The Trois Croix site via the Notre-Dame-de-Bellevue Chapel

A walk to a superb viewpoint and two orientation tables, opening to the north towards Digne and Valensole and to the south-west towards Mont Sainte-Victoire, Mont Aurélien and the Sainte-Baume massif.

Details

1847675
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 398 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 390 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 691 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 362 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the southern entrance to Tavernes.

(S/E) Head north on the D554 until you reach La Poste.

(1) Continue north on Chemin de Braou. Pass the cemetery on your left.

(2) At the crossroads, at the corner of the cemetery, continue right along Chemin de Braou. Continue for about 400 metres.

(3) Turn right onto Chemin de Notre-Dame. This road climbs, initially being suitable for vehicles but then becoming stony. Continue until you reach the Notre-Dame de Bellevue Chapel.

(4) After reading the information boards about the history of the site, turn right, heading north-east, towards a track.
Join the track and follow it eastwards. After about 500 metres, you will see a cistern on your left.

(5) Turn left a few metres after the cistern and then take the first path on the right marked "Les Marines". Continue along this wide, easy-to-drive track to the Trois Croix site.

(6) Enjoy the magnificent view and the orientation tables, and perhaps stop for lunch. Turn around and head back to the "Marines" intersection.

(5) Ignore the path you took on the way there and turn left, heading south. Follow the track gently downhill until you reach the town via the Ancien Chemin de Montmeyan, ignoring all adjacent paths. You will come back to the D71 or Grand Rue.

(7) Turn right onto Grand Rue until you reach the post office.

(1) Turn left and head south to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 362 m - Car park at the southern entrance to Tavernes
  2. 1 : km 0.08 - alt. 364 m - The Post Office
  3. 2 : km 0.51 - alt. 373 m - On the right at the cemetery
  4. 3 : km 0.98 - alt. 388 m - Turn right onto Chemin de Notre-Dame.
  5. 4 : km 2.69 - alt. 621 m - Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bellevue
  6. 5 : km 4.19 - alt. 608 m - Fire water tank
  7. 6 : km 6.84 - alt. 690 m - Les Trois Croix
  8. 7 : km 12.41 - alt. 368 m - Grand Rue, on the right.
  9. S/E : km 12.83 - alt. 362 m - Car park at the southern entrance to Tavernes

Notes

(S/E) Free car park with public toilets.

Worth a visit

Don't miss: the magnificent view of the plain to the south and north. To the south, a full view of Mont Aurélien in the foreground, the Sainte-Beaume massif in the background and, on the right, towards the east, the Sainte-Victoire mountain range.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Cathybt
Cathybt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of my favourite hikes 😊

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manonroro
manonroro

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike with road and trail sections. The chapel is picturesque. The view at the three crosses is worth the round trip.

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Essais
Essais

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

There are wonderful things to discover in Tavernes.

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genevi83
genevi83

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
The start is not very well marked (it is at the post office, on the small street opposite, but it is best to follow the yellow line that starts further to the left; the right takes you back to the village). The cemetery is a little further on the left.
There is a lot of tarmac on the way up to a property (gate, then it's gravel), and on the way down (track that is no longer a track, tarmac road (much more tarmac)) which is not great for your feet.
The chapel is a peaceful place, a shame you can't go inside, calm reigns supreme, and the construction against the rock face is unusual.
The view at the three crosses is magnificent, and the orientation tables on each side allow you to get your bearings on the mountains.
Thank you for this hike.

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yves04
yves04

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The panoramic view from the site of the three crosses and the Notre Dame de Bellevue chapel alone make this walk worthwhile. The 360° view is remarkable in good weather, as was the case on Sunday 6 February at midday, with the Alps in the background.
However, if you enjoy small trails, you may wish to reconsider this hike, as it follows only tracks and small tarmac roads.

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jolo07
jolo07

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The section up to the chapel is interesting, especially its bell tower!
The second part of the walk to the road, although flat, offers beautiful views of Margès, Chiran, Bessillons, Sainte-Baume and...
I didn't go as far as Les Trois Croix because the return route is long and monotonous.
And the return trip was disappointing: too much tarmac!
NB: beautiful dovecote on arrival in the village, beautiful doors in the village and take a detour to Font Vieille: very interesting and surprising explanation!

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Liloucoti
Liloucoti

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The panoramic views from the Trois Croix site and the few superb viewpoints (Bessillons, Mont Aurélien, etc.) along the way make up for the somewhat monotonous route and the tarmac road. Very clear description, easy-to-follow route.
A beautiful hike.
Thanks to VISORANDO!

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dorinda
dorinda

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Despite the bitumen section, it's a beautiful hike with stunning views at the three crosses.

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christiangallerne
christiangallerne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

The journey is a bit monotonous, but the site with the crosses is very nice.

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nicolebrue
nicolebrue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Great hike!! Magnificent views!! I recommend it to everyone!! Thank you.

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esmoge
esmoge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route is well described and there are no changes to the original route to report.

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