Figuerolles Fort via the ridges

At Le Rove on the D568, park in the Allée des Écoles near the pharmacy.

(S/E) Head west, pass the pharmacy, then cross the road at the traffic lights to take Chemin des Esclades opposite. Follow this tarmac road for about 200 m until you reach a gate and the start of the DFCI CB115 track.
Go through the barrier and follow the track which runs alongside some houses, turns left and climbs into the hills. You will reach a Y-junction.

(1) Turn left and stay on the track which descends and winds frequently to the left and right. Pass under a high-voltage power line. You will reach the 130-metre mark, at the Y-junction, with tall pine trees and a fenced enclosure for game.

(2) Turn left and follow the track to a Y-junction in an open area.

(3) Turn sharp right towards the south onto a wide path with lovely views of Le Rove and the surrounding area. Keep right at a Y-junction, then catch sight of the Bay of Marseille, the Frioul Islands and the Château d’If. You’ll reach a T-junction with the Chemin de la Batterie de Figuerolles.

(4) Turn left onto this path. At the apex of a sharp left-hand bend, look out for a path leading down to the right.

(5) Follow this path, then 3 metres further on, turn left onto a track that climbs eastwards and joins a ridge line. Pass the 213-metre mark. After passing a boulder, the track descends steadily, with a few smooth, slippery patches to negotiate. Take care. Take in the scenery. The descent becomes steep and slippery over the last fifty metres before reaching a T-junction.

(6) Turn left onto the yellow-marked path. You will soon come across an old stone shelter on the right, once used by customs officers. After crossing a small bridge, you will reach a Y-junction.

(7) Turn right onto the light blue-marked path. Pass marker no. 81 on the Sentier des Douaniers and arrive near the railway line (concrete steps). Turn right. Note the tunnels carved into the rock and, further up, an old blockhouse. The path runs alongside the railway line then veers off to the right to cross a rocky mound.
Note: on the other side of the rocky mound, do not venture left into the narrow, steep-sided valley thinking you can reach the sea under a viaduct. It is a dead end with a cliff.

(8) Turn left onto the stony path which climbs steeply and is marked in light blue. At the summit, you can see Fort de Figuerolles. Head in that direction. Keep to the right at the various junctions and follow the clearly visible path heading north-west, which leads to the front of the fort.
Explore the area by walking in a circular loop from left to right. Pass by a cave and then head north again. You’ll reach a three-way fork near the road.

(9) Stay on the middle path and pass to the left of a large rock. The path then veers away from the road, heading north-west. Pass by another cave and some ancient fortifications. You’ll arrive higher up at a flat, open area with a Y-junction.

(10) Turn right onto the wide path, then a few metres further on, turn left onto the path that runs along the ridge. Take in the view. Pass the 188-metre mark. You’ll reach Route Pompidou and follow it for a few metres to the left.

(11) Leave the road to the right onto the path that climbs. About 60 m further on, turn left and continue north-west for 150 m. You’ll reach an X-junction.

(12) Turn left towards the west and take a few bends to approach a rocky outcrop, following it along its base. At the end of the rocks, veer slightly right onto a steep, rocky climb towards the summit of the Baou de l’Œuvre and its Peace and Love cross. Further on to the right, just after the Baou de l’Œuvre sign, you’ll find the Croix des Dames hidden in the vegetation. At the end of the hill, head down to the right until you reach an X-junction in the hollow of a small valley.

(13) Continue straight ahead up a slope that joins a new ridge line and a T-junction. Turn right, heading north. The path then descends through the trees to join a wide track.

(14) Turn left onto this track, then reach a junction with a DFCI track; follow this to the right, heading north-east. Pass under a high-voltage power line and rejoin the fork from the outward journey.

(1) Turn left and follow the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey to return to the starting point (S/E)

As a guide: the author’s time for this route was 3 hours 20 minutes (excluding breaks).

Apart from the start and end of the route on wide tracks, the path mainly follows ridgelines with numerous ascents and descents, rocky sections and large, smooth, sloping rock faces to negotiate.
This route can therefore be classified as difficult for those without prior experience.
It is also strongly advised against undertaking this hike in wet weather or after heavy rain, as the route can be very slippery in many places. Take great care.