The Tallagard Massif

Located east of Salon-de-Provence, Tallagard is a plateau that stretches towards Aurons and Vernègues and offers easy hikes. Several well-preserved drystone shelters are visible from the start of the hike. The view is pleasant, overlooking the Alpilles, Mont Ventoux, Sainte-Baume and Sainte-Victoire.

Details

403235
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 246 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 237 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 311 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 117 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: To reach the Tallagard car park, cross the Canal de Provence, then go under the motorway bridge and turn immediately right. Follow the signs for S.P.A, Randonnée Massif Tallagard (on a brown background), DFCI.

(S/E) Leave the car park via the small road perpendicular to the motorway and after 250m you will reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn right. Check the very detailed information board for details. Our route initially follows the Pastorale trail, but in reverse.
Continue along this paved road, which climbs for 150 metres until you reach a small flat area where the road makes a sharp right turn. A flat path branches off to your right. After 100 metres, you will see a large high-voltage pylon.

(2) Pass under the high-voltage line and continue until you reach the ruins of a pavilion attributed to the bailiff of Suffren. After 20 metres, a path allows you to descend easily.
Retrace your steps for 50 metres and take a path that climbs up to your right between the water tower cisterns. Cross the high-voltage line again (towards the east). This is a fairly narrow path that climbs steeply.
A small tourist information sign indicates a water gallery. Continue 10 metres ahead on a slightly overgrown path to reach the exit of the gallery, which is closed by a metal gate.
Return to the sign and continue along the path. You will come to a wider path. Turn right and continue for 50 metres, then turn right again. The path is signposted. After passing under the high-voltage line again (now heading west), leave the path on your left and you will see the first drystone shelter.

(3) Continue in this direction (parallel to the high-voltage line) until you reach the wider path, then pass under the line again (east). About 50m further on, you will see a beautiful drystone shelter with an enclosure on your right. Take a look inside.
A little further on, at a triangular crossroads, first turn right then left and join the wide path that heads east for 150 m and then north for 100 m. You are now on the main road across the plateau.

(4) Turn right until you reach the Y-junction 20m further on (elevation 223). Take the left fork and you will come to another junction. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the path to the picnic tables on your left, but after 100m take the path that leads to the orientation table.

(5) Rejoin the path you left via a south-east-facing path through the woods. Keep left on this wide path and continue straight ahead, ignoring all the paths on either side. Pass under a second power line.

(6) When you reach a large crossroads, turn right at the hairpin bend to reach Les Plaines (a large building on the right), where the path is lined on both sides by an unattractive high fence. Join the busy D16 road.

(7) Cross the road, walk about ten metres to the left, then turn right onto the path that runs parallel to the road through the woods and joins it at a bend. Follow it straight ahead for 200 metres before turning right to walk alongside it.

(8) Take the path on the right, which quickly turns east-northeast, and walk through this fairly open area, making sure to keep going in this direction (ignore all the paths on either side). Once you reach the Aurons road (D69), turn left to reach the junction with the D16.

(9) Cross the junction (take care) and turn right for about 20 metres. Leave the road and head north on the path on the left, which runs more or less parallel to the road.

(10) At elevation 298, rejoin the road. Do not take it, but follow the path parallel to it for about 100 metres, then turn left. Walk for about 300 metres, then turn sharply right and rejoin the road. Follow it on the left until the next crossroads.

(11) Turn left towards the Chapelle Saint-Martin, which you will have seen some time ago. Take the time to walk around it, as it is usually closed.
Then descend to the crossroads where you will rejoin theGR®6(white and red markings), which you will follow for more than three kilometres.

(12) At a memorial stone, leave the road and follow theGR® on your left. After about 700 metres, follow theGR® markings to descend to the right and reach a large crossroads in a wide valley.

(13) Turn left, then turn right shortly afterwards to reach a wide track. Turn right and continue straight ahead on this track, which passes a cistern and then winds down a beautiful descent before reaching a crossroads with an oratory.

(14) Leave theGR® trail on your right and continue straight ahead on a wide path at the bottom of the valley. Pass a first crossroads with a cistern on your left and a house on your right, just before the high-voltage power line.
Continue straight ahead on the Tallagard path to return to the starting crossroads.

