Park in the car park (flood zone, as indicated by a sign) on the banks of the Ruisseau de la Bretonne. Motorhomes are permitted.
Markings:GR® White and Red +PR® Yellow
(S/E) Follow the small tarmac road north-west, pass the remarkable Roman bridge and continue for about 200 metres.
No markings
(1) Leave theGR® andPR® (theGR®36route on the IGN map is incorrect here) and take a wide, gently sloping stony path on the right.
(2) Where this path leads to a vineyard and seems to come to a dead end, turn right onto a much narrower path. This path crosses several difficult passages where the trail is reduced to a deep rut that is sometimes difficult to negotiate (to be avoided at all costs in heavy rain) before joining a dirt track at a hairpin bend.
Markings:GR® White and Red +PR® Yellow
(3) Turn left, keep left at the fork that follows, then continue along this almost flat track through a fairly sparse pine forest with beautiful views on the right. Ignore the various paths branching off to the left and right and continue to a triangular crossroads. Cut left via a small grassy shortcut to reach, about twenty metres further on, an asphalt road that has seen better days.
YellowPR® markings
(4) Leave theGR® trail on your left and turn right. Pass the access road to a small farm building on your left and you will reach a fork in the road about 200 metres further on.
Turn left slightly uphill, following the sign for "Au Tour de Matelbine - Le Lac" (Au Tour in two words on the sign in question!). Leave a vineyard path on your left and, at the fork that appears shortly afterwards, follow either the right or left branch (the two rejoin a little further on). Ignore another path on the right and continue along the hillside to the small lake (more of a large pond).
(5) Take the opportunity to stop for a break or a picnic, as the site is very pleasant and has several tables in the shade. Then continue along the route through the broom and pine trees until you reach a three-way crossroads.
(6) Take the left-hand path (not shown on the IGN map but clearly visible on the ground and signposted) following the sign for "Au Tour de Matelbine - Monze -1h30". The path, which is wide at the start, quickly narrows to a narrow track that winds its way through a magnificent pine forest to a fork.
(7) Turn right and walk about 60 metres to reach the Matelbine Tower, standing proudly (or at least what remains of it) on its promontory. Access to the tower itself is prohibited (fence) due to the possibility of falling rocks. Retrace your steps.
(7) Turn right onto the path, pass a ruin on your right, then, after going down and up a few log steps, you will come to a much wider grassy path. Turn right, keep right at the next fork, then veer left to cross a meadow lined with beautiful pine trees on your right.
About 50 metres after the end of the meadow, leave the wide path and take a narrow path on the right (cairn + yellowPR® markings) which cuts across the bend. Continue to the road.
White and redGR® markings + yellowPR® markings
(8) Follow this road to the right, go around two hairpin bends and continue between the vineyards. Enjoy the view to the right (south-east) of the gently rolling countryside planted with vineyards, where a few cypress hedges give the whole area a Tuscan feel.
(1) Continue straight ahead to the car park at the start (S/E).