Saint-Honorat Hermitage Cave as seen from the Sainte-Baume car park

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This short walk takes you to the ancient cave hermitage nestled in the red rocks of Cap Roux at an altitude of around 300 metres, where the hermit Saint Honorat took refuge in the 4th century before founding the monastery on the Île de Lérins.

Details

n°111338981
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 0.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 0h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 384 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 384 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 925 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 541 ft
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Description of the walk

Sainte-Baume car park on the Sainte-Baume Forest Road

(S/E) Climb the steps leading to the Sainte-Baume esplanade, a small chapel nestled in the rock, then continue to the Sainte-Baume spring (fountain).

(1) Facing the spring, take the path on the left for about a hundred metres

(2) Turn right onto the path that climbs, punctuated by numerous steps. 300 metres further on, after a series of hairpin bends, you’ll come to the large stone gate of the hermitage. Take the elevated walkway fitted with a handrail (take care, especially with children). Go through the gate and admire the view. To reach the hermitage, you’ll need to go down about twenty steps. You can then step inside the small hermitage.

(3) Return via the same route to the Sainte-Baume car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 541 ft - Sainte-Baume car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.06 - alt. 571 ft - Source de la Sainte-Baume
  3. 2 : mi 0.11 - alt. 610 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 0.34 - alt. 909 ft - Grotte Chapelle Saint-Honorat (Saint-Raphaël)
  5. S/E : mi 0.68 - alt. 541 ft - Sainte-Baume car park

Notes

This path is not recommended for those prone to vertigo.

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