Sainte-Anne du Castellet - La Roche Redonne - The Kilns

It's a shame the kiln tours don't run along the route. We missed the lime kiln. We used the app and, as far as the description goes, we didn't locate point 1. 1km from the start is a signpost that doesn't mention the Redonne rock and from which you have to continue to the right. At the top of the cliff, on the slabs of rock, we can't continue along the path as it doesn't exist. In fact, you have to descend into the wooded valley as best you can on the steep rock slope. Apart from this section, the walk is pleasant.

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Lovely route in the hills from the chapel on passable paths (sticks appreciated in the very stony sections): the GPS track is good. Thank you for this route.

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the small cairn on the path to the left (point no. 3 in the description) was no longer there.
This very pleasant little path allows you to enjoy the balsams and access a sunny spot for a picnic.

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A beautiful walk with many points of interest. Picnic in the sunshine at the foot of the Roche Redonne.
We set off from Ste Anne's chapel, which is easy to park at.

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Avoid this hike in hot weather (the climb is long, with little shade, and on a stony path).
Small clarification: The fork at point 1 must be much further than 1 km because we took a path to the left under the high-voltage line as shown on the map about 1 km from the start, but which climbed very steeply (no GPS access in this gorge to check). We managed to catch up with the original path, but on a very steep slope.

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Interesting route with a variety of viewpoints. Fossils are easy to spot.

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Hello,
I'm a bit disappointed. I couldn't find the lime kiln after climbing at least 300m above the pitch kiln.
However, on the path at the start of the trail the two kilns are indicated together on the wooden sign.
Your description, which refers mainly to the long loop (which is superb), doesn't give any details about the local situation of the points to be seen, but the information about these traces of ancient activity is well found.

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Very interesting from both a cultural and scenic point of view, this route has the advantage of being very little frequented, unlike the more porous coastal routes.
For practical reasons, we started the walk at Chapelle Ste Anne (point 8), where there is ample parking and the meeting point is easy to find.
Between points 4 and 5, trees are deliberately felled on the path for a length of at least 30 m. We wondered if we'd taken the wrong path, but in fact this obstacle is avoided by a tiny path on the left. The felled trees prevent the bikes from taking this path (and so much the better).
In order to exceed the 10 km mark and see an ancient monument, we went to see the Roman point (magnificent) by deviating after point 7. At point 7, continue as far as the ruins on the left, then take the path on the right (west), follow it and at the fork, turn left along the vines and orchard as far as the Roman bridge (Pont du Cannet). Then retrace your steps.

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A hike of limited interest compared to what you can find in the region.
The rocky ascent is not pleasant. The long descent on the way back offers beautiful scenery but is monotonous from a strictly hiking point of view.

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Superb, we really enjoyed ourselves, especially as it was so windy! Thank you!!!!
Here's the video of the walk: https://youtu.be/Sg0e-XFT3XA
Enjoy the walk!

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Walk made with a GPS, after having downloaded the GPX and slightly modified for the return from the Penon camp via the Capucine path (very beautiful view towards the South/East Bay of La Ciotat) towards the Mill path car park (4 to 5 cars max). Unfortunately, we encountered a lot of off-road motorbikes on the day of the tour.
There are many signposts with geographical coordinates.
Thank you for this tour.

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When we arrived at La Roche Redonne, we didn't take the steep slope on our left because it was marked with a red cross, so we continued on the main track, which is becoming very difficult because it's nothing more than an uphill scree slope for 2 km.
Be careful not to continue, you'll have to turn around!

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A well-thought-out route in hot weather: a climb in the shade and a descent in the sun with a pretty view. At point 2, you don't have to go round the cliff; you can go straight down to the valley (which is a little steep). Use of a GPS is recommended to stay on course.

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I did a nice circuit today with a GPS without any major difficulties except before reaching point 2 to reach the cliff:
I arrived on a small, slippery, stony slope. Apart from that, I found the route interesting as it showed me the remains of old trades that have long since disappeared. I would have liked to have seen the inside of the chapel but it was closed as usual.

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We set off directly from the chapel, as recommended by several speakers.
We didn't find the lime kiln, certainly above the pitch kiln (it is indicated on the same wooden sign), but how far away was it?
We had little difficulty finding our way around, except on the way back down from the summit, where the return path seemed uncertain: however, we still had the wide path to catch up with in sight at the bottom, so it was easy to find a solution.
We had a picnic at the Camp de Penon, next to a ruin and a pretty well in good condition.
All in all, a lovely hike in the sunshine, in a great silence, except for the first cicada that greeted us with its song.

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