Sainte-Victoire la Croix de Provence

Date of your route : May 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine route, with superb views of the valleys and the Bimont dam.
Very stony paths on the ridge. Steep descent with rocks.
Good signposting throughout.

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Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Super route for experienced hikers, to be done in the opposite direction (which is what we did) as it is more interesting and less traumatic for the knees.
Bring water and good shoes.
It took us 06h20 with all the stops, so I'd say around 05h30.
Crowds around the Provence cross
We walked along the track, having done the route in reverse

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Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The car park indicated as the starting point does not exist (or no longer exists), you can leave from Vauvenargues.

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Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's definitely a nice walk, done as described and I have no regrets about the warnings for the descent.certainly at the start of the descent, it's a bit tough but the rest is fine.especially there's about 4km to the end on an easy path.par contre j'ai du tromper car j'avais vu sur le château de vaunevargues après le sentier des plaideurs.j'ai donc traversé tout le village mais c'était agréable.quand on sortie du village possibilité d'emprunter chemin de l'oratoire jusqu'au parking.(Plutôt que de longer la route😉).
So 16km400 and 4h30 of pure walking (6h with breaks).
The person who says she did 2h30 has in my opinion just done the return trip to the Croix de Provence (no loop) or else trail mode.

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Date of your route : Oct 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Done this day with the sainte-victoire draped in a cloudy mantle (it gives a magical atmosphere, you just don't enjoy the view).
Decent difficulty, the western route is not very interesting as it is a very wide carriage road.
Nevertheless, it was a very pleasant walk. The only minor comment I would make concerns the time indicated by Visorando: 6 hours. I "completed the loop" from the Venturiers car park in 2? hours, getting lost in places... so I think the time given by Visorando is overestimated.

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Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Not to be done in wet weather !!!!

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Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb loop + Pic des Mouches to boot. That makes 20km and 1000 D+ (5 hours in all for me).
The climb is tough at the start, then calmer. The ridge goes really well apart from 1 km before the Pic des Mouches where you sometimes get a bit "lost", but you always find your way around quite well. 3 passages with chains to secure yourself but nothing too hard. Sublime views! You can even see the Ventoux.
On the other hand, the descent to the Venturiers car park was hellish for the first 3-4 km: steep, with protruding rocks and fairly high steps. I couldn't take it any more!

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A really tricky descent, but that's what it was all about.
A beautiful hike

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Date of your route : Jun 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Afterwards, it is preferable to do the hike in the opposite direction as the descent should be gentler.

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Date of your route : Mar 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike, big climb, magnificent views along the ridge, and of course a violent descent that puts thighs and knees to the test.

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Date of your route : Mar 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off from the village of Vauvenargues because the Cabassoles car park doesn't exist, or else you have to go down a private road where there's actually a sign saying 'parking des Venturiers'. As a result, we walked 17 km and fortunately took the route the wrong way round. The finish on the crests is well deserved. We didn't meet anyone except around the cross and priory, where the slippery stones have been worn away by too much walking. The descent via Les Venturiers is steep but not dangerous. This hike is for experienced hikers only and should be done in dry weather. Thank you for this beautiful route.

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Date of your route : Nov 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

More of a technical hike (ridges and descent) than a physical one, as the ascent is relatively quick.
Magnificent scenery and views from the cross.
Be careful if it's windy as the path along the ridges is very airy.
Very good route, I recommend it!

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Date of your route : Oct 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Do it both ways, but I prefer the other way round to protect my knees.

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Date of your route : Oct 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very nice hike done in reverse-not found the cabassols car park?? departure from vauvenargues sentier des plaideurs en montee, les cretes dans les nuages,

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Date of your route : May 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant walk. Made this day 28 May 2022.
The route is reliable and as described.
Be careful at the end of the route: very steep descent. Mountain boots are essential and good poles would be a plus.
Thanks to the author of this route.

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