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In the village of Gémenos, take the D2 towards La Vallée de Saint-Pons, indicated by a sign. Park in the large car park on the left of the D2.
(S/E) Head towards the back of the car park, heading east, with the Torrent du Fauge on your left. Pass the Maison du Parc and follow the signs for Vallée de Saint-Pons. Cross a picnic area and you will arrive at the D2.
(1) Cross the road carefully and follow signs for Le Paradou, a paper mill founded inthe 17th century. Visit the site, then exit on the left at the end of the large driveway. Take a detour to the Chapelle Saint-Martin chapel, then continue towards the Abbaye de Saint-Pons. Pass Le Foulon, an old mill, and you will come to a fork in the road.
(2) Ignore the bridge on the left, which will be the return route, and continue towards Abbaye de Saint-Pons as indicated by the signs until you reach Moulin dit de Cuges and its waterfall.
(3) On the right, go under a porch, climb a few steps and follow the signs for Saint-Pons Abbey. Continue for about 300 metres until you reach a crossroads.
(4) Go straight ahead, cross a small wooden bridge to reach the Source de Saint-Pons. Then walk around the abbey, which is usually closed. Head west to reach a stone bridge.
(5) Cross it and you will come to a Y-junction. Turn right towards La Glacière. Follow the wide path heading north. Pass by an old plaster factory. You will see the Pic de Bertagne. You will come to an X-junction with an underground cistern (no. 69) and signposts.
(6) Follow the signs to La Glacière on the right via Vallon du Fauge. The path alternates between flat sections, wooded areas, scree and rocky slabs, but is not difficult. After a sharp left turn, you will reach a Y-junction and a signpost at elevation 649.
(7) Follow the signs for La Glacière. Pass by a cabin belonging to the Excursionnistes Marseillais and arrive at La Glacière. Visit the site. Be very careful, as there is a risk of falling.
(8) Descend the small steep path to the left of La Glacière. Further down, you will reach a Y-junction and turn right onto the Chemin de La Glace. The path descends steadily, winding its way down. Pass by a small cave. You will reach an X-junction and a signpost at elevation 463.
(9) Turn left towards Abbaye de Saint Pons. You will come to the D2: follow it for about 250 m (recommended), or follow a small parallel path below, which is sloping but very slippery (take care).
(10) At a bend at elevation 394, leave the road on the left and follow the path that joins the X-shaped crossroads and cistern no. 69 from the outward journey further down.
(6) Keep to the right and follow the uphill track that runs alongside the D2. You will come to a barrier. Just before this barrier, look for the start of a narrow, overgrown path.
(11) Turn left onto this path, which runs along the crest of the hill. Be careful not to get scratched. You will reach a fork 100 m before the road.
(12) Turn left onto the path that winds downhill with a few steps. You will come to a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right to rejoin the path you took on the way up.
(2) Follow the same route back to the Saint-Pons car park on the right (S/E).
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