Notre-Dame du Mai

Short walk to reach the summit of Notre-Dame du Mai facing the Mediterranean. The 360° view is one of the most beautiful on the French Riviera. Best done early in the morning or in the evening at sunset to see the amber colours that the sun casts on the surrounding mountains, or in the middle of the day when the weather is very nice to see the azure sky and sea.
Unforgettable photos and memories!

Details

n°102229

Creation:
15 Feb 2015

Last update:
17 Nov 2023

Last review:
16 Aug 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 2.38 km
Average duration: 1h 05
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 136 m
Descent: - 136 m
Highest point: 355 m
Lowest point: 219 m

Country: France
District: Six-Fours-les-Plages (83140)
Start/End: N 43.061024° / E 5.845622°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3346OT
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Description of the walk

Park your car at the last barrier at the edge of the Six-Fours and La Seyne-sur-Mer forests, coming either from Le Brusc to the west or from the Janas forest to the north.

(S/E) Go through the barrier and take the small tarmac road that winds through the Mediterranean scrub (holm oaks, cork oaks, rockroses, broom, arbutus, a few Aleppo pines, junipers, etc.).
The road climbs rapidly and, in 45 minutes without any difficulty, you will reach the platform of the Notre-Dame du Mai chapel.

(1). This chapel is also known as Notre-Dame de la Garde (as in Marseille, or rather, in Marseille, it's like here!), or Bonne-Garde.
An orientation table allows you to see 360° around you. The ruins of an old open-fire lighthouse are located just in front of the chapel.
Return by taking the same path in the opposite direction (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 219 m - Parking
1 : km 1.18 - alt. 352 m - Notre Dame du Mai
S/E : km 2.38 - alt. 219 m - Parking

Notes

This hike takes place almost entirely on a tarmac road (small road with no traffic, as it is closed to the public).
There are no water sources along the way.
Shelter in the chapel if you are lucky enough to find it open, which was the case for us in February.
In May: open every day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Services during May: Mass at 10 a.m., rosary at 4 p.m., Mass at 5 p.m. (only on Sundays and public holidays for this Mass).
- Every 1st and 3rd Sunday: from 2.30pm to 6pm, except from June to September (risk of forest fires)
- Throughout the year, except in June, July, August and September (all activities prohibited due to fire risk):
mass every 1st Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.

Equipment required: simple sports or walking shoes. Sun protection! Camera.

Worth a visit

Signs at the start and end of the hike tell the story of this promontory, an eagle's nest:
In the early 14th century, the presence of a watchtower or "farot", intended to warn the inhabitants of the region of the presence of ships that could threaten the coast with pirate raids, is attested at the summit of Montagne defarot" fire, intended to warn the inhabitants of the region of the presence of ships that could threaten the coast with pirate incursions, is attested to at the summit of Montagne de Sicié (360 m) by a document in the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental archives dating from 1302 and by a document in the archives of the Six-Fours town hall.
The number of lights lit indicated the number of ships in sight. The tower was built in 1589, along with a hut to protect the guards.
- 1625: lightning struck the keeper's hut and partially damaged the tower; the keeper was miraculously spared. This event affected the brotherhood of the Grey Penitents, attached to the Chapel of Sainte-Croix located not far from the Collegiate Church, below the fortifications of old Six-Fours. They placed the mountain under the protection of the Lord by erecting a cross there. Following this installation, carried out during a solemn procession, funds were collected, which enabled the construction of a first chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Good Guard, which very quickly inspired great devotion, so that, in 1633, a larger chapel, a hermitage and a cistern were built.
- 1835: following the cholera epidemic, a solemn procession was organised, starting from La Seyne.
- 1871: after the war of 1870, another solemn procession was held.
- 1933: a cross was erected on the terrace, bearing the inscription "O Crux Ave".
- 1945: Pilgrimage in honour of prisoners and deportees of the war.
- 1954: in honour of the centenary of the Immaculate Conception, a protective grille is erected around the statue of Our Lady of Bonne Garde.
Source: Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon [http://www.diocese-frejus-toulon.com/Notre-Dame-du-Mai-ou-de-Bonne.html]

