Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle Abbey from Espeluche

Start from the^second car park at Espeluche Town Hall. (Gravel surface)

(S/E) Turn right after the medical centre. Head towards Rue Serre du Coulet opposite, go up the street and turn left onto Chemin des Hochettes.

(1) Turn right onto Chemin du Clos then continue along Chemin de l’Oratoire. Turn right onto Chemin de Moïse, which is partly tarmac-surfaced at the start. Ignore the path branching off to the left (access to a house) and continue straight up. Ignore the second path also branching off to the left and continue straight on to reach the junction at Fontaine d'Artur.

(2) Turn left onto the signposted mountain bike trail. Ignore a turn-off to the right and continue along the path on the left, then left again. The path descends then starts to climb again; turn right onto the mountain bike trail. After 200 m, you will find a path on the left that levels out, with a Blue Cross pinned to a fir tree.

(3) Continue along this path, ignoring the path that descends to the left; turn right towards the mountain. Further on, the path becomes a trail. Cross the river (often dry) and climb up the opposite slope. You’ll reach a wider path; continue to the left. At a hairpin bend, you’ll rejoin the Chemin de Jamot.

(4) Head towards Château de Rochefort and, after about a hundred metres, leave the track for a small stony path that climbs to the right. Join the track again. Turn right towards L’Anier via the mountain bike track and, at Fontbrenoux, turn right towards the Plateau des Claves.

(5) At the signpost, walk a few steps along the track opposite and take a small path that leads into the undergrowth on the left. Continue straight on, ignoring two paths on the right and one on the left, until you reach a three-way junction.

(6) Turn onto the path leading off to the left. Head downhill and follow the main path. Pass under a power line and then come to a second one. Leave the track and follow the small path leading straight ahead. Continue straight on. At the end, continue along the track you left earlier and, at the next junction, cross over and take the small path leading straight ahead.

(7) Turn left onto the path leading down towards the Ruisseau de Flamenche. Cross the small waterfall (be careful not to slip) and follow the path leading down to the right towards the river. Cross the river and continue along the path, then take the path on the right (you can make a round trip along the path on the left to the Tibhirine monks’ memorial).
Reach the road, turn left onto the bridge, then take the red and white marked path on the right towards the abbey (be careful, the descent can be slippery) and head to the car park of Notre-Dame d’Aiguebelle Abbey.

(8) Head towards Combe de Bœuf along the path that climbs behind the statue (marked in red and white), cross the road, climb the steps and continue to a three-way junction.

(9) Follow the left-hand branch to Combe des Bœufs (make sure you close the gates properly) where the^GR® takes a sharp left turn.

(10) Leave the^GR® and continue to the right, towards Petit Aubagne, on the path climbing to the right of the valley. When the valley widens, turn left towards the Blue Cross on the oak tree, then quickly take the path on the right. Walk a few metres until you reach a cross-path.

(11) Head left onto the track, which is level at first but then climbs. At the three-way junction, take the right-hand branch and reach a cross-path (tree with a gnawed trunk).

(12) Take the path that climbs to the left, then cross the track to follow the path that leads into the undergrowth opposite (due north). At the next fork, continue straight on along the ascending track, pass under a power line and reach a fork with a ‘central island’.

(13) Continue to the left, pass under a power line and then in front of the KIA KIA memorial. Continue along the track and ignore a small path on the right. Reach the next crossroads.

(14) Turn left, then quickly veer right uphill. Stay on the main track; at the top, go straight on and take the descent. Continue to L'Échinière.

(15) Leave the track and take the path on the right, then quickly take the one leading down to the left (at the 2 km marker). On the descent, keep left and cross the valley. The path turns into a narrow track. Descend to the junction, ignoring all paths to the left and right. At the junction with a path, turn left and continue to the entrance of the refuge (do not go beyond the ASPAS sign).

(16) Turn onto a very narrow path on the right at the corner of the refuge entrance. Descend to the track, turn left and follow the track to the road.

(17) Turn right onto Chemin des Hochettes, at Rue Serre du Coulet, continue left and head to the car park (S/E).

During opening hours, toilets and drinking water are available in the town hall courtyard; toilets and drinking water are also available on the abbey site, which features a shop.

Visit the village of Espeluche, the seigneurial bench of justice listed as a historic monument, and a wealth of architectural curiosities (facades, doors, windows, etc.).

On the abbey grounds, you will find a shop selling religious ceremony items and picnic tables.
Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle Abbey.