Brigou before heading to the window for some beautiful views.
The hike took 2 hours and 45 minutes without stops for photos and water breaks.
Highly recommended👍

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GRANDE ASTRANCE

18 May 2025 at 17:41 7200 • Edited: 18 May 2025 at 17:56 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with beautiful views along the entire route.
A mountain bike ride was organised on the same day, so we had to be very careful when passing each other as some of the paths are narrow and some of the mountain bikers are very fast on the descents!
We had a picnic at the top of Brigou with an exceptional view and in a peaceful setting.
The passage through the Fenêtre du Brigou is interesting.
Thank you for this beautiful hike!

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Muflier

24 Feb 2025 at 12:57 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike undertaken in February with beautiful sunshine as an added bonus, without any difficulties and very well signposted.
Beautiful views of the towns of Aubagne and Marseille in the distance and Cuges-les-Pins, surrounded by the heath and its fragrances.
It took us less time than expected, but this hike is ideal for getting back into shape.
Thank you

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Masque83

31 Dec 2024 at 11:19 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Well-marked route on Visorando, impossible to get lost.
Easy going except for a short section where you need to use your hands.
Thanks to whoever recorded it.

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Janine13

10 Jun 2024 at 13:44 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy hike with a short detour to the Brigou window, which scratches your legs a little but is well worth the effort. Avoid this hike in hot weather as the return route is completely unshaded.

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Marius 95

06 May 2024 at 11:21 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello.
A lovely walk, beautiful weather, lots of flowers.
On the way back, at coastline 445, there is a small shortcut that allows you to avoid the circular path that goes to "AUBERS" and joins point 399 (on IGN maps). Saves time!
Please note: these paths are used by downhill mountain bikers. You need to be careful and pull over in good time.
Enjoy your walk, everyone.

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VIKING5083

01 Apr 2024 at 15:30 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2024
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 accessible to most people. Best done in good weather to make the most of the magnificent panoramic views in all four directions. To avoid missing the drovers' road leading to the Brigou window (not necessarily obvious), it is a good idea to use the "Visorando" app, and even then, you'd have to try really hard to get lost!
I quite agree with "fanmirando"'s opinion that the descent to the Col de l'Ange is less interesting, as most of it (except for the beginning and end) is on a wide track that is a bit tedious. However, this downside should be put into perspective given the beautiful view of the Cuges valley and beyond.
In any case, thank you to "clamx" for this beautiful route.

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saint-didier

26 Feb 2024 at 17:52 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike with a 360° view. Access to the Brigou window could be improved, but this round trip is interesting (narrow path through vegetation).

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Micmac62

14 Nov 2023 at 16:52 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Thank you to clamx for this lovely share. Everything was perfect. It's always a pleasure to hike with Visorando.

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fanmirando

14 Nov 2023 at 10:40 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Beautiful view from the summit of Mount Cruvelier, where we had a picnic sheltered from the wind (Mistral)
The return trip via the Brigou window was a bit long and less interesting in the second half.

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Claudine Wattrelot

13 Nov 2023 at 09:38 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, especially the climb up to the lookout point. There is a slight difficulty in reaching the Brigou window, which we observed from a distance as the path to get there is a bit rough, and it's best to avoid wearing shorts if you don't want to end up with scratches! The descent offers beautiful views of the village of Cuges

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fanmirando

06 Nov 2023 at 08:10 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulty for a walk with beautiful views.

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phildaix

24 May 2023 at 18:06 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk with stunning views. However, it is not recommended in hot weather as there is very little shade along the route; most of it is on the south-facing side and even at the end of May it was very hot.
between WP8 and WP 9, there's no need to use your hands: just a little scrambling.

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Lahautesavoie

15 Apr 2023 at 19:12 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, even with winds of 80 km/h. We really enjoyed it. Thank you

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