The Pic du Taoumé

After passing through the hamlet of La Treille (Marseille), take the Chemin des Bellons and then the Chemin du Vallon de Passe-Temps. Park your car at the bottom of the descent, taking care not to obstruct traffic.

(S/E) Walk back up the road you have just come down until you reach a junction.

(1) Take the road leading uphill to the right (yellow markings), passing in front of the Bastide Neuve, Marcel Pagnol’s childhood holiday home, then , after passing through a gate, continue uphill along the track, ignoring the yellow markings which cut across two bends. The path is rather stony, and in fact, it will remain this way for almost the entire walk. After a short flat section, you’ll reach the Col du Sauvage.

(2) The short flat section doesn’t last long and the climb resumes. Ignore a blue-marked path leading down to the left and stay on the yellow-marked one.

(3) Pass by the ruins of the Jas de Batisto, where Paul, the brother of Marcel Pagnol who died aged 34, is said to have spent several years: “He was the last goatherd of L’Étoile,” his brother would write. The climb remains just as steep as you reach the Pas du Loup, which marks the junction of four paths: just a little before this, on the right, there are engravings on a rock slab.

(4) Carry on straight ahead towards the Pic du Taoumé. A stone marks the direction, and you must continue to follow the yellow markings to avoid causing further erosion. It’s steep; you’ll need to use your hands a little.

(5) Pass by the Grotte du Grosibou: a crevice opens up in the rock, and this is where Marcel and Lili des Bellons took shelter during the famous storm opposite the Grand-Duc. You can explore this crevice if you’re slim enough to fit through. Just a little more effort to reach the summit of the Pic de Taoumé: a magnificent view over Marseille and the surrounding hills.

(6) Set off again along the ridge heading north-east: be careful, as just after the summit there’s a tricky little section where you’ll need to use your hands a bit. After the ridge, the path descends towards the Col de Baume Sourne.

(7) Take the path that branches off to the far right and leads back to the Pas du Loup: follow the yellow markings.

(8) Leave this path a little before reaching the Pas du Loup to take a very steep track on the left, leaving the yellow markings behind.

(9) Turn left before reaching the Jas de la Badoque and continue the very steep descent, keeping closely to the path to reach the Vallon de Passe-Temps.

(10) Head right to follow this valley. Pass in front of the gate at the Relais de Passe-Temps and return to the car park (S/E).

La Bastide Neuve, the ruins of Jas de Batisto, the rock carvings at Pas du Loup, the Grosibou Cave, the 360° view from the summit of Taoumé.