Hermitage of Saint-Jean-du-Puy and Regagnas ridges

Circular route starting from the hamlet of Kirbon to reach the hermitage and walk along the Regagnas ridges with beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire, Sainte-Baume, the Étoile mountain range, Garlaban, the Huveaune valley, etc.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.97 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 605 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 606 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 709 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 362 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Trets (13530)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.413911° / E 5.666588°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3244ET, 3344OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

The walk starts from the hamlet of Kirbon. You can park on the side of the D12, just before the start of the path when coming from Trets.

(S/E) Take the path, marked in yellow, which heads north on flat ground, then descends to two bridges, the Baboué bridges, which cross the Vallat d'Ancoly and the Vallat de la Machine. The path then climbs gently for about 800 m to join another track (elevation 409).

(1) Take this new track heading south then south-east towards the hermitage of Saint-Jean-du-Puy. Follow this track for about 1.6 km, ignoring two tracks branching off to the left.

(2) About 170 m after the second intersection, take the path on the left that heads north, then east, still marked in yellow. This path then runs alongside the track and crosses it several times to take you to the hermitage. Shortly before, join theGRP® Sentier Provence Mines d'Énergies, marked in yellow and red.

(3) After the second building, turn left onto the path marked in yellow and yellow and red, which descends to a trail junction.

(4) Turn right towards "Peynier par le Regagnas", which will take you along the ridges, still following the markings. Ignore the adjacent paths.

(5) Cross the CD12 (Route de Saint-Zacharie) and take the marked trail opposite, above the track. Follow the ridge via rocky passages parallel to the track. For those prone to vertigo, it is preferable to take the track.

(6) At the crossroads, leave the double markings and follow the path opposite, which continues along the ridge and will take you to the fire lookout at the top of Regagnas. Please note: this path is used by mountain bikes with jumps.

(7) At the summit, after admiring the view, descend the road for 150 metres. Leave it on the left, at the end of the safety barriers, to continue along the ridge path. Join a path supporting theGRP® Sentier Provence Mines d'Énergies.

(8) Follow it to the right until you reach the main track with yellow markings. Following these markings, cut across the two bends and continue along the track to a fire hydrant (elevation 497).

(9) Follow the track to the right, continuing to follow theGRP® and the yellow markings for just under 600 m.

(10) At the hairpin bend, leave the track and take a path that branches off to the right. Immediately leave this path to the left to reach a game trough, after crossing a first path.
It is also possible to continue along the track and the markings to elevation 487, then leave theGRP® and follow the yellow markings on the right.

After the watering hole, rejoin the main track marked in yellow and follow it to the right for about 400 metres.

(11) Just before a slight right-hand bend, leave the track and the markings to take a path that descends to the left, heading north, then veers east after about 1 km.

(12) At the crossroads after passing through Vallat du Fer à Cheval and crossing another vallat, take the path on the right and follow it until you reach the main track and the yellow markings.

(13) Take the track on the left and head towards Kirbon and the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 421 m - Hamlet of Kirbon
  2. 1 : km 1.62 - alt. 412 m - Elevation 409
  3. 2 : km 3.23 - alt. 521 m - Trail start
  4. 3 : km 5.12 - alt. 646 m - L'Ermitage
  5. 4 : km 5.34 - alt. 610 m - Intersection, towards Peynier
  6. 5 : km 7.5 - alt. 535 m - Saint-Zacharie road
  7. 6 : km 8.51 - alt. 631 m - Track junction
  8. 7 : km 9.08 - alt. 709 m - Summit of Regagnas
  9. 8 : km 9.82 - alt. 575 m - GRP°°®°° junction
  10. 9 : km 12.1 - alt. 497 m - Fire hydrant - Height 497
  11. 10 : km 12.68 - alt. 496 m - Cote 496, abandoned track
  12. 11 : km 13.27 - alt. 487 m - Cote 488, abandoned track
  13. 12 : km 14.5 - alt. 375 m - Vallat du Fer à Cheval
  14. 13 : km 15.22 - alt. 418 m - Cote 421, junction with yellow markings
  15. S/E : km 15.97 - alt. 421 m - Hamlet of Kirbon

Notes

There is no water source except at the hermitage, but it is not drinkable.
Take care on the cliff-edge sections between points (6) and (7).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
trainhub
trainhub

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with excellent signage.
no difficulty
a route I led, completed with the club
Thank you

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CDarte
CDarte

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful but demanding hike. It is essential to follow the route on the map, especially in the first part.

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JCBaldi
JCBaldi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike; no real difficulties despite a few slightly steep but easily manageable climbs. Magnificent panoramic views of Sainte Victoire and Sainte Beaume. The Hermitage is a very nice spot for picnics.
Please note that access to the starting point is...

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20Barbeneuve,sc24
20Barbeneuve,sc24

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

No yellow markings on 1/4 of the route, so we followed the red route on the app and luckily found our way back to the starting point.
Superb hike.

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Randonneur du dimanche
Randonneur du dimanche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, especially the part along the ridge,
Splendid view,
Not many hikers on the trail, but quite a few mountain bikers.
Lots of people at the Hermitage, as you can drive up there.

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Lou Facomochère
Lou Facomochère
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did the circuit anti-clockwise, which makes it easier to return (even though there are few markings when leaving the hermitage).
I set off from Kirbon and, after the hunters' car park, I took a small valley on the left S-SE, the Vallat du Fer à Cheval, a small drovers' road that climbs up the thalweg and avoids the main DFCI firebreaks (a few mountain bikers on Sundays, quiet the rest of the time).
A beautiful hike, 7km from Kirbon to Saint-Jean with a magnificent view of the snow-capped Alpine peaks on a Mistral day in November.
A bonus: you can barbecue at the Saint-Jean hermitage!
At a brisk pace (but with a break), less than 3 hours for 13 km and 462 m of elevation gain.

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jean-michel.belouet
jean-michel.belouet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are many wild boars between Kirbon and the hermitage. Avoid letting your dogs chase them.
The trail after the hermitage is a bit confusing to follow. A GPS device is helpful here.

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montandraud
montandraud

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It is difficult to find the trail at the top of Regagnias. After the hermitage, the signpost does not exist or has been removed.

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