Glanum and the Alpilles ridges

From the Antiques de Glanum site, a beautiful climb up the Saint-Clerg valley, which serves as a botanical trail, takes you to the ridges and back down to Lake Peirou (Peirou, on the IGN map).

Technical sheet

59572
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 260 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 257 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 288 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 102 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Antiques de Glanum car park in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Please note that parking is €4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (2018).

(S/E) From the car park, cross the D5, then turn left towards Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, following the road.
After the bridge, turn right towards Égalières, passing in front of the Cloître Saint-Paul de Mausole. Follow the red and white markings ofthe GR®®6along the Chemin des Carrières. Continue until you reach an oratory.

(1) Turn right and follow the sign for Saint-Clerg. Follow the yellow-marked botanical trail; it climbs gently, then rises a little more before coming out onto the ridge road (tarmac).

(2) Once on the road, turn right, then 10 metres further on, turn right again, following the ochre markings and two inverted arrows for the botanical trail. Climb up to reach a hillock. Take the path on the left that descends, then continue downhill on a wider path. You are still on the botanical trail, which leads to the road you left earlier. Continue straight ahead to reach a large car park. Head straight towards the D5.

(3) Cross the road and head opposite towards the path with small wooden barriers. You are now following yellow markings. A path coming from the right joins the trail 100 metres further on. Continue to the left and you will soon come to a junction with theGR®® which descends to the right. Ignore theGR®® on the right and continue on the track, staying on theGR®®6which follows the ridges towards Saint-Étienne du Grès and Les Baux-de-Provence. After walking for about 1.5km, you will see a gap in the rocks on the right.

(4) Turn right and go through this gap to follow the path downhill. From here, there are no more signposts. Follow this path downhill for about 350 m until you reach a bend where a cairn on the right indicates a small path to follow.

(5) Turn right and follow this steep path, which leads down to the path you have just left. Once on the path, immediately turn right (orange cross on the tree) onto a new path, which is not very visible at first but becomes clearer further on. It starts with a stony descent, then becomes grassier and wilder. Further on, it joins theGR®®6.

(6) Turn left to continue the descent. When theGR®® reaches a barrier (crossroads), go around it and you will arrive at a car park. Turn right towards the dam. It seems that the signposting is missing at this point, or else it is well hidden! In any case, you will arrive at Lac du Peiroou.

(7) Go around the lake on the right. The path moves away from the lake, climbs up the rocks and turns right to reach a passageway with cables and a few steps. Once you have passed the chimney, go back down the path to the D5.

(8) Turn left and follow the left-hand side of the road (be careful) to arrive at the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 108 m - Parking - Site de Glanum
  2. 1 : km 0.42 - alt. 109 m - Oratory. Saint-Clerg sign
  3. 2 : km 2.51 - alt. 276 m - Intersection with the ridge road
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 239 m - Trail start with wooden barriers.
  5. 4 : km 4.87 - alt. 267 m - Breach. Change of direction
  6. 5 : km 5.08 - alt. 249 m - Cairn. Change of direction
  7. 6 : km 5.77 - alt. 163 m - Connection with the GR6
  8. 7 : km 6.64 - alt. 130 m - Lac de Peïrou (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence)
  9. 8 : km 7.25 - alt. 126 m - Intersection with the D5
  10. S/E : km 7.73 - alt. 108 m - Parking

Practical information

Please note: a very narrow technical passage equipped with cables and a few metal steps fixed into the rock allows you to cross the rock above Lake Peirou.

In the nearby area

Visit the archaeological site of Glanum, which reveals exemplary urban planning and important religious and civil monuments. Before your eyes lies a Gallic oppidum built around a sacred spring, a city with Greek and then Latin influences.
Entrance fee: £8 per person (2018).

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 81 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
fanmirando
fanmirando
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A varied route with fine views over the ridges and a slight difficulty.
To be combined with a visit to Glanum.

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Dominique arnaud
Dominique arnaud

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The start of the route is quite steep, but once you reach the crests, the panorama is excellent.
Only the signs are not always clear

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Marie 13
Marie 13

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk, initially uphill to reach the crests. Just needs a bit of signposting.
The passage through the chimney is quite rough but not very long.

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Cbent
Cbent

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk with a very pleasant end, different from the others with this very easy and very pleasant climbing section.

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Joël 30
Joël 30

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pretty walk, offering a variety of landscapes in a short space of time (Glanum site, botanical trail, Peiroou lake). The ascent just after the lake, and even the descent afterwards, are not excessively difficult and are actually quite interesting, provided you go carefully and don't mind the very steep slopes. In order to 'test' this section at the start of the hike, we started the circuit from the lake, which offers a nice picnic spot.

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Mu&Jp-du-Jura
Mu&Jp-du-Jura

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant walk with no particular difficulties.
Magnificent views from the ridges

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pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Interesting route. The passage through the rocks above the lake is very slippery even in dry weather and not recommended for beginners.

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nimette30
nimette30

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk. Beautiful views.
The end is a bit more complicated with the rocks and the climb up the chimney, but it's quite doable and original.

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LapduSud
LapduSud

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Hello, nice walk.
Good shoes are required as there are some smooth rocks near the ladders.

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WendyP
WendyP

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk through the pine forest, with sections offering unique views of the Alpilles. Access to an exceptional viewpoint in the section after the Caume car park. From the track, you can see a cairn on the left. It's well worth climbing the path that leads to it!
Beautiful scenery, no major difficulties.
The ladders at the end add a playful touch to this hike.
Be careful, though, as some sections have very smooth, slippery rocks.

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Gépa
Gépa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

It is a great walk along the botanical path, although some of the plants could do with a bit of work to make them stand out. Beautiful views to the north and south from the ridges. The passage through the cave at the end of the route remains difficult for those prone to vertigo.

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TROVAN
TROVAN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This route was completed on 27 December, so there was very little traffic;
Nice and pretty route with no major difficulties, you just have to take your time as you pass through the Narrows.
The lake is a nice place to grab a bite to eat before continuing.

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PALO
PALO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very pleasant walk to start the year.
A lot of people around the car parks (at the start, in the middle and near the lake), which in no way detracts from the interest of the walk.
Avoid doing this walk with a dog, as climbing the ladders is very difficult for our four-legged friends.
Very pleasant overall

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MURIELGIRAULT
MURIELGIRAULT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello,

I'm a Nordic walking coach and use Visorando a lot, for all the points mentioned above:
reliability of the description, the route and the photos.
I've actually done this Glanum route, I've just modified the circuit by passing by the Mont Gaussier ladders and going to see the two holes (it's even more beautiful!!!).

I can send the modified GPX and photos: activity_8606304352.gpx

Muriel

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Bourles
Bourles

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Despite the mistral wind, the walk was very pleasant

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