The two chapels of Aups

A tour of the two small chapels perched on the heights of Aups, following the ridge and offering stunning views of the Haut Var and the Alps.

Details

30251075
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.56 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 624 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 615 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,073 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 616 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Aups (83630)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.661453° / E 6.226839°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3443OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the walk

Car park at Col de la Bigue.

(S/E) Head due east along the track to a crossroads.

(1) Leave the track and head straight on. Soon, ignore a path on the left and continue following the ridge to the Notre-Dame de Liesse Chapel.

(2) Continue along the ridge to the Chapelle Saint-Priest.

(3) Continue south, then south-east along a track, downhill. Join another cross-track.

(4) Turn right onto this track, which descends to the next junction (water tank).

(5) Follow the track on the right, heading due west until you reach a junction with another track.

(6) Continue along the track to the right, heading due north-west until you reach a track at a sharp bend.

(7) Continue straight ahead, passing the water tank, and carry on until you join another track at a sharp bend.

(8) Turn right onto the track that climbs alongside the Grave and, much further on, rejoin the original junction.

(1) Turn left, heading in the opposite direction to the outward journey, to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 786 m - Start
  2. 1 : km 0.78 - alt. 852 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 2.22 - alt. 988 m - Notre-Dame de Liesse Chapel
  4. 3 : km 5.37 - alt. 1,064 m - Saint-Priest Chapel
  5. 4 : km 6.83 - alt. 956 m - Junction. Tracks
  6. 5 : km 7.66 - alt. 909 m - Junction (water tank)
  7. 6 : km 9.44 - alt. 747 m - Junction. Tracks
  8. 7 : km 10.81 - alt. 682 m - Junction. Trails with a sharp bend. Water tank
  9. 8 : km 12.51 - alt. 616 m - Junction. Trails with a sharp bend
  10. S/E : km 16.56 - alt. 786 m - Finish

Worth a visit

Stunning views of the Haut Var and the Southern Alps.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

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

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The GPX route is perfect, well done, but the figures are underestimated. The elevation gain is almost 800 metres and the distance is 18 kilometres, according to the 15 participants. Indeed, the route after the second chapel is long and a little disappointing. The last 280-metre climb is gruelling on a difficult path. I will return, but I will try to start from the castle and do the ridge, which is superb.

Machine-translated

jpconstant
jpconstant

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You can set off directly from AUPS
add 4 km

Machine-translated

jc.duvanel
jc.duvanel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It’s true that the final climb is very gruelling towards the end of the route, due to its length, the elevation gain and the nature of the terrain. After the second chapel, you descend into a rather uninteresting valley before having to struggle back up again.
It is better to descend on the VERIGNON side and go round the feudal castle; this is less difficult and more interesting.

Machine-translated

RandoCathyMichel
RandoCathyMichel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We decided to do it the other way round, starting with the valley and finishing on the ridge... We didn’t regret it! The path along the ridge is very pleasant and not too tiring for the end of the hike.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.