Grottes de Calès (Lamanon) walks

Hike starting from Eyguiéres, with its two fountains at Les Bormes and Gillouse.Walk in the Défens d’Eyguiéres, with beautiful views of the ruins of Roquemartine Castle, the Durance Valley and, in fine weather, Mont Ventoux.Visits to the Calès Caves are prohibitedReturn via the olive groves of the Défens d'Eyguières.__Warning! Due to the site’s geology (mollasse, which is crumbly) and its cliffs, certain areas are dangerous.There is currently a local by-law prohibiting access to these areas. Please take great care__

Alternative route for the Défens d’Eyguières – Lamanon to the Calès Caves hike. It bypasses the caves, which are closed to visitors, and passes by the chapel and the spring.Walk starting from Eyguiéres with its two fountains, Les Bormes and Gilouse.Walk through the Défens d'Eyguiéres, with beautiful views of the ruins of Roquemartine Castle, the Durance Valley and, in fine weather, Mont Ventoux.Return via the olive groves of the Défens d'Eyguières.

This walk in the Alpilles Regional Nature Park is located near Eyguières and Lamanon in the Bouches-du-Rhône. This circular route takes you to the foothills of the Défends and Mont Menu and will allow you to discover caves, a watchtower, a dovecote, and the remains of chapels and castles. Along the way, you will also enjoy beautiful, unobstructed views of the Crau plain, the Alpilles, the Luberon and Mont Ventoux.

This route, which presents no particular difficulties, is designed to appeal to both walkers seeking beautiful views and history enthusiasts. It offers a pleasant way to discover a corner of Provence between the Durance and the Alpilles whilst appreciating the harmony with nature that people have been able to achieve over the centuries. Notes: as there are numerous paths in this area, the use of a GPS is strongly recommended. The suggested routes, which largely avoid forest tracks, can be viewed on OSM and OSM Rando maps. Although largely shaded, the route is exposed to the sun during the climb up the Défens.