Saint-Julien les Martigues

On the D5 coming from Sausset-Les-Pins, park on the square in front of the Chapel of Saint-Julien les Martigues.

(S/E) Explore the area around the chapel to discover a magnificent stone bas-relief on the north side. Then turn right onto Chemin de Beaumanière. Walk for about 700 metres until you reach a Y-junction with the DFCI CB106 track, which is also the return route.

(1) Keep left on the road and follow it for about 500 m. You will then see an open area on the left with a barrier and trailheads at the end.

(2) Go through the barrier and follow the path heading north-west. Continue straight ahead at an X-shaped junction, then after about 250 m, look for a path starting on the right.

(3) Turn right onto this path. After about 20 metres, keep to the right on a winding path that passes next to a high-voltage pylon, or turn left for a shortcut, but be aware that it is a very steep and slippery climb over scree. Be careful (trail used here). Arrive at the ridge for a horizontal path that leads to the old windmill of Saint-Julien les Martigues (elevation 169).

(4) Turn right for a descent under a high-voltage power line. You will arrive at a Y-junction. In the distance, you can see the aftermath of the fire in the summer of 2025.

(5) Turn right for a descent that joins the Chemin du Trou du Loup (GRP® 2013) at elevation 116.

(6) Turn right onto this GRP®. Pass the hamlet of Valtrède, then, about 100 m after a junction with the Chemin de Beaumanière (signpost) at elevation 83, you will come to a Y-junction with a path starting on the left.

(7) Follow this path to the left, which enters the forest and climbs uphill alongside the GRP®. You will come to an X-shaped crossroads and a ruin.

(8) Take the^second path on the right, then keep right 70 metres further on. Pass above a pumping station and further on, you will see the large water reservoir of the Canal de Provence. There are many wild goats in this part of the forest. After a steep descent, you will come to a junction with the GRP®2013 trail.

(9) Turn right onto this trail and you will come to a T-junction with a signpost.

(10) Turn left and follow the wide, straight Vallon de Valtrède trail for about 1,400 metres. You will come to a multi-path junction next to a high-voltage pylon.

(11) Turn right under the high-voltage line for an ascent which, after a right-hand bend, levels out on the plateau, heading west. You will come to a Y-junction near elevation 187.

(12) Turn right and rejoin the DFCI CB106 track, which follows the high-voltage power line. This flat track then branches off to the left, descending into a small valley. Rejoin the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Turn left onto the Beaumanière path and return to the starting point of the hike (S/E).

For information: the author's time for this route was 3 hours 10 minutes (excluding breaks).