La Destrousse walks

A walk to the lovely 360° viewpoint of Mont du Marseillais in the hinterland of the Marseille region.

Starting from La Bouilladisse station, this hike climbs through oak and pine forests onto a vast plateau, then descends through gorges to the hamlet of Le Pigeonnier and then La Bouillladisse. The hike is accessible via the free public transport network of the Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Étoile. Line 5: La Bouilladisse station stop.

This short walk on the heights of Auriol was discovered by chance while trying to get as close as possible to the chapel, which stands out immaculately against the blue sky. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with the family, climbing just 37 metres. From the top, there is a remarkable view of the village and the entire surrounding area, from the northern slopes of the Sainte-Baume mountain range to the east to the Étoile mountain range to the west.

This hike around Peypin will allow you to discover the village, its history and its hills. You will walk along a stream, which is remarkable when in full flow with its small waterfall and pools, and follow paths through shady valleys. The hike ends with a tour of the village's narrow streets and a visit to the castle. If you wish, you can skip this last part (see (8) for things to do nearby).

This hike takes you through the forest and vineyards. Along the way, you will discover the care and attention that winegrowers devote to their vines in order to produce the best wine possible. The icing on the cake is that you can visit the Auriol wine cellars and taste the wines produced from the vines you have just walked through.

Mont du Marseillais, which is easily accessible, offers a wonderful 360° panorama of the surrounding mountains and even the Mercantour on a clear day. After passing the small summit of Le Défens, the descent is via Le Grand Vallon to return to the Marseillais valley, where pine trees reign supreme. A beautiful, peaceful loop in unspoilt wilderness, undisturbed by the rare cars that use the tracks.

This walk is not difficult as it is mostly on easy-to-walk, fairly wide tracks. It takes you through the heath with beautiful views of Sainte-Victoire and Sainte-Baume. Its highest point, Le Régagnas, offers a 360° view, which is perfect on clear days. You can picnic nearby and even see the foothills of the Alps if the weather permits.

A beautiful hike above Cadolive that will take you to the summit of Mont Julien, where you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Sainte-Victoire, the Alps and the bay of Marseille.

Starting from the Micocouliers car park above Pichauris, this beautiful circular route around the Grands Ubacs will take you to the orientation table and beneath the antennas of Mont du Marseillais. You can discover the places where Yves Robert located Marcel Pagnol's holiday home in the film "La Gloire de mon Père" (My Father's Glory).

A beautiful hike with cable and chain passages and magnificent 360° views from the top of the Garlaban. Please note that a municipal by-law has prohibited descent via the Dansaires trail since 2010 due to rockfalls.

A splendid walk starting from the Encanaux, near Auriol, along the top of the Infernets and then the Coutronne ravines. At times along the cliffside ravines, similar to some sections of the Gorges du Verdon. From Lare Pass (Col de la Lare), you will have a magnificent view of the Sainte-Baume range and the Pic de Bertagne to the south and Sainte-Victoire Mountain, Mont Olympe and Mont Aurélien to the north.

Hike near Auriol, in the Encanaux and Infernets ravines, with an ascent of two rarely visited peaks, discovery of caves and a visit to the Encanaux ice house.

The Encanaux and Infernets ravines are two remarkable valleys near Auriol. This route will take you up the entire length of the wild Encanaux ravine, which is very quiet and shaded in hot weather. The return journey will take you through the more classic Coutronne and Infernets ravines with their beautiful landscapes.

As soon as you enter the park, you immediately tackle a steep climb. You’ll encounter much narrower paths, as well as unmarked paths and paths that are barely there: it’s a bit like a treasure hunt. So this is for experienced hikers. There will also be DFCI tracks. The off-track sections are no longer than 300 metres, so nothing to worry about. However, you will needto use the GPX track on your GPS. It is a physically demanding but lovely hike. It follows the ridges. It’s a great experience with magnificent scenery. For much of the way, there are also areas of undergrowth to cross, such as the Bois de la Lare, which the route passes through on the descent. The route also takes in the Grottes des Infernets, with views of the spring bubbling up, depending on the time of year.

A short, easy and pleasant hike, alternating between springs, gorges and small caves, with picnic areas along the stream. Moderator's warning on 25/01/2021: Please note! Reviews of this hike indicate that it is preferable to have a GPS device to follow the route correctly and that some paths have been overgrown.

A lovely short hike starting from Belcodène towards Les Michels. Panoramic views of Sainte-Victoire and the Étoile mountain range. Moderate elevation gain. The hike is accessible via the free bus network of the Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Étoile.

This hike leads to the Hermitage of Saint-Jean du Puy, an observatory overlooking the Arc Valley and facing the Sainte-Victoire Mountain. On the other side, to the south, is the village of Saint-Zacharie and the Sainte-Baume mountain range. The site, which has become a favourite spot for hikers, consists of a refuge, a chapel, a shelter with gardens and a watchtower that serves as an observatory overlooking the valley.

This isan easy hike with stunningly beautiful views. Overall, you will walk along long stretches of mountainside, some of which are a little tricky and require you to take your time, but which offer truly breathtaking views.