A short, invigorating walk on Mont Caume

Head to the Col du Corps de Garde, either via Le Broussan or from Toulon, and take the small road that provides access by car to Mont Caume via its south-eastern slope. Just over two kilometres past the pass, at a large hairpin bend to the left, turn off to the right and park on a lay-by below the road’s retaining wall.
A little further down from this car park, in the middle of the heath, there is an apiary monitored by CCTV. Opposite, to the north, you can see the two peaks of Mont Caume.

(S/E) Head back up to the road and begin the climb, which has a very gentle gradient.

(1) As you pass, note a path marked with a green signpost on the embankment to the right: this is where the descent on the return journey will end.
Continue to the left, climbing very gently, first taking a wide bend to the right, then a wide bend to the left.

(2) Look out for the return path on the right. Continue to the left, climbing very gently, passing the ruins of the barracks (on the embankment to the right) and reaching the next bend on the right at the pass between the two summits of Mont Caume.

(3) Leave the road and continue towards the military fortifications of Mont Caume Ouest.

(4) Walk past the buildings to reach the western esplanade, from where there is a superb panoramic view of Le Broussan, La Barre des Aiguiers, the Bassin du Beausset and, in the distance, the Sainte-Baume mountain range. Note the location of the Trou des Fées in the rocks on the summit, heading south.

(5) Turn back.

(4) Just after the last building, look for the path on the left which heads back eastwards, passing over the northern ramparts. You’ll come to a series of batteries (circular structures) and ammunition depots (rectangular structures) before reaching the pass you crossed earlier.

(3) Turn left onto the road leading up to the military fortifications on the eastern summit.

(6) At the second left-hand bend, turn right up a flight of steps leading up to the summit plateau, near a hut covered in graffiti, and head left towards the towers (semaphore and aerials) of Mont Caume East.

(7) Turn back, head towards the northern ramparts and return to the graffiti-covered hut via the rampart walk.Superb views of Le Revest, La Touravelle and Le Coudon.

(6) Head back down the road in the opposite direction to your outward journey and, shortly after the ruins of the barracks (on the left-hand embankment), look out for the start of the downhill path in the wide right-hand bend.

(2) To the left of the road, just before the parapet at the bend, head down the very rocky path. This crosses a scrubby heath on a very steep slope, with frequent rocky outcrops, before crossing more easily through a pine forest and rejoining the road just above the starting point.

(1) Continue straight ahead in the opposite direction to your outward journey and return to the car park below the road (S/E).

The route was completed in late April 2025, in superb weather with rockroses in full bloom.

This walk presents no difficulty, apart from the final descent, which is somewhat uneven. Those concerned about their knees may, in fact, start by walking up the path from point (1) to (2) and then walk all the way back down via the road.

The highlight of this walk is, of course, the magnificent panoramic views it offers in all directions. It’s a great opportunity to brush up on your local geography and pick out places for your next walks.

In particular, there are stunning views of the majestic Toulon harbour.