Lake Sainte-Suzanne – Le Val – Fort de Correns, starting from Carcès

This cycle route will take you on a journey through the green heart of Provence, past its lakes and castles. It will guide you through the Provençal countryside, taking in charming traditional villages, lakes, vineyards and olive groves, along quiet roads and paths suitable for hybrid bikes. You’ll be free to stop off, for as long as you like, at your own pace, in the small villages to explore them.

Details

74491577
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Touring/Gravel
    Activity: Touring/Gravel
  • ↔
    Distance: 25.65 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 3 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,047 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,047 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,056 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 427 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Carcès (83570)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.475592° / E 6.182904°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3443OT, 3444OT

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     75% Road  25% Byway
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the route

Start from the car park, Rue Florentin Giraud.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, turn left, then, facing the wash house, turn right onto the D13, heading towards Cabasse and Lac de Carcès. Continue to the bridge over the Caramy.

(1) Do not cross the river via the bridge; instead, turn right, then immediately right onto Chemin Notre-Dame. Stay on this path until you reach a road on the left.

(2) Turn left onto Chemin des Prés-Neufs and stay on the main path until you reach the dam.

(3) Enjoy the view of the dam, then continue along the lake bank, straight ahead, until you reach a large junction with a cross-road.

(4) Turn right and follow the D24, which runs alongside the river "Le Caramy", straight on for 4.5 km, until you reach the village of Vins-sur-Caramy.

(5) As you approach the village, turn right onto the D224, heading towards the castle.

(6) Pass in front of the castle, weave through the village, pass between the Town Hall and the church, then turn left onto Rue des Jardins. At the wash house, turn left onto Route du Lac and reach a three-way junction just after the car park.

(7) Head up to the right onto Chemin de Saint-Christophe, then continue along the Ancien Chemin de Vins au Val and follow it to the end.

(8) Continue to the right onto the D224 and head towards a four-way junction at Le Val.

(9) Turn right onto Avenue Frédéric Mistral, then left at the Jardin Théâtre du Paradou. Pass the Espace Culturel du Val, then turn right at the corner of Place Louis Fournier, opposite No. 32. Continue straight on along Rue de la République, then Rue Dréo. Leave the village and arrive at a large crossroads.

(10) Cross the D562 with care, and continue straight ahead onto the D554, towards Barjols. Follow this road for about 4 km. After passing Château Réal Martin on your right, enter the forest and arrive at a three-way junction at the top of the hill, near the Miraval estate on your left.

(11) Take the small road on the right, Chemin des Adrechs, and head down to Correns. At the sewage treatment plant, keep right and, at the oratory, turn left. Continue to the next junction, at No. 16.

(12) Continue straight on, then turn left at the end of Rue Notre-Dame, towards the Town Hall. Then take the small road on the right, between Les Estres, and continue keeping to the right, until you reach the Grande Rue, at Porte Saint-Germain, with the bridge over the Argens on your left. Turn right and head for the entrance to the château on the right, at the corner of No. 11. You can reach it via a quick round trip.

(13) Continue along Grande Rue, then follow the route back in the opposite direction, turning left, until the junction at No. 16.

(12) Go up the bridge on the left, then continue to a three-way junction.

(14) Keep left, towards Chemin de La Pradérie and Chemin des Canebières, and follow the valley to the village of Monfort-sur-Argens.

(15) At the entrance to the village, continue straight on, and reach the end of Rue de la Rouguière, at the fountain.

(16) Turn right onto Grande Rue, then right again onto the next street, Rue du Moulin. Follow it to the end. Continue to the right and follow the D22 to the junction with the D45, after crossing the bridge over the Argens.

(17) Turn left onto the D45 towards Carcès, and join the D562.

(18) Turn left onto the D562, then immediately right onto Chemin du Plan. Follow this road to a three-way junction, just after the hamlet with the Chapelle Saint-Étienne du Clocher.

