Notre Dame des Anges via the valleys and ridges, starting from Vidauban

Park at the junction of the D558 from Le Cannet des Maures and the D48 from Vidauban.

(S/E) Take the track heading west which climbs towards Lac des Escarcets.

(1) At the first junction of tracks, turn left towards the south.

(2) At the next junction, take the track on the right towards the lake, leading to the Péguière junction.

(3) Follow the track on the left heading due south towards Les Mayons, until you reach a track junction at the entrance to the Vallon des Mines.

(4) Carry on straight ahead and you’ll come out at the car park on the D75.

(5) Turn right onto the Route des Mayons; drive past two water tanks and continue to the junction where there is a fire reserve tank.

(6) Leave the road and turn left; there is a car park and an information board about the Maures National Forest. Take this track, known as the ‘Piste des Cinq Sèdes’.

After a few metres, you’ll begin a 7km climb with gradients of 8 per cent, crossing numerous streams of varying flow. You’ll reach the ridge.

(7) Turn right towards Collobrières, leaving La Garde-Freinet on your left. Follow the track, which is partly tarmacked and forms part of the^GR®®9route, marked in red and white.

Pass the Marc Robert memorial, follow the Serrière ridge (signpost), and pass an underground concrete fire-fighting reservoir. Reach the junction with the Valescure track.

(8) Go straight on, following the^GR®®9. The vegetation changes from conifers to deciduous trees. Stay on the^GR®®9track until you reach the junction with the D39.

(9) Turn left towards Notre Dame des Anges, continue the ascent along the^GR®®9and, after several kilometres, you’ll reach the summit of Notre Dame des Anges.
Take in the view from the vantage point to spot the Hyères peninsula and the Îles d’Or.

(10) Turn round to return to the previous junction.

(9) Follow the track downhill, leaving the^{GR®® behind.} You’ll reach another water tank on the edge of the Piste de la Fouquette.

(11) Follow this track downhill, finishing the descent at the junction with the Piste du Pin.

(12) Continue uphill along the Piste de la Fouquette, then follow it as it descends slightly to reach a junction with the D75.

(13) Turn right onto it towards Les Mayons. You’ll reach a junction in the Les Aires Vertes neighbourhood.

(14) In summer, or when it hasn’t rained for a while, turn off at the junction towards Lac des Escarcets and follow the signposting to the left along the Piste de la Plaine Est to reach the ford.

(15) Return via the same track to the previous junction.

(14) Turn left back onto the D75, which further on joins the junction at the water tank you passed earlier.

(6) Follow the same route as on the way out to reach the Vallon des Mines junction, which you also passed on the way out.

(4) Continue straight ahead heading north and return to the Péguière junction.

(3) Turn right and follow the route you took at the start to return to the car park (S/E).

Notre Dame des Anges
GR®°°®°°9 and its many viewpoints