Gardanne walks

A short family hike on wide, passable paths. Walk on the plateau and in the valley. Beautiful unobstructed views of Sainte-Victoire Mountain, the city of Aix-en-Provence, the Roquefavour Aqueduct and the TGV viaduct.

This short hike takes you through the Valabre Forest with beautiful views of the Étoile massif (Pilon du Roi) and the Luynes valley between Gardanne and Luynes. The nearby cliffs add to the picturesque nature of this route.

This hike takes you through different environments in a very short time 

This variation of the Bouc Bel Air communal wood hike is a little longer but has the advantage of being marked with small wooden signs and coloured markings. It takes you on a journey of discovery through the communal woods of Bouc-Bel-Air.

A very short hike between Meyreuil and the Pont de Bayeux, through vineyards, pine and oak woods on a hill with very pleasant views of the Sainte-Victoire mountain.

This short but fairly challenging hike takes you along numerous small paths and immerses you in a fairly wild area. It also allows you to reach the famous Pilon, visible from all over the Aix region.

A loop around the Bau Trauqua mountain, part of the Chaîne de l'Etoile between Marseille and Aix-En-Provence. Hike along the ridge and enjoy the many magnificent views over the well-known massifs of Sainte Victoire, Garlaban and Sainte-Baume. In spring, the scents are magnificent, not to mention the flora and fauna that awaken. This hike starts off moderately difficult, then becomes a medium hike with some very fine views.

A superb hike, best enjoyed in spring: the Zola and Bimont dams and the old Roman dam are magnificent.

A lovely walk which includes a chance to see Cézanne’s Windmill, to discover the ancient ruins of the Roman aqueduct and its waterfall and the Zola dam. In the distance you can see Mont Sainte-Victoire.

This short hike offers a circuit that alternates between cliff tops and narrow valleys. After thefirst part, which offers a panoramic view of the entire hike and a passage over the Zola Dam, thesecond part immerses you in the Petite Mer valley (along the La Cause stream) and its dam.

This hike, which runs through the north-western part of the Étoile massif, offers exceptional 360° panoramic views from Aix to Marseille, passing by the Étang de Berre and the Marseille harbour. The route alternates between valleys and paths with spectacular views.

Hike through a landscape of rocks and vegetation dotted with ochre and red earth. The first part of the route follows a very wide path in the footsteps of Cézanne, offering extraordinary views of the Sainte-Victoire mountain (south-west side, the most painted by the artist), the Refuge Cézanne and the ruins of the hamlet of Le Trou. The second part is shaded, on a small path, shorter and wilder.

The circuit allows you to discover pretty secret valleys in the Grand Puech massif and magnificent panoramic views of Marseille, Cadolive and Sainte-Victoire.

This very easy hike takes you in the footsteps of the viewpoints painted by Cézanne. The route takes you around the Sainte-Victoire National Nature Reserve. Along the way, you will see the Bimont dam, the Doudon aqueduct and an old marble quarry.

Une magnifique promenade sur l'un des plus hauts massifs de Provence qui convient pour une sortie du club de randonnée en autocar (le départ du parking du barrage de Bimont et l'arrivée à Vauvenargues). La montée au Prieuré et à la Croix de Provence se fait par le sentier Imoucha et la descente par le sentier des Venturiers. De sublimes paysages de Paul Cézanne en 3D au sommet : la basse Provence jusqu'à la mer et l'étang de Berre, le sommet du mont Ventoux, les contours des Alpes au Nord.Attention. Un randonneur signale le 17 septembre 2024 :- Fermeture du Sentier Imoucha pour travaux du 01/10/2024 au 31/12/2024 et du 01/10/2025 au 31/10/2025.- Fermeture du Prieuré pour travaux jusqu'au 31/12/2024.

A hike that takes you up to the Sainte-Victoire priory and the Croix de Provence from the Plan d'En Chois car park.

A physical loop hike along Sainte-Victoire, a climb to Prieuré Sainte-Victoire / Croix de Provence through Bau Cézanne and going back through "le Gouffre de Garagaï" and "les deux Aiguilles".

A beautiful hike up one of the highest mountains in the Provence: the magnificent Sainte-Victoire. Enjoy 360° views as far as the Alps and the Ventoux. The Priory alone is well worth the effort.

A hike through the pines and scrubland of the Massif du Garlaban, so dear to Marcel Pagnol. Starting from the Pichauris car park, the circuit first leads you to the Puits de l'Aroumi (the wells of Aroumi) then the Mont du Marseillais along beautiful, well marked paths, often along ridges, offering magnificent views over Marseille, Sainte-Victoire, Mont Ventoux and, in good weather, the Préaples de Provence. The intense luminosity of the rocks under the brilliance of the sun will leave no-one indifferent.

A walk in a regional park with beautiful trails, varied routes and trees, trees and more trees. Departure from the park’s car park at the Pichauris Hostel.

The tour of the Cengle plateau is an easy circular hike around the Cengle plateau, a veritable balcony offering splendid and unusual views of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain. You can also start from Beaurecueil (car park at the start of the path) or from the Bouquet car park on the CD 17 before Saint Antonin. It should also be noted that this area is much less frequented than the rest of the Sainte Victoire massif.

This short hike runs along the steepest slopes of the mountain, where you will be dazzled by the mineral colours of the rock. You will discover the ruins of a medieval Celtic-Ligurian fortified settlement abandoned around the 10th century on the Untinos oppidum, and the return route offers magnificent views of the ochre ridges in the foreground of Sainte-Victoire.

La meilleure manière d'apprécier la Montagne Sainte-Victoire n'est pas nécessairement de monter au sommet mais peut être bien de rester à son pied. La boucle décrite ici, à l'aplomb de la Croix de Provence, vous fera découvrir la Face Sud sous tous les angles, de près et avec du recul. L'itinéraire est varié, vallonné avec de superbes vues.

This hike around Peypin will allow you to discover the village, its history and its hills. You will walk along a stream, which is remarkable when in full flow with its small waterfall and pools, and follow paths through shady valleys. The hike ends with a tour of the village's narrow streets and a visit to the castle. If you wish, you can skip this last part (see (8) for things to do nearby).

A loop hike on the south side of Sainte-Victoire Montagne allowing access to the ridge via the Marbrière and the Brèche du Clapier (gap). The walk along the ridge towards the Croix de Provence offers splendid views. Descent via the Priory, the Pas du Berger and the Cézanne Shelter.

Sainte-Victoire is a highlight of Provence for hikers and climbers. Before you start, make sure access to the massif is allowed because a regulation is applicable from 1 June to 30 September which and can limit access hours.