The Siou Blanc plateau

A pleasant little walk, shaded by pine and oak trees, with a few karstic caves along the route and an old farm steeped in history.

Details

1557929
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 182 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 182 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 756 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 616 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Signes (83870)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.229342° / E 5.921006°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3345OT, 3346OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Moderator’s warning dated 30/12/2020: Attention, Visorando app users! There is no mobile network coverage on this walk. Remember to save the walk to your favourites and download the map before setting off from home.

Before Signes on the D2, turn right towards Solliés-Toucas. Park in the car park at the Siou Blanc picnic area.

(S/E) From the area, follow the tarmac road for a few metres. You’ll reach a signpost on the right (Jas de Claude).
Take the path on the right (yellow markings) which joins the road.
Continue along the road, following the yellow markings. You will reach another picnic area.

(1) Continue along the road, then cross it to reach a place known as l'Abîme des Morts.
Further on, you’ll come to a car park.

(2) Cross the road again and follow the yellow markings opposite. Stay on this path and, after a very gentle climb, reach a crossroads marked by the signpost ‘Le Vent qui Souffle’.

(3) Turn right onto the yellow-blue marked path.
At the crossroads by the Jas de Laure ruins, ignore the track on the left and take the track opposite which continues the path (yellow markings).
Head towards the karstic cave of the Brèche.

(4) Stay on this path, and at the junction by the cistern, join theGR®99; turn right to reach the car park and picnic area (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 628 m - Siou Blanc picnic area
  2. 1 : km 1.54 - alt. 688 m - Picnic area by the roadside
  3. 2 : km 2.55 - alt. 646 m - Abîme des Morts
  4. 3 : km 4.07 - alt. 755 m - Wind Blowing
  5. 4 : km 5.55 - alt. 642 m - Karstic cave of the Brèche
  6. S/E : km 6.33 - alt. 628 m - Siou Blanc picnic area

Worth a visit

To see another karstic cave:
Between (3) and (4): option to visit the Grand Aven du Jas de Laure. At the Jas de Laure crossroads (Ruine), turn left, walk for about 200 m and take a small path on the right (cairn). Follow it to the karstic cave, which is about 80 m further on.
Return to the crossroads to rejoin the original path.
At the picnic area: the Forces Résistantes farm.

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
magmar
magmar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short, easy nine-kilometre walk suitable for families, with the option of a picnic halfway along the route by a pond, and a stop at the memorial to the Resistance fighters shot in 1944.

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HELIco83
HELIco83

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, with a short section on a stony path.

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luvintina83
luvintina83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk: the route takes you from dark woodland to heath. The first half of the route is uphill with a 237m elevation gain, and the second half is downhill with a 232m descent, so it’s certainly not a flat walk. The karstic caves are signposted, though you have to look for them a bit around the signpost; they’re fenced off. There’s a beautiful ruin at the Jas de Laure.
Completed the route today in 2 hours. Very difficult without a GPS.
View of La Ciotat Bay on the descent after the Aven du Vent qui Siffle.

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Paramant
Paramant

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that runs mainly across flat terrain.
On the Siou Blanc plateau, peace and quiet are guaranteed. In December, we didn’t meet a soul and, after a gust of mistral, the light was superb.
Given the vegetation, don’t expect any breathtaking views.
Furthermore, we were unable to locate the karstic caves marked on the map (apart from the Aven de la Brèche, which is right on the path).

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grandin
grandin ★

It's done, but it's something to bear in mind as a general rule for any hike

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dkhier
dkhier

It would be helpful to include this information in the walk description!

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grandin
grandin ★

That’s why you should remember to download the hiking map (cache it) onto your phone before you leave home

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dkhier
dkhier

We drove nearly 40 km to get to the starting point, but unfortunately we didn’t go on the hike because there’s no mobile signal on the plateau. There’s no mobile network. So don’t forget to download or print out the route description if you go there. It’s a lovely spot, and we’re thinking of going back for a walk.

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