(1) Retrace your steps to return directly to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 117 m - Tallagard car park
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 122 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 166 m - Ruins of the Pavillon du Bailli de Suffren
  4. 3 : km 1.3 - alt. 197 m - First drystone shelters
  5. 4 : km 1.67 - alt. 224 m - Y-junction, left
  6. 5 : km 2.29 - alt. 256 m - Viewpoint and orientation table
  7. 6 : km 3.74 - alt. 295 m - At the large crossroads, take the hairpin bend to the right
  8. 7 : km 4.36 - alt. 300 m - Crossroads with the D16
  9. 8 : km 5.28 - alt. 291 m - Path on the right
  10. 9 : km 6.34 - alt. 284 m - Crossing the D16
  11. 10 : km 7.12 - alt. 297 m - Turn left onto the D16
  12. 11 : km 8.2 - alt. 262 m - At the crossroads, turn left towards the chapel
  13. 12 : km 8.62 - alt. 240 m - Stele of the Maquis
  14. 13 : km 9.45 - alt. 252 m - T-junction, turn left
  15. 14 : km 11.92 - alt. 171 m - Notre-Dame de Lourdes Oratory, straight ahead
  16. S/E : km 14.43 - alt. 117 m - Tallagard car park

Notes

There are no water sources along the route, but the drystone shelters can provide shelter.
Even though the path is always wide and clear, good shoes and walking sticks are useful.
There are numerous paths and tracks in the drystone shelter area. The green markings for the 'La Pastorale' trail can be used as a guide to the viewpoint (the routes are often the same).

Worth a visit

Visit the Bailli de Suffren pavilion, with its mullioned corner window, and the restored drystone shelters at the start of the hike.
The Romanesque Saint-Martin Chapel, restored around 2000, is a second point of interest.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Rando lyon
Rando lyon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Clear explanations, beautiful landscapes, varied.
A good time

Machine-translated

gg13500
gg13500

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Thanks for sharing.

We did this hike on a beautiful day in October.
It's an interesting hike if you're looking for an easy hike near Salon that lasts about four hours, but...
- you need to have your phone with you the whole way to follow the route (my phone battery died for the first time ever...)
- there are many sections close to or on roads.
- there are few interesting views.
- mainly hunters and motorbikes on the trails.

Machine-translated

JJBOUR
JJBOUR

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike as a substitute because the weather was average in the Luberon, where we had planned to go. We did this hike to keep up our pace. But honestly, it's just average. Well, it's okay at the beginning until point 7. Then from point 11 (Chapelle Saint Martin) to point 14 (under the woods), it's okay.
In between, it's just so-so... and the end isn't great (a long stretch of tarmac). Thanks anyway to whoever put it on Viso...
By the way, with the IGN map in the background, there were no problems following the route. I subscribe to Visorando with this map, it's the best. We've never got lost since we started using it.

Machine-translated

Christine_aix
Christine_aix

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike
Easy to follow thanks to the map and GPS
Option to follow smaller paths to avoid tracks

Machine-translated

miriel
miriel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I found this hike very interesting. Easy. Very beautiful drystone shelters at the start of the hike.
The only minor issue is that the end of the hike is almost 2 km of paved road, but there are no vehicles. I looked for a way to avoid this section of road, but it would have made the hike longer. So overall, it's a hike worth doing.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that we took some small paths parallel to the track to get more shade.

Machine-translated

bm.mar13
bm.mar13

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Unclear description, more like a tourist guide than a hiking route!
Nice hike with no difficulties

Machine-translated

phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk is particularly worthwhile for the magnificent drystone shelters (bories) and St Martin's Chapel, as well as some beautiful rocks and pleasant woodland.
It's true that the guidebook is sometimes vague, even misleading, but with a good map you'll always find your way. Let's just say you need to pay close attention to the forks in the road

Machine-translated

marmir13
marmir13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Amazing weather, huge drystone shelters that are different from the traditional ones. The only downside is that the road is a bit too close for 5 kilometres.

Machine-translated

bert1965
bert1965

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Things to do for the drystone shelters

Machine-translated

PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful, easy hike in pleasant surroundings.
PP and MM

Machine-translated

th.arnal
th.arnal

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

GPS is essential at the start of the route.

Machine-translated

jpcherbr
jpcherbr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello.
I went hiking in early October and the weather was beautiful.
I had a few problems finding my way around the drystone shelters as the explanations are a bit confusing!
After that, we had no trouble finding our way, even if the explanations didn't always match the reality on the ground.
Thanks for the walks.
JP

Machine-translated

marichou1958
marichou1958

we never found the starting point for the hike; we passed the canal and under the motorway numerous times, but apparently not in the right place... More details are needed!!!

Machine-translated

Teksaintmitre
Teksaintmitre

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route. The two drystone shelters on the route are magnificent. A hunter pointed out two others to us 200 metres away from the route, on the climb before the orientation table.
Sometimes there were a few doubts about the location. The high-voltage power lines are good landmarks, as is the direction of the trail when compared to the map.
I'm surprised that for the first half of the route (up to the chapel), the GPX track I loaded onto my Garmin watch doesn't follow the map, but joins certain points of the route in a straight line. This isn't a problem except on the climb at the start. From the chapel onwards, the GPX track follows the map perfectly

Machine-translated

alain04800
alain04800

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Circuit with little interest. There is a serious lack of signposting on this circuit.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.