The summit of the Aigle from Moissac-Bellevue

Park in the car park near the Salle des Fêtes, at the point where the upper exit road from the village joins the departmental road leading to Baudinard.

(S/E) Join the departmental road, walk alongside it on the left for about fifty metres, then cross it carefully.

(1) Turn right onto the track that climbs between the houses. Pass a mast and continue to a four-way junction.

(2) Turn left and you’ll soon reach a star-shaped junction, near another water tank.

(3) Take the second track on the right and stay on it; do not go near the solar farm. You will reach a junction by another water tank.

(4) Carry on straight ahead along the DFCI track to begin the climb; the landscape changes. You’ll reach a fork in the path.

(5) Keep to the right and you’ll reach the Pin de Guillot, a very large pine tree, which is the perfect spot for a break in the shade. You can leave your rucksacks there, but not your camera!

(6) Head right towards the viewpoint, which offers, amongst other things, a chance to spot potential future walks, including the Petit Besillon, already featured on Visorando.

(7) Retrace your steps.

(6) Set off again to the right, onto the DFCI track, and carry on until you reach an inverted Y-junction.

(8) Take a sharp left-hand bend to leave the track and join the path that runs along the ridge. It’s still uphill, but the scenery is more picturesque. When you reach the area near the mast, look out for the small path that branches off to the left, uphill, just before you reach it.

(9) To return to the main path, walk past the mast rather than behind it, as going round the back would take you to the other side of the hill. Carry on, until you come to a path joining from the left; turn right and you’ll reach a boundary marker that helps you spot the path leading off to the left, downhill.

(10) Follow this path and you’ll reach the old abandoned well: there’s still no access to water.

(11) The path downhill then widens slightly before joining a DFCI track.

(12) Turn left onto it for a few dozen metres, before taking the path on the left to stay closer to the trees.

(13) What would be the logical thing to do – that is, to turn left to return to the start – is impossible because a farmer who owns the land has blocked the track and put up threatening signs. You must therefore turn right, rejoin the DFCI track and follow it to the left, then continue downhill in the open from the underground cistern.

(14) To get round this very long fence, turn left and carefully walk alongside the D9. Fortunately, the firebreak allows you to walk alongside the road, slightly set back from the tarmac. Pass the entrance to the Lacs du Verdon campsite and reach the junction with a path leading off to the right (elevation 576).

(15) Turn left, ignoring the path. Follow a track that climbs slightly but takes you off the road.

(16) Take the first path on the right and walk through the residential estate to return to the junction where you started.

(1) Return to the departmental road, cross it to reach the car park (S/E).

There are no water sources along the route, not even for dogs, unless it has rained recently: take at least 2 litres per person given the distance.

This route is easily manageable with dogs.

To avoid the almost flat sections which are of little interest, you can – provided the track is not closed due to fire risks and you always park in such a way as to allow any emergency vehicles to pass – leave one car at the water tank between points (3) and (4) and another at the underground water tank near point (14). The walk is then 10.5 km long with 350 m of elevation gain, taking approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

The village of Moissac is very well maintained in Provençal and medieval styles. The restaurant, which isn’t called Le Bellevue for nothing, opens at 6 pm.