Pic de Bertagne via the village of Riboux

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Set off for the Massif de la Sainte-Baume and its western flank to reach the highest point in the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Pic de Bertagne at 1,042 metres. At the summit, you will be treated to an exceptional 360° panorama of the Mediterranean, Sainte-Victoire, Jouc de l'Aigle, the Siou Blanc plateau, the Alps... so enjoy it while you can, knowing that unfortunately you will have to descend and leave this magnificent site with some superb photos.

Details

n°122540
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.07 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 549 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 547 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,039 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 513 m
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Photos

In the distance, Sainte Victoire (or Sainte, as the people of Aix say).
Xor and the ridge of the Massif... just behind the Jouc de l'Aigle.
IGN point at the peak at 1,042 metres.
The landscape changes and you will see the large mushroom (civil aviation) on your left. Continue to follow the yellow markings on the ground.

Description of the walk

(S) Park in the car park at the entrance to the village of Riboux. Follow the D602 road you took for about 300 metres.

(1) Take a small dirt track on your right before the road climbs, at a wooden barrier. This small path will take you to the Puits d'Arnaud.

(2) At a three-way junction, take forest road U44.
Soon, a yellow sign will indicate Four à Cade. Take the detour (or not) then return to the path and continue, enjoying the view of the Mediterranean Sea on your left.
Still on your left, you will see an old converted sheepfold and above you on your right, a high-voltage power line that you will soon pass. Stay on this wide path and you will come to a three-way junction.

(3) Turn right, following the yellow sign and the markings of the same colour, which indicate the direction of Jas de Sylvain and Pic de Bertagne, 3.4 km away. The path becomes narrower as it climbs, and you will arrive at the old Bergerie de Sylvain. Enjoy this haven of peace to the full.

(4) Continue climbing to the right, following the yellow trail. Soon, yellow signs will indicate: Pic de Bertagne 1.9 km via theGR® 98. Pass a stone well and continue to a crossroads at Col de l'Aigle.

(5) Read the few lines engraved on a rock while following the red and whiteGR® trail, which invites you to turn right onto a very steep climb. Reach the new Col du Fauge junction after passing a cistern on your right.

(6) Turn left. You will see the large white Civil Aviation mushroom on your left. Cross the small road that climbs uphill, following the yellow markings, and head for the IGN plaque off the trail.

(7) At Pic de Bertagne, sit down and enjoy the exceptional 360° view before you.

To return, take the same route back to the car park (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 513 m - Car park at the entrance to the village of Riboux.
  2. 1 : km 0.59 - alt. 550 m - Dirt track
  3. 2 : km 2.02 - alt. 576 m - Cistern
  4. 3 : km 3.05 - alt. 634 m - Three-way junction
  5. 4 : km 4.71 - alt. 647 m - Jas de Sylvain
  6. 5 : km 6.08 - alt. 773 m - GR junction - Col de l'Aigle (770m)
  7. 6 : km 6.76 - alt. 947 m - Col du Fauge (967m)
  8. 7 : km 7.53 - alt. 1,039 m - Pic de Bertagne
  9. S/E : km 15.07 - alt. 513 m - Car park at the entrance to the village of Riboux.

Notes

Water source at the start in Riboux, just after the car park at the entrance to the village.
Numerous shelters (jas) along the route.
Standard hiking equipment. Bring plenty of water as there are no water points between the start and finish (over 16 km) and back... and don't forget your camera!

Worth a visit

The village of Riboux (population around 30), perched at an altitude of 518 m, is only accessible via a single 7.4 km road from the OK Corral amusement park. A car park and reception area have been set up at the entrance to the village: this is the starting point for hikers. Uniquely, the village is only accessible by a road from the Bouches-du-Rhône. Although part of the Var department, the commune depends on the postal service of Cuges-les-Pins and has been assigned a postcode beginning with 13, the code for the Bouches-du-Rhône department.

Cade oven, old sheepfolds including Jas de Sylvain, Bergerie d'Arnaud and a plaque paying tribute to it, the IGN point at Pic de Bertagne. And, of course, the exceptional panorama that awaits you!

