Country:
District:
Park in one of the car parks between Quai Victor Hugo and the Canal de la Robine, where the walk starts from the first car park after the roundabout, which is supposed to be less busy than the car parks closer to the town centre. There is also a car park on the other side of the roundabout, next to the theatre, which can be accessed via Avenue Maître Hubert Mouly: at the roundabout, follow the signs for P1, P2, P3 Narbo via Théâtre, from where you can take the walkway along the Canal de la Robine to reach (S/E).
(S/E) Facing the canal, turn right onto the promenade, go under a footbridge and then under a bridge. When you reach the Pont des Marchands, an arch spanning the canal and topped by buildings, go up the ramp on the right, then turn left to find yourself in front of the Palais des Archevêques.
(1) Note, in the centre of this square, the remains of the Roman road Via Domitia, the beautiful building "Aux Dames de France" opposite the entrance to the palace, and the fountain with three fish leaning against the palace wall.
Enter the palace grounds on the left via the Passage de l'Ancre, which passes under the arcades. Visit the Cloître de l'Archevêché, the Cathedral of Saint-Juste and Saint-Pasteur (with its many superb gargoyles – look up), and the Jardin de l'Archevêché (with its fountain and contemporary footbridge). From the garden, exit onto Rue Gustave Fabre, which runs alongside it, then turn right.
At the T-junction with Rue Armand Gauthier, turn right, ignore Rue du Lieutenant Colonel Deymes on your left and continue straight ahead through the one-way passage, continuing to walk alongside the cathedral on your right. At the small square (look up, especially at the beautiful dog gargoyle at the top of the cathedral),
(2) Turn left onto Rue Rouget de Lisle. Ignore Rue Barrère on your right, pass in front of the Horreum, ignore Rue du Lieutenant Colonel Deymes on your left, then Rue Diderot on your right. In front of No. 17, follow the street to the right, then continue along the alleyway on the left, still on Rue Rouget de Lisle. You will arrive at Place du Forum, with a beautiful fountain in the centre and pine trees.
(3) Continue straight ahead to the remains of a Roman column, then turn left onto Avenue du Maréchal Foch and walk to the junction with Boulevard Marcel Sembat and back, to admire the beautiful façades of the buildings. Return to Place du Forum and cross diagonally, passing close to the fountain. Turn left onto Rue Girard for a short round trip towards the Church of Saint-Sébastien, indicated on a sign, and take a few steps to the left onto Rue Michelet to arrive in front of the church. Return to Place du Forum and immediately turn left onto Rue Droite, a one-way street, heading towards the palace and cathedral, and immediately pass under the arch of the Louve Romaine.
Note the beautiful turret at the alley on the right (Rue Diderot), go straight ahead at the intersection with Rue Barrère on the right, then straight ahead again at the intersection with Rue Armand Gauthier and Rue Eugène Viollet Le Duc (cathedral on the right), to arrive at the square in front of the Palais des Archevêques.
(1) Cross the square straight ahead and follow Rue du Pont des Marchands, which crosses the Canal de la Robine. You will arrive at Rue Raspail. Continue straight ahead to reach a square with a fountain, Place du Blé. Turn right and walk back to Rue Hector Berlioz . On the left, you will see the façade of the Maison de Inquants. Return to the square and follow Rue Cabirol on the right. Ignore the side streets and arrive at Place Belfort, then turn right onto Rue du Luxembourg. Turn right at the first street, Rue des Trois Nourrices. Ignore Rue Jean Longuet on the left and, just after, look up to admire the superb window frame of the Maison des Trois Nourrices. Admire its other façade on Rue Edgar Quinet as well.
(4) Continue straight ahead on Rue de l'Hôtel Dieu until you reach the Basilica of Saint Paul (in poor condition), then retrace your steps.
(4) Pass the Maison des Trois Nourrices again and continue to the intersection with Rue Jean Longuet.
Turn right onto this street. At the end, continue to Boulevard du Docteur Lacroix, turn left to pass in front of the small park on Place Vincent Hyspa, and note the statue of the desperate woman. Immediately turn left and continue straight ahead on the one-way street, Rue du Luxembourg. Turn right at the first street, Rue Denfert-Rochereau, then left onto Rue des Tanneurs, passing Notre-Dame de Grâces church on your left. At the T-junction, turn left onto Rue de Belfort, ignore a small street on the right and continue to the bend in the street to see the old church porch, then retrace your steps a few metres and take the small street on the left (Rue de l'Helvétie).
At the intersection with Rue de la Monnaie on the left, continue straight ahead, passing a beautiful building on your left, and you will arrive at Place Docteur Jean Denoy. Turn right onto Rue Benjamin Crémieux, then take the first street on the left and you will arrive at Cours Mirabeau. Turn right onto this wide promenade, along the Canal de la Robine. You will arrive at the war memorial and the beautiful market hall building on your right.
(5) Turn right onto Rue Émile Zola, which runs alongside the market halls on your left (photographers will want to take advantage of the reflections in the market hall windows), turn left behind the building and take Boulevard Docteur Ferroul on your left, running alongside the market halls on your left.
At the entrance to the bridge over the canal, turn right onto the pavement on the left of Quai de Vallière, then take the steps down to the canal. At the bottom, continue to the right along the promenade, with the canal on your left. About 80 metres before you reach the Victor Hugo footbridge, go back up onto the quay and continue to the left to reach the footbridge.
(6) Take the footbridge to cross the canal. On the other side, turn right to take the steps down to the canal and, at the bottom, turn left to return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