If you wish to complete the hike, there are two options:
- Head east towards the old semaphore and descend the ridge along the coastal path.
- Take a tour of the ridges to the west. Coming down from the chapel, at a sharp right-hand bend, take a path on the left. You will soon come to a junction with the coastal path. Then follow all or part of the route suggested by the "Boucle des Crêtes de Notre-Dame du Mai et de son sentier littoral" (Notre-Dame du Mai ridge loop and coastal path) hike published on this website.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5

Route interest
4.7 / 5

EmiliePey

16 Aug 2023 at 12:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Departure at 6:30 a.m. to watch the sunrise.
Very beautiful panorama

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vébé83

02 Jan 2023 at 11:19 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A walk that climbs steeply in places but with a wonderful reward at the top: a magnificent 360° view.
There are a few people around the chapel (which is very rarely open, only at Christmas and Easter, I believe)

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ametyslais

04 Oct 2022 at 18:13 7200 • Edited: 04 Jan 2023 at 15:48 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wonderful walk. Thank you for your directions. Breathtaking views!

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ametyslais

04 Oct 2022 at 18:12 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Wonderful walk. Thank you for your directions.

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Odnarasiv

18 Oct 2021 at 10:04 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note that it is best to arrive at the starting point via La Ceyne-sur-Mer, as the road on the other side is closed until 15 September

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MCTOUL

24 May 2021 at 20:15 7200

Thank you Marie7438,
This walk was made for you!
Enjoy your future walks!
Best regards

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Marie7438

24 May 2021 at 18:45 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Yesterday we went to see Notre Dame de Mai with a friend. I was apprehensive because many reviews say it's difficult because it's very steep.
I'm not at all athletic and I'm overweight. And yet I didn't find the climb difficult. You shouldn't set off too quickly, and there are several viewpoints where you can stop if you need to, but the walk is so worth the effort! The view is splendid all the way up!
And in about 20-30 minutes, I was at the top! Proof that it wasn't difficult: I was able to follow it up with a walk of several kilometres!
So yes, you should go and see it, it's worth it!!!

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MCTOUL

15 Mar 2021 at 11:00 3600

Thank you laur30, Lerfa, dkhier and raoulb!!!!

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raoulb

15 Mar 2021 at 10:58 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Even easier than described, even with children.
Exceptional view!

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dkhier

28 Dec 2020 at 19:44 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely little walk. We loved the magnificent, breathtaking view. Thank you for inviting us!

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Lerfa

20 Jul 2020 at 21:35 7200 • Edited: 20 Jul 2020 at 21:36 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had trouble finding the access point for the start. As we didn't have a satnav, we couldn't use the GPS coordinates.
Enjoy your walk and the beautiful scenery.

Best regards.

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laur30

09 Mar 2020 at 10:56 3600

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This hike is only accessible outside of the summer season, when the barriers are open and you can drive up to the small car park at the start.
To reach the site, follow signs for "Fabrégas" from La Seyne-sur-Mer

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MCTOUL

13 Jan 2020 at 21:50 3600 • Edited: 09 Mar 2020 at 22:16 3600

Hello Kriss69_83,
I know you are not a regular visitor to visorando.com and that this is your first post.
Why did you write "Very beautiful 360° view," but "Interest of the hiking trail: Average"?
If you enjoyed the hike, express your satisfaction with a rating of Good or Very good.

Also, could you provide an explanation for the other two comments that received a "Good" rating?
Thank you
Kind regards

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Kriss69_83

13 Jan 2020 at 14:24 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Easy hike with no difficulties. Beautiful 360° view.

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visorando-parisot

10 Jun 2019 at 19:06 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

lovely view from the top of May Chapel.
good training for two pensioners who were starting to walk again!!!

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Author

MCTOUL
120 Walks

Visorando member

District: Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre (65270)

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