The Roman bridge and Romanin chapel

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This is a short family hike that takes you to the foot of the Alpilles on a wide, easily accessible forest path.
The path follows the old Roman road, of which nothing remains, and even the bridge dates back to the Middle Ages. However, the variety of landscapes along this circular route is very interesting.
The section near the Mazet de Romanin aerodrome offers the opportunity to watch gliders taking off, with some precautions.

Details

n°13094662
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.79 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 40 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 41 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 126 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 78 m
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Photos

The Roman bridge
Almond trees and the peaks of the Alpilles
One of the peaks of the Alpilles through the pine forest.

Description of the walk

Drive to Eygalières following the D24 to the gates of the Alpilles. The unpaved but spacious car park is on your right.

(S/E) Once equipped, go to the far end of the car park towards the west to cross the "Roman" bridge. A ford allows you to see it better from the south.

(1) Follow the wide forest path heading northwest until you reach a fork.

(2) Take the right-hand fork, which passes under the power line, with the forest on your left and meadows on your right. After the pipeline pumping station (actually a small station with intermediate cuts), you will come to another fork.

(3) Follow the left fork to reach another car park. Turn right to approach the ruins of Romanin Chapel.

(4) Return to the car park and follow the forest path to the left (south-west) that runs alongside the aerodrome.
Do not stop if there are gliders taking off, as safety regulations prohibit take-offs if the path is busy.
Position yourself to watch the gliders take off and land.

(5) Position yourself to watch the gliders take off and land.
Continue along the forest path (south-east) passing vineyards and almond trees.

(6) At the intersection, go straight ahead (east-southeast) and enter the pine forest with theGR®6(red and white markings).

(2) Turn right and retrace your steps along the outward route to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 119 m - Parking Route D24 - Cote 120
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 118 m - Roman bridge - Gaudre de Romanin (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 0.92 - alt. 121 m - Crossroads of the circular
  4. 3 : km 1.83 - alt. 91 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 3.12 - alt. 78 m - Chapelle Notre-Dame (Romanain)
  6. 5 : km 3.92 - alt. 102 m - Lower limit of the flight safety zone.
  7. 6 : km 4.42 - alt. 124 m - Intersection
  8. S/E : km 6.79 - alt. 118 m - Parking Route D24 - Cote 120

Notes

No water. It is very hot in summer, so take 1 litre of water per person.
The paths are accessible with trainers.

Worth a visit

Mazet de Romanin aerodrome. Gliders take off either by being towed by an aeroplane or by a tow rope wound around a reel on a vehicle.
The take-off is spectacular but, for safety reasons, no one is allowed on the path between (4) and (5).
So please keep a brisk pace in this area!

You can also access the area directly by car via a somewhat tricky track from Mas Neuf de Romanin for a short walk between (4) and (5).

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.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 11 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
men320
men320

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

A bucolic stroll at the foot of the Alpilles mountains

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Yves bod’
Yves bod’

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Unfortunately, the trail has been largely cut off... A private owner has locked the access.

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gg13500
gg13500

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing.
A very pleasant walk, taken on a windless winter's day.
To see the chapel, you have to climb over a fence. I don't know if it's on private property.
It's possible to do this by bike, even with children.

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ojeannot
ojeannot

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike.

At (3), we almost made a mistake by passing to the left of the oil pipeline valve instead of to the right, but we were able to quickly correct our mistake.

At (5), we were lucky enough to see three gliders take off (two winched, one towed by an aeroplane) and two others land.

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Pierre2629
Pierre2629

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very enjoyable to do as a family, I recommend it.

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Laurence.Ody
Laurence.Ody

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent for resuming hiking with a fractured ankle and a splint.

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guyleb
guyleb

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The hike includes long monotonous stretches and the views of the Alpilles are not among the best. However, it may be of interest to someone looking for a walk with very little elevation gain. A field of almond trees in bloom (early March) may also be appealing.
Be aware of a major error in the description and on the route (map and GPX file): it is impossible to access the chapel as indicated (no path, only fences and dense hedges). I suggest, from the "small car park", retracing your steps for about 100 metres, turning left at the crossroads and continuing for another 100 metres until you reach a bridge over a canal, turning left again and, as soon as possible, crossing a field of olive trees to the chapel, which will then come into view.

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LUSTOU
LUSTOU

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A bit chilly at the start of the hike, but then a pleasant walk with no difficulties. The gliders taking off are very spectacular. The chapel is worth a detour. To get to the chapel, we went to the crossroads of the track and walked up through the olive grove, following the pyracantha hedge. All in all, a lovely walk.

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Michèle d'istres
Michèle d'istres

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk among vineyards and olive trees. The chapel is a must-see. The gliders are also a delightful attraction.
No particular difficulty.

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nichou
nichou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike, accessible to all.
Well-written description.
However, at point 4, access to the ROMANIN chapel, as described in the guide, is difficult.
The owner of the olive grove has planted a hedge of thorny bushes (which prick) and 40 cm high wire fencing.
The passage has therefore become narrow and difficult to see. Despite this new difficulty, a visit to the chapel is worthwhile.
Thank you to the author of this hike.

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Claudine Bideau
Claudine Bideau

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk for seniors, with superb views of the Alpilles; no difficulty; just one detail: to park, after the lat and longit positions, you have to walk a few hundred metres to reach an easily accessible car park called "parking du pont romain" (Roman bridge car park).

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