Source of the Huveaune, the Oratoire de Miette and the Castelette cave

If you would like to discover a pretty spring in the South of France, I recommend a circular route starting from the Plateau, passing by the Oratoire de Miette, the Tumulus des Béguines and the Chemin de Rois.
You will discover the spring and its magnificent colours and the Castelette cave on the way back.

Details

665765
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 379 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 387 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 706 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 419 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is on the D80, at a place called Le Plateau, where there is parking for 3 or 4 cars.
To get there, from the Hostellerie de la Sainte-Baume, continue for 700 m towards Nans-les-Pins,
turn left, and the car park is about 800m away.
Le Plateau is on the right before a bend.

(S/E) With your back to the road at the start, take the passage, then continue on the left and take the Chemin des Rois heading east. You will quickly come to the crossroads where the Miette oratory is located.

(1) Turn left to quickly reach the Tumulus de Miette or Béguines.
Return to the previous crossroads via the same route.

(1) Turn left back onto Chemin des Rois. Quickly cross the D80 road.

(2) Continue along a series of hairpin bends to reach theGR®9at the junction with the Route des Aumèdes.

(3) Take thisGR® on the left and continue west on an almost horizontal path until you reach a hairpin bend and the bridge over the Huveaune.

(4) Turn 180° to the left and follow the left bank of this river, which, despite its short length, is a river. Enter the Vallon de Castelette to reach the source of the Huveaune further on.

(5) Cross the bridge to reach the other bank. Turn left along the river and then retrace your steps. Continue until you reach another fork.

(6) Turn right to reach the Castelette Cave.

(7) Take the same path back to the previous crossroads.

(6) Turn right and reach a new crossroads in the hairpin bend.

(8) Take the path on the left to quickly reach the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 674 m - Parking lot on the plateau
  2. 1 : km 0.53 - alt. 704 m - Miette Oratory
  3. 2 : km 1.66 - alt. 620 m - Crossing the D80
  4. 3 : km 2.9 - alt. 442 m - GR9 fork
  5. 4 : km 4.32 - alt. 419 m - Huveaune Bridge
  6. 5 : km 5.37 - alt. 467 m - Cross to the other side of the river via a bridge - Huveaune (fleuve)
  7. 6 : km 5.84 - alt. 539 m - Fork towards the Castelette Cave
  8. 7 : km 6.34 - alt. 573 m - Castelette Cave
  9. 8 : km 7.14 - alt. 625 m - Return crossroads
  10. S/E : km 7.57 - alt. 674 m - Parking lot on the plateau

Notes

Self-guided hike, no water source

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 82 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 6913100

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A very beautiful hike, apart from the first 3 km or so, which is downhill along the bed of a dry stream full of loose stones and wet, very slippery rocks. The banks of the Huveaune are magnificent. The return trip is quite steep and technical, also due to the slippery rocks, so good footwear is essential.

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User 1378249

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good description of the route, but the signposting is still unreliable.

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KrisVal
KrisVal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be sure to follow the directions carefully, as there is a difficult, rocky climb that would be dangerous if attempted in the opposite direction.

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User 27588522

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Huveaune in "water" mode, meaning a cool and magnificent route.
Access via La Taurelle is very busy, so the route to the sources of the Huveaune is saturated.
Pilgrimage trail rather degraded but well marked.
The return from the source is steep but short.

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Perez Jacques
Perez Jacques
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The line bugged out in the middle of the

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pierreantoine
pierreantoine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, well-shaded walk, but unfortunately the river was dry. Best to try again in early spring

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PUBOL
PUBOL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very pretty blue butterflies

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User 6973736

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Really nice

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PUBOL
PUBOL

Thank you for your review.

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User 16541637

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A hike with a few challenges.
However, the view was magnificent.
Highly recommended.

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PUBOL
PUBOL

Thank you for your comments.

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baloutchy
baloutchy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike that is very easy to do.
Wear sturdy shoes as the start of the trail is rocky and downhill.
The colours are magical.
The climb back up is a little steep for about 1 km.

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PUBOL
PUBOL

Thank you for your comments.

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Tom13
Tom13
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great hike with lots of people starting from Huveaune.
We left the trail at the Castelette cave.

Very steep but doable without children.

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PUBOL
PUBOL
• Edited:

I'm glad you enjoyed the tour.
Thank you for these interesting details.

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