Circular loop around Eygalières with views of the Alpilles

The route starts from the car park along the Traverse des Micocouliers, very close to the centre of the village of Eygalières.

(S/E) Head north towards the school. At the intersection, take Rue des Écoles on the left for 200 m, following the white and red markings of the GR®6, which you will follow several times.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de Mario Prassinos, pass to the right of the cemetery and join the RD24b.

(2) Cross the road carefully and turn onto Chemin Roumieux opposite. Follow the red and white markings to the RD24.

(3) At this intersection, turn left and continue to a crossroads with a signpost near the D24.

(4) Head towards Saint-Rémy de Provence on the right via the GR®6. Cross the RD24 carefully, continue straight ahead to take the Roman bridge and continue on this path, which is very well marked in white and red. You will reach a crossroads at the entrance to a house on the right.

(5) Take the path on the left, continuing to follow the GR® markings. Continue straight ahead, passing the entrance to Mas de Romanin on your right, and you will reach a crossroads at the corner of a vineyard.

(6) Turn left towards the rocks and you will come to a signpost.

(7) Take the path that branches off to the left of the path you are on, following the GR®6 towards Saint-Rémy de Provence. Climb steeply up the gorge to reach the Col de Vallongue: the red and white GR® markings are clearly visible all along the way.

(8) Continue to the right along a path that joins and follows the ridges, with some tricky sections: lots of rocks, short but steep slopes, and no chance of getting lost as the path is very well marked. Pass the Pas de l'Aigle and arrive at the "Plateau de la Caume" sign. Continue left on the marked path until you reach a wider path.

(9) Take the track on the left.

(10) Just before the telecommunications antenna, turn right onto the tarmac road and follow it to the signpost located further down at a crossroads.

(11) Take the track on the left towards the archaeological site of Glanum, leaving the GR®6 trail. After barely 100 metres, take the path on the left that descends towards the DFCI track below: yellow markings. Follow this track, turning left, until you reach a three-way junction.

(12) Take the left fork to follow the DFCI track called Chemin de Baume Brignolle. This track winds its way along the foot of the Plateau de la Caume with numerous possible shortcuts, some of which have been taken, others not, depending on your preference.

(13) Take a path on the left to immediately rejoin Chemin de Baume Brignolle. Continue left on this track, which continues to wind at the foot of the ridge taken previously, then veers off to the right and makes a series of hairpin bends before arriving at a large crossroads.

(14) Continue straight ahead and you will come to another fork near a cistern.

(15) Continue straight ahead and join the D24.

(16) Turn slightly left, then immediately right onto a path that runs alongside the road below and avoids a section of tarmac before rejoining it more than a kilometre further on. Keep going in the same direction, walking carefully alongside the road, cross a bridge and rejoin the GR®6.

(17) Turn right, leaving the RD24 to follow the white and red marked path. You will reach a fork.

(18) Keep to the right, following the markings, and join a DFCI track at the top of the climb.

(19) Continue to the left, passing a track and a cistern on your left, until you reach a three-way junction.

(20) Take the track that climbs to the left, leaving the GR®6. Pass under the watchtower and enjoy the beautiful views. Reach a fork about 400 m further on.

(21) Turn left to follow the forest path downhill and arrive at a crossroads at the bottom.

(22) Take the track on the far left and continue, ignoring the one that branches off to the left after the barrier. Join the RD25a.

(23) Turn left and carefully climb the road for about 1 km. Be vigilant. There is not much traffic, but you need to anticipate the lack of visibility in some bends to be as visible as possible to motorists. Pass the small pass and continue for about 100 metres.

(24) Leave the road and take a path on the right: yellow markings. Join the D25.

(25) Cross it carefully, keep to the right at the fork just after it and continue to the DFCI track called Chemin Forestier du Gros Calan.

(26) Turn left and continue along the Gros Calan rock. Continue until you reach the signpost marked "Eygalières GR®6".

(27) Descend to the right on a narrow path through the scrub, which is well cleared and joins another forest path (Chemin du Badon).

(28) Continue straight ahead and you will reach a crossroads after passing the Arboretum du Badon on your left.

(29) Turn right, following the red and white markings, then continue straight ahead until you reach the first houses in the Guiot neighbourhood.

(30) Turn left, staying on Chemin du Badon, and continue until you reach the junction with Chemin Ludovic Souvestre. Turn left, following the same markings, and continue until you reach a star-shaped junction.

(31) Turn right onto Avenue des Molassis, pass between the post office and the town hall and arrive at the RD24b, in the centre of Eygalières.

(32) Turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

I strongly recommend doing this circular route in this direction, as the climb up to the ridges and the Plateau de la Caume is much more technical than the rest of the route. It is therefore better to tackle it at the start of the hike than after more than 20 km. The rest of the route presents no difficulty, except for its length.

Obviously, you need to be equipped with good shoes, especially for the technical section mentioned above. And be vigilant (23) on the kilometre that runs along the road with numerous bends, in order to be as visible as possible to motorists.

I would not recommend this route in hot weather, as there is little shade and no refreshment points.

For the more athletic, this route can be completed in between 6.5 and 8 hours.

After the (23), there may be the option of taking a path on the right with a barrier towards Coulet de Bisquerie, but this option has not been tried.