Mont Cuit via the Grande Muraille

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I’d already done this hike on 21/01/24, taking a detour via Notre Dame de Paracol to avoid the housing estate …
I followed the same route as before, then headed towards Mont Cuit and descended to point 9. About 400m further down is a cistern, at which point I took another detour leading to the prehistoric shelter at Les Essartènes, where one can admire the magnificent paintings left by our Chalcolithic ancestors (who mastered copper smelting)… To reach it, it takes a good 1 hour 15 minutes and an extra 3 km: follow the track to the right of the cistern for 1 km, then, under the high-voltage power line, a small cairn marks a path to the left which crosses a dry stream and climbs steeply up the slope alongside the power line to reach the ridge after a 400-metre climb. At the top, you turn southwards for about 100 metres before taking a path on the left that leads you to the prehistoric shelter that few people know about…
Return to the cistern to continue along the track opposite, the one from the original route.
This detour is a pleasant surprise and adds an extra dimension to this hike. I highly recommend it!
Patrick

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Date of your route : Mar 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route up to point 9 is very interesting. The path is quite steep in places, both uphill and downhill. You might need to use your hands at times. But the views are well worth the effort.
From point 9 onwards, the path turns into a track, allowing you to make your way back to the start at a leisurely pace.
As suggested by lahoz, the climb to the “Notre Dame de Parancol” monastery is a real highlight of the hike. I started from the school car park mentioned in the description. Just after the road bridge, turn right and follow the yellow markers leading to the monastery.

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Date of your route : Jan 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with magnificent views. Quite technical ascent and descent at the beginning before the Great Wall and then the ascent of Mount Cuit. We did this hike using the GPX track without any problems.

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Date of your route : Jan 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike with magnificent views, especially from the summit of ND Paracol. The descent from Mont Cuit is quite tricky and requires caution and walking poles.
Thank you.

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Date of your route : Sep 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, but perhaps best avoided during very hot weather.

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Date of your route : Feb 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike to be done in spring when the flowers are in bloom. Wild route, a beautiful descent and a beautiful, challenging climb. Take care when descending Mount Cuit.
Cuit means heart, and Mont Cuit is located at the crossroads of four municipalities. Information available at the Bar Central in Le Val.

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

A very interesting hike with the discovery of Mont Cuit, which was unknown to me.
Please note that after Point 6 on the track, at the first right-hand bend, do not forget to take the path that branches off to the left. From there, there is a descent that must be taken with caution. The climb up to an altitude of 497 m is quite challenging. But it proves that training is necessary, especially after the holidays. The rest of the hike is very pleasant. With the pleasure of being able to observe all the peaks of Provence.

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Date of your route : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At the path, and to avoid the housing estate, we followed the directions given by Lahoz in the comments, then we resumed at the junction between 5 and 6 as indicated. The ridge is quite rugged. There is a nice descent and a nice climb, enough to satisfy the need to stretch your legs! Magnificent view at the top of Mont Cuit. The return on the trail is a bit monotonous, but also more relaxing. And we returned through the housing estate!

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Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, undulating hike with lovely climbs and descents before reaching the summit of Mont Cuit. As we were familiar with Notre Dame de Paracol, having often climbed up via the Sainte Blaise chapel, we did not make the detour. We did this hike on 28 March and the vegetation was magnificent (especially the yellow and purple dwarf irises and thyme in bloom).

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Date of your route : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, a wild route with very few people.
We made a small detour at the start to avoid crossing the housing estates: from the car park at the North African War Memorial on Chemin du Paracol towards Route de Barjols, climb 200 metres and, after the retirement home, take the path on the left at the small chapel.
A beautiful climb over rocks takes you to Notre Dame de Paracol, where a superb 360° view awaits you from the cross and the orientation tables.
Continue along the obvious north-west path behind the chapel to reach the junction between points 5 and 6 of the initial route to Mont Cuit...
On the way back, we followed the route that crosses the housing estates, but to spice up the hike a little more, there's nothing to stop you from going up to the left at point 5 to find the junction with the track leading to Notre Dame du Paracol and returning to the car via the starting trail.
PS: even in cool weather, bring 1 litre of water per person... there are no water sources along the route!

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Date of your route : Jan 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is for experienced hikers, as there are steep ascents and descents that require a great deal of attention.

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Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Mont Cuit hike via the Grande Muraille is a beautiful hike in the Var region. However, there are a few points to note: firstly, we started the hike from point 3, as we didn't want to begin our walk in the Val housing estate.
Also, be careful at point 6, where there is a steep descent requiring the use of walking sticks. At the end of this descent, a long, steep climb awaits you. The rest of the hike is very pleasant and is a great place for trail running.

Avoid in rainy weather!
Hike completed in 2½ hours.

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Date of your route : Sep 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Difficult, very steep sections, uphill and downhill. Walking sticks recommended.

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