The Rocher de Chastellare, starting from Clans

Park near the Collegiate Church of Sainte-Marie on the square in Clans.

(S/E) Head due east towards the nearby Chapel of the Penitents. Walk past the chapel; marker 44 is just behind this religious building. At this point, turn left towards “Trémagne – Pointe de Sérenton”. Take “la Montée des Tuves”, a concrete ramp between the houses.

(1) Turn left before the house with the blue stairs, onto a narrow paved slanting street. The path climbs, runs alongside the water tower, and crosses the buried Canal du Brusquet. Continue to the Route de la Cassagne.

Yellow markings

(2) Cross the road with care, continue straight ahead on the paved slanting street sandwiched between two stone walls. Walk alongside some terraces, then continue through a beautiful forest. There are some views looking down on the village of Clans, the "Pointe des Quatre Cantons", and "Le Mont". Further up, you’ll reach a crossroads of paths.

(3) Stay on the paved slanting street. (The path junction is incorrectly marked on the map). Continue to marker 119.

(4) Follow the sign for “Point de vue”. Continue straight on for about fifty metres, then turn right through the forest. Walk past a beautiful ruin on the right; look up to spot an electricity pylon, which marks the viewpoint.

(5) From this viewpoint, you can see the coastline in the distance. Turn around and head back to the junction at marker 119.

(4) Turn right towards Pointe de Sérenton. This area was once used for farming.

(6) Continue straight on along the ascending path, then cross an area of trees felled by Storm Alex, but the path has been cleared of vegetation. You will find a cairn at the crossroads.

End of the yellow markings.

(7) Continue left along the unmarked path, which is sometimes blocked by fallen trees. Follow the cairns, and at the top of the climb you will emerge at the Rocher de Chastellare.

(8) Now retrace your steps along the route you took on the way out to return to the car park in the village of Clans (S/E).

No water along the route.

Hiking boots and walking poles recommended.

Murals and frescoes in religious buildings.

(S/E) Strolling through the narrow streets of Clans.