Sanary-sur-Mer walks

A picturesque little 11th-century chapel in the middle of an olive grove, an old iron mine, a peaceful and refreshing retreat and a breath of fresh air, all just a stone's throw from the town of Six-Fours: these are just some of the attractions of this short walk, which is a pleasant way to spend a morning or afternoon.

You don't have to go far to take a little trip back in time. In Six-Fours, between La Coudoulière, Cap Nègre and the Sauviou corniche, by observing the rocks, you can easily travel from ages of over 500 million years to a few thousand years in just a few hundred metres.

The town of Six-Fours les Plages is actually made up of a large number of hamlets, each bearing the name of an old family. A single walk, however long, is not enough to cover them all. Here we will see only a few of them, as well as the famous Fort de Six-Fours, located on the site of the old hilltop village that has now disappeared.

The Gros Cerveau massif can be divided into three hikes. This one, in the centre, offers magnificent views of the bays of Bandol and Sanary, as well as Saint-Mandrier and Cassis. At the summit, you can visit the Gros Cerveau fortifications, consisting of abandoned military buildings. To the north, you can enjoy views of the pretty villages of La Cadière d'Azur, Le Castelet and Evenos, with the Sainte-Baume massif in the background.

Here is a short route that allowed us to explore two little-used paths with a view to incorporating them into one or two other hikes, but which stands on its own as a pleasant and easy walk.

A short walk in the Gros Cerveau massif above Sanary-sur-Mer to discover two geological features, including the Roche Curade, and some remnants of Provence’s former agricultural and industrial activity.

The Gros Cerveau massif can be divided into three hikes. This one, the westernmost, is perhaps the easiest. It starts in Sanary-sur-Mer and climbs up to the Demi-Lune cave. There are some beautiful views of Sanary-sur-Mer and Bandol, as well as the inland area and the quarry.

A tour of Gros Cerveau, climbing through the woods with magnificent 360° views of the coast. The red route, which follows theGR® at times.

Here is a variation on the hike I described previously (La Roche Curade above Sanary-sur-Mer), which allows you to discover a new trail, climb up to the Pointe du Gros Cerveau fortification, follow the ridges, visit the Garou cave, and approach La Roche Curade from the opposite direction. Only the last quarter of the route is the same as the previous route, but in the opposite direction.

A short urban hike can be enjoyable, especially when the town is called Ollioules. Built in an amphitheatre at the exit of its gorges and spread out across its fertile plain, irrigated by a network that has been skilfully managed since medieval times, Ollioules has a rich heritage that is as varied as it is lovingly preserved. After the relaxing stretch of irrigation channels, the climb may seem arduous, but you will be rewarded by the panoramic views that gradually unfold before you.

Île des Embiez, owned by the Paul Ricard Foundation, is just a few minutes by boat from the port of Le Brusc, in the commune of Six-Fours-les-Plages. It is a small, unspoilt world where you can enjoy a day, or even several days, of complete change of scenery and freedom.

Climb above Ollioules and see the witnesses to the country's history: a Celtic-Ligurian oppidum, a medieval castle, a Chappe telegraph, cadastral markers and a water tower. This is what I offer you over a few kilometres on this peaceful walk, which does have a fairly steep incline.

A hike in the Bandol countryside. A beautiful climb in the heart of nature. Step off the path a little for better views. The return trip is along the coastal path. You will walk along the Mediterranean Sea and its red earth or the water against a blue-green backdrop. A very pleasant narrow path, a steep descent and numerous steps await you. A hundred metres before you arrive, don't hesitate to go down the steps to the Baie de la Rénécros for lunch on the beach.

A beautiful hike in the hills above Ollioules and Sanary, off the beaten track. Exceptional views of the coastline from La Ciotat to Porquerolles, and inland from La Cadière-d'Azur to Le Revest, the Sainte-Baume mountain range and the Ollioules gorges.The hike alternates between shaded sections in the Mediterranean scrub and sunny sections on the limestone rocks of the La Colle massif.See important notes in Practical Information.

You'll never tire of this walk, which is very popular with the residents of Six-Fours, between the pretty port of Le Brusc and the tip of Île du Gaou, very close to Île des Embiez, along the fragile and protected lagoon.

This short hike will take you along the sunken lanes of Courrens, then on a beautiful panoramic forest trail between Roumagnan and Francillon. You will pass through two old hamlets of Six-Fours, which was originally made up of numerous villages.

This active route will take you through the Croupatier to the Baou de Quatre Ouro, one of the four "Toulonais brothers". Paths and ledges where you have to use your hands, passages with ropes, discover the main caves of the massif, where the famous caves of the Château du Diable make the route more interesting.

Capeu Gros is one of the peaks of the Croupatier massif, whose ridge leads to Baou des Quatre Ouro. The route, an extended version of the Rinckenbach route (Cuves du Destel), first follows the bed of the Destel with handrail climbing, chains and passage through the vats. It then passes along the Croupatier ridge. On the way back, you will see the Chappe telegraph and the boundary markers of the municipalities of Ollioules and Évenos. Breathtaking views from La Ciotat to Giens, via the bay of Toulon. 25/03/2024: the route ofthe GR® 51, which passes north between the Col du Taillan and the summit of Cape Gros, has been modified and now passes between the Col de Taillan, the telegraph and the summit of Capeu Gros. The IGN map has not been updated.

This very challenging route takes the hiker to the site of the Château du Diable and its remarkable caves and the Destel gorges, with their astonishing giant's kettles or cauldrons. Nice sections with chains or ropes.

This circular walk starting from La Cadière d'Azur will take you along theGR®®51to the Gros Cerveau ridge, where you can visit an old fort and a cave and enjoy an exceptional 360° view covering the Île de Porquerole and La Ciotat. The return journey is via a shaded path descending along the Val d'Aren.

A very easy walk that will allow you to see some fossils, surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, with beautiful views of the hilltop villages of Le Castellet and La Cadière d'Azur. Between 1824 and 1949, a lignite mine (a type of coal between peat and hard coal) was operated at the Fontanieu site; a few very discreet remains of this operation can still be seen here and there. Those interested in geology will enjoy "reading" this landscape.

This walk takes you through varied landscapes: undergrowth, ridges, cliffs overlooking the sea, and two hill tops with 360° views of the coast and the mountains. For the more adventurous, an optional athletic route takes you down to the foot of Cap Sicié and the sea.

The 400-hectare Janas Forest is a natural area with numerous trails that many people enjoy. I suggest a brisk half-day route to keep you in shape. The route is mainly through the woods with a few cardio sections. Everything you could want!