The Muéron Cave and the Blavet Gorges in Bagnols-en-Forêt

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A walk in an exceptional location, discovering the Blavet Gorges and the Mueron Cave, inhabited during the Bronze Age.
Ideal in summer and mid-season, avoid periods of heavy rain.

Details

n°139387
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.28 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 197 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 192 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 263 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 94 m
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Photos

The Mueron Cave
The undergrowth along the Blavet
carved millstone, oppidum Bayonne (pagan churches)
mueron cave

Description of the walk

(S) Depart from the Gorges du Blavet car park on the RD47.
Take the track (Piste de Bayonne) and follow it south-west for 100 metres.

(1) Take the small path straight ahead that follows the riverbed (south-west).

(2) At the crossroads, turn right (south-east) and head down towards the ford.

(3) Cross the ford and then follow the path on the right (south-southeast) towards the cave.

(4) Look for the numerous climbing routes around the cave.

(5) Continue along the trail to the Piste de la Lieutenante (GR®®51). When you reach the bridge, look down to see the canal carved into the rock that was used to supply a mill.

(6) Then turn left (east) onto theGR®®51, marked in white and red.
Continue east on theGR®®51towards the water tower track (cistern indicated on the sign).

(7) When you reach the water tower, climb (north-west) up the small path to join a track and leave theGR®®51 onthe left (despite the cross indicating otherwise) to continue north-west on the Bayonne Track. Admire the view of the gorges and, on the right, a large Gallo-Roman oppidum (the ancient Bagnols).

Continue to the car park along the track lined with chestnut trees (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 209 m - Gorges du Blavet car park - Blavet (rivière) - Affluent de l'Argens
  2. 1 : km 0.1 - alt. 207 m - Take the small path straight ahead.
  3. 2 : km 1.29 - alt. 177 m - Fork in the road
  4. 3 : km 1.42 - alt. 139 m - The ford
  5. 4 : km 1.58 - alt. 158 m - Grotte du Muéron (Bagnols-en-Forêt)
  6. 5 : km 2.34 - alt. 101 m - GR51
  7. 6 : km 2.59 - alt. 102 m - Turn left
  8. 7 : km 4.29 - alt. 206 m - Water tower
  9. S/E : km 6.28 - alt. 207 m - Blavet Gorges car park

Notes

No special equipment required, just good shoes. The rocks are slippery when wet.
A pleasant walk all year round, but avoid rainy periods. Also worth doing in summer to enjoy the shade.

Worth a visit

Internet link to the Blavet Gorges and the Mueron Blavet Cave

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.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 133 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
JB Prieur
JB Prieur

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with a variety of landscapes.
Views of the Blavet Gorges, the Roquebrune massif and the Esterel

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cricri83
cricri83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

easy

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Tch01
Tch01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a wonderful hike.

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Michel Etienne
Michel Etienne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It was a lovely walk, though the signposting was a bit haphazard, especially at the fords – all the more so as the water level was high. It had rained heavily the week before. Then, at point 4, ignore the cross and carry straight on; otherwise you’ll stray from the route.

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tebon
tebon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant stroll in a remarkable location.

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Michel bagnols
Michel bagnols

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Mainly frequented by friendly CT "climbers"

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Phiphi92
Phiphi92

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb route with a beautiful view of the town of Fréjus.

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Alix06
Alix06

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike is done in reverse, which makes it easy to descend on good trails and pass through the most eroded parts of the gorges on the way up, which is then done without difficulty.
Walking clockwise also has the advantage of allowing you to walk back up in the shade.

Be sure to make a round trip to a viewpoint near the road; the trail is 600 m from the car park. You can also stop there by car (43.52073, 6.649822).

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P.Pitta
P.Pitta

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The trail is very poorly maintained: rainwater has severely eroded its slopes, leaving large rocks that are difficult to climb over in the long run. If you suffer from knee or ankle problems, it is difficult.
The markings are unclear, sometimes orange, sometimes yellow, and just after the climbing walls, past the Mueron cave, after a difficult descent, again due to rainwater, an orange cross indicates not to take the path downhill. However, if you follow the orange markings, you will climb well above the recommended route and reach the RD47. In fact, you had to descend, ignoring the orange X, to be on the right path for the proposed hike.
Otherwise, the setting is magnificent, and the long passages through the Blavet gorges in the forest are very pleasant. The views of the landscape are surprising, with the contrast between the red rocks of the Estérel and the black and green trees. The spectacle offered by the climbers is also impressive.

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Adeline Lili
Adeline Lili

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

When I arrived at the car park, everything was clearly signposted, which was great. I followed the orange trail, which took me about 10 km through the gorges to the cave, and the climb up to the road was magnificent. Then I followed the orange trail that leads into the Esterel massif, beyond the road. You have to be careful to find it again, because it's a very difficult trail. I climbed to an altitude of 550 m on a marked path, but with small stones like scree. The descent was also very perilous, but it was incredible. I was completely alone in the world, with no one else on the second part, which is certainly not part of this hike. At the same time, in the middle of August, not many people go hiking in this heat.

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User 8608126

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Short, easy hike, mostly shaded. Several routes and options to continue on other trails from the orientation table.

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ANAIS31770
ANAIS31770

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, mostly in the shade. Close to climbing routes, slightly uneven terrain, so caution is advised when descending if you have knee problems.

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User 8608126

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy route, shaded for much of the way, with fine views over the Argens plain.

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fabriv
fabriv

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

très belle balade
I also advise you on the way back to make an Alte on the car park before the hairpin bend towards la bouverie where there is a viewpoint and to set off on foot for 15 minutes for a breathtaking viewpoint over the gorges and on the way back just before the red signposting 5 metres away to set off downhill for another viewpoint.

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Realtek94
Realtek94

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Half the route is in the shade, accompanied by the song of the torrent. To the bridge below.
2 fords that can be tricky. If complicated, walk with your feet in the water.
Path deteriorated by passages. Large rock steps. Use of sticks useful.
Nice intermediate climb to the cave, remarkable.
Nice picnic spot at the bridge.
Long climb back up on wide path with beautiful views of the gorges at the top, best lit in the morning.
Quiet return to the car park.

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