(19) Turn right onto Chemin des Bastides and, after 800 m, go round the Clos Gautier vineyard to reach a four-way junction by the vines.

(20) Turn left; at the next junction, turn left, then immediately right onto Chemin de la Bouque du Buou, and follow it to the end, where you’ll find No. 838 on your left.

(21) Turn right (Chemin des Pièces) and you will reach a side street.

(22) Continue left and, opposite the cemetery, turn left again, and head down the slope.

(23) Take the hairpin bend to the right, head towards the village centre and the car park on Rue Florentin Giraud (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 459 ft - Car park, Rue Florentin Giraud
  2. 1 : mi 0.37 - alt. 427 ft - Chemin Notre-Dame - Caramy (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.91 - alt. 443 ft - Chemin des Prés-Neufs - Chapelle Notre-Dame de Carami (Carcès)
  4. 3 : mi 2.22 - alt. 564 ft - Lac de Carcès
  5. 4 : mi 4.19 - alt. 584 ft - D24
  6. 5 : mi 6.88 - alt. 614 ft - D224, towards the castle
  7. 6 : mi 7.4 - alt. 669 ft - Lavoir de Vins-sur-Caramy
  8. 7 : mi 7.73 - alt. 666 ft - Chemin de Saint-Christophe
  9. 8 : mi 8.56 - alt. 699 ft - D224
  10. 9 : mi 11 - alt. 778 ft - Avenue Frédéric Mistral - Ribeirotte (rivière) - Affluent de l'Argens
  11. 10 : mi 11.53 - alt. 804 ft - D554, towards Barjols
  12. 11 : mi 14.03 - alt. 988 ft - Chemin des Adrechs
  13. 12 : mi 16.1 - alt. 522 ft - Return junction - Argens (fleuve)
  14. 13 : mi 16.48 - alt. 531 ft - Access to the castle
  15. 14 : mi 16.9 - alt. 564 ft - La Pradérie Path
  16. 15 : mi 19.28 - alt. 492 ft - Monfort-sur-Argens
  17. 16 : mi 19.71 - alt. 489 ft - Grande Rue
  18. 17 : mi 20.68 - alt. 489 ft - D45, towards Carcès
  19. 18 : mi 21.74 - alt. 479 ft - D562
  20. 19 : mi 23.08 - alt. 492 ft - Chemin des Bastides - Eglise St Etienne-du-Clocher
  21. 20 : mi 23.71 - alt. 561 ft - Four-way junction
  22. 21 : mi 24.46 - alt. 545 ft - End of the Chemin de la Bouque du Buou
  23. 22 : mi 24.98 - alt. 574 ft - Cross street
  24. 23 : mi 25.41 - alt. 518 ft - Junction at the bottom of the slope
  25. S/E : mi 25.65 - alt. 459 ft - Car park, Rue Florentin Giraud

Notes

This route is based on the one suggested on the “Provence Verte & Verdon Tourisme” website under the title: Lakes and Castles by Bike.

However, it differs from the original in two respects:

  1. It is situated on the western shore of the lake, which is more suitable for pedestrians and cyclists than the eastern shore, where there can be heavy traffic at weekends (D13).
  2. Not far from the village of Montfort, the original route involves crossing the River Argens via a footbridge (Graval), which is not well suited to electric bikes, whereas the alternative route takes a detour via the D22 and D45; whilst this is admittedly a little longer, it is better suited (please do exercise caution, however, given the traffic).

Worth a visit

  • Carcès: frescoes, glazed façades, fountains, lake, wash house
  • Vins sur Caramy: château and gardens, Roman bridge, Saint-Vincent Church, lake
  • Le Val: the Jardin des Gorguettes, medieval centre
  • Correns: typical village, medieval centre
  • Montfort-sur-Argens: castle (accessible on foot), church
  • Provençal countryside: olive trees, vineyards, rivers, lock, terraced fields

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