Montclar Castle, starting from Seyne-les-Alpes

Park in the car park at Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth Church, in Seyne-les-Alpes.

(S/E) Cross the Grand Rue (look out for a sign pointing towards the Vauban Citadel). Walk past the church porch and take the path to quickly reach the entrance to Fort Vauban.

(1) Walk a few metres to the left to cross the bridge leading to the citadel, where you can admire the first sections of wall dating from the 17th century; then, from this car park, walk round the citadel, keeping the rampart on your left, until you reach the Rochas crossroads.

(2) Continue to the left along this road, which is lined with woodland. Keep to the left at the next crossroads. Walk past the Barneaud housing estate and, after the last buildings, turn right (you’ll see the ‘La Gineste’ sign here). After a gentle climb, turn left at the transformer into the yellow-marked path at the edge of the woods (there is a wooden signpost indicating ‘La Pare’). You will soon reach an unmarked crossroads of paths,

(3) Continue straight on along this ascending path. The junction by the drinking trough is barely visible. Carry on straight ahead. Continue the climb to reach a high point marked by the ‘La Pare’ marker.

(4) Follow the ridge line, which ends in a steep descent, leading – after a tight hairpin bend – to a junction with a track. There is a marker at this junction.

(5) Carry on straight ahead. At the next track, take the path on the right, heading towards the castle whilst continuing to follow the yellow markings. You will reach a junction of tracks, situated just after the entrance to the castle.

(6) Turn right onto a gently sloping path and you will soon come to a junction of trackways.

(7) Leave the yellow markings here. Continue to the right, climbing via a few tight hairpin bends on a wide track, and carry on uphill until you reach the junction.

(8) Turn right and continue along the flat for 300 m

(9) Turn left at this junction of tracks and you’ll reach a hairpin bend.

(10) Take a clearly visible path on the left which leads into the woodland and follow it.

(11) Continue left along this wide path through the woodland and carry on straight ahead until you reach a large field near the hamlet of La Pare. Please note: on this section, ignore the tracks created in the woodland by farm machinery.

(12) Turn right; a concrete electricity pylon lying on its side to the right serves as a visual landmark here. Continue along the ascending track. After the house, carry on straight ahead, skirting the edge of the woodland.

(13) Take a clearly visible path slightly to the right on the embankment. Then, following a circular loop, reach a crossroads at the top of this climb. Turn right to return to the crossroads at the start of the walk. The Visorando app will be helpful here, as there are several paths branching off which could lead to you taking a wrong turn.

(3) At the end of the path, head down the embankment on the left to rejoin the path you took at the start of the walk. Follow the route you took on the way there, but in the opposite direction.

(2) Carry on straight ahead along Rue Antoine Niquet, which leads into La Seyne-les-Alpes, and after about a hundred metres, turn left down the steps. Once on the Grand Rue, take the pavement on the right, which leads back to the car park (S/E).

Take care between point (1) and the transformer – road traffic
After point (12), using the app is a good idea.
There is no water along the route.
This walk is best enjoyed in dry weather.
(1) At the citadel, picnic area
Public toilets

(S/E) The Church of Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth is a fine example of Romanesque architecture in Provence; it has been a listed historic monument since 1842 and is open only on Sundays from 10.30 am to 11.30 am
(1) The Vauban Citadel, also known as the Seyne Citadel, is open to the public all year round for self-guided tours from 10.00 to 12.30 and from 13.30 to 17.00, as well as for guided tours organised by the Fort et Patrimoine association.