Sentier du Défens trail in Meyreuil

A pleasant short hike that takes you up a slag heap without any particular difficulty. You will find a few information panels along the way. The route is very well marked in blue.

Details

35660679
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.87 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 410 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 417 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,014 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 604 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Meyreuil (13590)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.49004° / E 5.515011°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3143ET, 3244ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Domaine Communal de Valbrillant, route de Valbrillant.

(S/E) Start at the information panel. Take the small path to the right of the panel that descends below. Head towards the bottom where there are a few picnic tables and rubbish bins. Cross the small bridge, climb a few steps and follow the path in front of you. You will come to a T-junction.

(1) Continue to the right until you reach the retention basin. Walk along it, taking the narrowest path on the route. Then continue on a wider track to reach a junction with asecond track.

(2) Take the left-hand track and continue uphill to reach a crossroads with several directions at the corner of the solar panel field. Take the left-hand path,GRP® Provence - Mines d'Énergie, to quickly reach the Sommet du Défens.

(3) Descend to quickly reach a trail junction.

(4) Leave theGRP® here and take the path on the left, continuing into the woods. When you come out, cross the fields and join a row of trees.

(5) Turn left opposite a private property, follow the hedge and then rejoin the path you took on the way there at the crossroads. Turn right to reach the car park of the Domaine Communal de Valbrillant (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 610 ft - Domaine Com. de Valbrillant car park. Near - Arc (fleuve)
  2. 1 : mi 0.4 - alt. 748 ft - T-junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.88 - alt. 781 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.4 - alt. 1,007 ft - Summit of - Le Défens (311m)
  5. 4 : mi 1.76 - alt. 892 ft - GRP trail junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.68 - alt. 604 ft - Crossroads with tree hedge
  7. S/E : mi 2.87 - alt. 610 ft - Domaine Communal de Valbrillant car park

Notes

No special equipment is required, but avoid sandals, heels and flip-flops.

Worth a visit

(3) Sommet du Défens: large esplanade with a firefighting water reservoir. Depending on which side you are on, you will have a view of Sainte-Victoire and the Chaîne de l'Étoile.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 20602969

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful route that is not particularly difficult. The walk is easy to follow thanks to the blue markings. It is pleasant because the start of the route is on a wide path and the return is through the woods.

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User 7514997

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view of the Sainte Victoire

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ROSYETTE
ROSYETTE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I chose this route because I have a tibia-knee prosthesis and unfortunately can no longer hike on paths with steep gradients. The description was in line with what I expected and I was able to do the walk without too much difficulty. It is interesting from the point of view of "learning about the mining region". Best done in temperate weather because it's very sunny, especially at the summit where we stopped for a picnic (too bad there were no tables or benches). There was a strange smell on a small section of the route... Probably fumes from the old slag heap?

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Henri42/43
Henri42/43

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely little walk on a coal mining slag heap. Frequented by hunters depending on the season.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant little hike. Lovely views.
At wp2, of course, you have to turn left and not right as the guidebook says.

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JT
JT
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Short hike in Meyreuil with beautiful views (this makes up for not being able to access the viewpoints on the short route of the Fos plain....)

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Pierre124
Pierre124

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route with lovely views

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