The Oppidum of Le Piégu and the Castrum of Saint-Jean, starting from Rougiers

One of three or four hiking routes that take in the beautiful site of Castrum Saint-Jean above Rougiers in the Var. This one passes via the Colline de Piégu, offering a fine viewpoint and the ruins of an ancient oppidum.

Details

68121305
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.74 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 355 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 355 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 610 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 361 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Chemin du Clos car park in Rougiers.

(S/E) Please note: extensive roadworks currently in progress mean there are diversions through the town. Head south along Chemin du Clos and you will soon reach the junction with Avenue Jean Moulin.

(1) Continue straight ahead along Chemin du Clos, turn right, walk past the football pitch, then turn left onto Chemin de l'Argile to follow the path. Walk to the end of this path.

(2) Continue straight ahead onto the Sentier de l'Argile, which follows on from it. Reach the edge of the woods, veer right, then continue through the tall trees before skirting the vineyards. Reach a crossroads just before the hamlet known as Chemin de Nans.

(3) Start an easy climb through the forest. Follow a wide circular loop to the left to reach a crossroads marked by a cairn.

(4) Turn left onto the path to begin a steep climb, finishing at the summit of Piégu and its oppidum.

(5) Walk around it, then begin the gentle descent until you reach a PR® marked in yellow.

(6) Take this to the left, following an almost flat path that then climbs slightly to reach the junction with the GRP® de la Boucle de la Sainte-Baume.

(7) Take it to the left and continue to a Y-junction.

(8) Leave the GRP® here by turning onto the path on the right and you will soon reach a crossroads

(9) Take the left-hand track to climb up to the Rothgerium Plateau. Reach the Castrum and the Chapel of Saint John. Explore the ruins with care (cliffs). Note the beautiful 19th-century chapel.

(10) Head down towards the orientation table on the east side of the chapel. Turn left, take a left-hand bend, then reach an oratory.

(11) Continue down the slope opposite, keep left at the next junction. Join the Piste des Glaciers, follow it to the left for a few metres and arrive at the junction with Rue Sainte-Anne.

(12) Turn right onto it and continue for about 200 m.

(13) Turn left onto Rue Jean Moulin and then reach the initial junction taken on the way there.

(1) Turn right and, via Chemin du Clos, you will quickly reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 361 m - Chemin du Clos car park
  2. 1 : km 0.09 - alt. 366 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 0.36 - alt. 373 m - The Argile Trail
  4. 3 : km 1.52 - alt. 368 m - A place known as the Chemin de Nans
  5. 4 : km 2.34 - alt. 431 m - Cairn
  6. 5 : km 3.15 - alt. 610 m - Oppidum of Piégu
  7. 6 : km 4.55 - alt. 556 m - PR
  8. 7 : km 5.07 - alt. 579 m - GRP Sainte Baume Circular Route
  9. 8 : km 5.89 - alt. 545 m - Y-junction
  10. 9 : km 7.05 - alt. 551 m - Crossroads of trails
  11. 10 : km 7.91 - alt. 595 m - Castrum and Chapel
  12. 11 : km 8.52 - alt. 481 m - Oratory
  13. 12 : km 9.21 - alt. 390 m - Rue Sainte-Anne
  14. 13 : km 9.4 - alt. 372 m - Av Jean Moulin
  15. S/E : km 9.74 - alt. 361 m - Chemin du Clos car park

Notes

Sturdy footwear is essential for the climb up to Le Piégu.

Worth a visit

(10) The castrum dates from the 11th century and a village developed around it, Rothgerium from the 12th century onwards, before moving down to the upper village at the foot of the cliffs and then to its current location in the 15th century. The ruins can be visited with caution due to the cliffs.
(10) The Saint-Jean de Solférino chapel, built in the 19th century for the visit of Napoleon III, has been remarkably restored.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Yvainb
Yvainb

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An afternoon walk. A fairly steep climb up to Le Piégu, with not much of a view due to the trees; then a circular route and an easy climb up to Le Castrum, the most interesting part with its views and ruins. A very pleasant descent down to Rougier. Came across a cyclist and a local walker heading up to Le Castrum. A lovely little walk to get back into shape.

Machine-translated

User 12114891

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk offering beautiful views of Rougiers and the surrounding area.

Machine-translated

Frfoxy
Frfoxy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that follows many forest trails and a few fire roads, but not too wide.
No technical difficulties.
The end of the climb to Piegu is quite steep.
I lost the trail a few dozen metres before point 5 (no trail or was it my mistake?), but quickly found it again thanks to the Visorando GPS.
Very beautiful views at the top of Piegu and especially at the St Jean chapel, which was unfortunately closed (rockfall?).
I highly recommend this hike

Machine-translated

Pat Patroff
Pat Patroff

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely find, a lovely route.
A bit of a steep climb up to the Piégu hill fort.
The GPS route is a bit hit-and-miss at times, but you always find your way back.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.