Fos-sur-Mer walks

This hike offers striking contrasts between the historic centre of Fos-sur-Mer with its Hauture hilltop castle on one side, the Étang de l'Estomac lagoon and former Fos salt marshes on the other, and the surrounding industrial activity characterised by the numerous oil tankers in the nearby Gulf of Fos. Information panels will help you discover the history of the former salt marshes.

Stroll across the Castillon plateau to discover one of the Mediterranean's major archaeological sites and its surroundings, which include four ponds.

A beautiful hike in the Saint-Blaise area, near Fos-sur-Mer, around the ponds of Lavalduc, Citis, Pourra and Engrenier. ⚠️ 29/04/2024: hike modified to avoid the path that runs along the Martigues canal beside the Lavaduc pond on the edge of the cliff (private site).

A hike along the balcony with superb views of the Etang de Berre (a small inland sea called Lake Berre).

Nature walk to discover the agricultural heritage of the Grand Parc de Figuerolles. Loop that allows you to walk along the Étang de Berre.

A lovely route around the Étang de l'Olivier lake near the town of Istres.

A short hike above Istres with views of the Étang de Berre and La Crau.

The military remains of La Couronne – Carro are located on the ridge and along the coast. These structures, built by the German army in 1943-1944, are arranged in a more or less strategic manner on these sites. A walk to discover them reveals exceptional panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the hills of this unspoilt area.

The Carro Plain Botanical Trail offers unique and educational walks to discover all the natural beauty of the Côte Bleue. The Carro Plain is of major floristic interest, largely due to the presence of a unique substrate (Miocene molasse deposits or Burdigalian calcarenite). It is home to, amongst other things, eight protected species of vascular plants.

A short walk in a protected area on the edge of the Étang de Berre and its industries. All the vegetation of the wetlands, birds galore. Moderator's note Please note that part of this loop is closed between April and July. See notices.

This pleasant and fairly easy circular will allow you to discover the hinterland of Port de Carro and La Couronne, in particular the ruins of part of the "Mediterranean Wall" erected by the Germans during the Second World War, as well as the coastline, which has been barely altered by the Ponteau power station.

This tour of eight stone quarries in La Couronne, three inland and five coastal, provides an insight into the scale of the quarrymen's work over the centuries, reveals traces of exploitation, attempts to distinguish differences in extraction strategies and shows which periods of activity can be identified.

Route between Saint-Julien-les-Martigues and Châteauneuf-les-Martigues on forest paths and tracks, discovering the cliffs of the Fauconnière and Saut valleys (climbing sites), withgeological curiosities: pierced rock, needles and rock formations.From the peaks, you will have magnificent views of the Étangs de Berre and Bolmon lakes and, in the background, the main mountain ranges of Provence.

This hike takes you through the Parc de la Poudrerie in Saint-Chamas (please note the opening hours; see Practical Information), as well as the medieval village of Miramas-le-Vieux. You can see the old buildings, exhibitions on site and, with a bit of luck, spot some birds.Following the GPX track may prove useful.

A circular route starting from Saint-Julien les Martigues that passes by an old windmill, then overlooks the large water reserve of the Canal de Provence in the forest before reaching the Vallon de Valtrède. Expect to encounter many wild goats along the way.

Starting from Saint-Julien-les-Martigues, head towards Chemin du Trou du Loup (GRP®2013) to discover several magnificent caves on the heights of L'Amandier, which are curiously absent from IGN maps and hiking guides. A pleasant route, mostly on steep paths through the forest and along the valley floors.

An aperitif (or after-dinner) walk on Couronne beach, allowing you to visit the Cap Couronne lighthouse.

Miramas-le-Vieux is a pretty little medieval village overlooking the northern part of the Étang de Berre, which is well worth a visit at the start or end of your walk. This route crosses the site of the former national gunpowder factory, which can be visited on Wednesdays or Sundays, heading towards the Chapelle Saint-Michel, which overlooks Istres, the Étang de l’Olivier and its fountain, and the Étang de Berre. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete the planned circular route as, as is often the case in Provence these days, wire mesh barriers have sprung up since our last visit two years ago, so we had to settle for the route published today.

This local loop in Boumandariel, located in the southern part of the Martigues coastline, allows you to discover a natural heritage with exceptional flora and fauna.

This is a very pleasant hike, with around a third of the route along the coast, which is very relaxing. The rest of the route is on very passable paths. The elevation gain is very modest: 160 m over a distance of 13 km. There is just one slightly tricky section on rocks for about ten metres, but it's nothing too difficult. It is located in the highest part of the walk, dominated by a cross. There is a beautiful spot for a lunch break with a panoramic view of Sausset-les-Pins. The view is impressive on a clear day.

During this very easy walk on flat ground alternating between tracks and small roads, you can admire beautiful drystone shelters and a bee wall. Drystone shelters are huts built from dry stones that served as temporary dwellings for farmers in Provence in the 19th century. The bee wall, or Apier, is an 18th-century dry stone wall, 60 metres long, with 56 niches (originally 200) where beekeepers used to shelter their straw hives from the mistral wind and bad weather.