La Vigie via the Vallon des Gendarmes and the refuges

There is a car park in front of the forest barrier at the start of the hike, in front of the rubbish bins, as well as two spaces behind the bins. About 50 metres before you reach the forest barrier, there is a car park with five or six spaces.

(S/E) Go through the forest barrier and follow the marked path, GC 213. Start on the DFCI track that goes uphill. Continue on the path that goes uphill and veers slightly to the right with two concrete markers on the right and left. You will soon come to a path marked in yellow; stay on the very wide path that climbs uphill. This is the Chemin d'Aubagne. You will arrive at the cistern, number 116, on the Chemin d'Aubagne.

(1) Stay on the right-hand side of the path, even though there is another path that descends even more steeply, and continue straight ahead on the continuation of the path

(2) At the crossroads, take a pretty path that climbs to the left. Stay on this very pretty main path until you reach a path that turns to the left with a pile of stones. Do not take it, but continue on the main path that turns to the right. Find a large cairn in the middle of the path, continue on the path that goes to the left and follow a trail that goes into the undergrowth.

(3) At the crossroads, take the path on the left, which climbs steeply, as if you were retracing your steps. This path is a little wider and allows you to see the sky, whereas until now the hike has been in the undergrowth. Ignore the path that branches off to the right and continue on the main path. You will come across a very wide, well-levelled DFCI track. Take this track on the right.

(4) Follow the path that climbs at the end of the first large DFCI junction. It branches off to the right. Take it to pass behind the marker marked GC 109. The DFCI is a little less flat and climbs. It is marked in white, red and sky blue. Arrive at the Roquefort-la-Bédoule Refuge. Behind the refuge is cistern number 22. Continuing along the path behind the refuge, arrive at La Vigie where the views are beautiful.

(5) Then return to the path in front of the Roquefort-la-Bédoule refuge and continue left on the GR®, which is still well marked in white, red and sky blue. Follow the main path to the Cabane du Marquis (refuge). The path follows the GC109.

(6) At the Cabanon du Marquis, continue on the GR®98. Pass in front of cistern no. 39 or 63. Pass the wooden hiking signposts for hikers. Continue straight ahead on the path that begins to descend slightly to the left, but which is very wide and still marked in white and red on the GR®98. When you reach cistern no. 23, continue on the GR®98 which descends (GC 109, it is very wide).

(7) At the crossroads, leave the GR®98 when you reach the GC 214. Go around the marker on the right to take this path which goes uphill and gives the impression of retracing your steps.

(8) Pass in front of cistern 96, go around it to continue along a pretty path that passes right behind the cistern. Follow this pretty path through the undergrowth until you reach the tarmac road at a bend.

(9) Take it to the right as it climbs. Quickly leave the tarmac road for a path on the right that climbs quite steeply. It turns to the right. At the end of this uphill path, you will arrive in front of a large water cistern and transmission antennas.

(10) Continue along this wide path, which descends to the left, until you reach a forest barrier. Continue straight ahead on Chemin Eugène Julien and cross the tarmac road again. Take the DFCI GC 213 track on the right, pass to the right of the tennis courts, pass another forest barrier and join the path marked in yellow, continuing downhill and passing the tennis courts and football pitch. Continue along the yellow-marked path on the right. When you see the road opposite, take the path on the right to the forest barrier.

(11) Take the tarmac road, Chemin du Garlaban, which descends. Go past the first roundabout, continue straight ahead to cross Chemin d'Aubagne, which you should take on the right to the car park (S/E).

Proposed by A.M.I.S Rando Aubagne

Le Cabanon du Marquis, Refuge de Roquefort, La Bédoule, La Vigie, Roquefort La Bédoule and its viewpoints, and of course, the pretty undergrowth trails