From Pic de Bertagne, you can follow theGR® 98 trail along the ridge towards Saint-Pilon and Jouc de l'Aigle (1146m). There are many variations that allow you to explore the Sainte-Baume Massif.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Piotre
Piotre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

at the top

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jijil
jijil

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

It is impossible to follow the route between points 1 and 3. You come up against 2-metre-high wire fences. A possible solution is to follow the path (yellow trail) that heads north from the centre of Riboux and joins point 3. We tried this, but halfway along the route we followed the GPS to trails that headed west to join point 3. Once again, we were stopped by wire fences. Conclusion: avoid this hike as described at the start. The locals do not want to be disturbed, especially the hunters of the Var... There are no signs on the trails except for those concerning private property and stilt areas.

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yen83
yen83

Overall rating : 1.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A route that is no longer up to date!!!
Fence between points 1 and 2. Private property that cannot be crossed...
Lots of tracks at the start, which spoils the walk a little. Very nice from point 4 onwards, with the climb and the arrival on the plateau being truly magnificent.

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fanfanjac
fanfanjac

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, very long hike, with different landscapes as you climb: a wide path under pine trees, then a "balcony" with a superb view of the sea before joining the GR 98, which climbs into a very mineral world. Finally, the splendid arrival at the summit of Sainte Baume, where flowering thyme perfumed our progress! And what a view!

A few details about the route:
- The start is not really easy to find, as the containers are no longer there (the path runs along the bottom of the road that climbs up), but there is another path on the right with a wooden barrier, which is a good shortcut through the forest.
- Don't follow Puits Arnaud at the three-way junction, take path U44 (not 45) as the latter leads to two houses that have put up a barrier to prevent people passing between them. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in front of a fence that you'll have to go around (not without difficulty) to reach the path that continues towards the cade oven.
-Wear good shoes as there are lots of loose stones on the last part of the trail!

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blancarde
blancarde

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Monday, 28 October 2019. It is now impossible to follow the U 45 Puits d'Arnaud path to the two houses (Bergerie d'Arnaud). The owners have blocked access to hikers. Therefore, when coming from RIBOUX and arriving at the three-way junction, you must leave the U45 on the right and continue on the path on the left (U 44, if I remember correctly) to reach Jas de Frédéric. This means that from RIBOUX to Jas de Frédéric, the hike is on a wide, stony forest path, which is a shame and not very interesting. The hike only becomes challenging after Frédéric's farm, where the view is magnificent.
Best regards.
Blancarde.

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bibi
bibi ★

Thank you for your feedback. The author will be able to modify the start of the route and clarify point 2 for you.
Kind regards

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aztec
aztec

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The start of the hike is a little unclear, without GPS I should point out, the containers have disappeared, it is better to start higher up, 700 m from the village, where the Puits d'Arnaud is clearly marked on the left of the 602, opposite a car park.
At (2), neither the yellow sign nor the trail indicates the distance to the cade oven, so we gave up after walking for 10 minutes.

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Alain DRN
Alain DRN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This route allowed me to start the hike to climb the entire summit of Sainte-Baume, reaching Pic de Bertagne and then continuing on to the chapel of Saint-Pilon, the Signal des Béguines, and descending to Paneyrolles via the Gourgue de Mal Vallon. Around thirty kilometres and 1,200 metres of elevation gain.

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gerard52
gerard52

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

To avoid returning by the same route, follow the ridge to the military antennas and then descend as indicated in the Fauge Pass information sheet.

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Miollan
Miollan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I did what is known as the "full tour". That is to say, including a visit to the "Four à Cade" (+600m).
A very beautiful hike, very easy in the first half, a little more physically demanding during the climb up to the ridge of Sainte-Baume.
But what a view!
The return trip was no problem, as it was identical to the outward journey, except for the descent, which was sometimes hard on the knees.
In short, it was a delight, and the countless hunters we encountered along the way, easily identifiable in their orange vests, did not spoil my enjoyment.
Thank you very much!
Pierre

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vétéran3
vétéran3

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful, fairly challenging hike, the last section of which is based solely on the magnificent view. There are a few alternative routes you can take to avoid part of the return journey along the same path, but the view, vegetation and paths are similar.

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papounet_alain
papounet_alain

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Note that next to the car park, there is an information point and, most importantly, a fountain (useful in hot weather).

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slinky
slinky ★

Hello,

This may also be why the author did not describe a circular if this section of the track is private.

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bibi
bibi ★
• Edited:

OK, I can see roughly where the area is, west of the start. But it's true that I don't understand why there's such a barrier on the map...

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eurida
eurida

It was at the Nivaillon and Garçon signs, where the white line runs through the middle and joins Riboux.

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