Spectacular scenic views of Baux-de-Provence

Description

Access: A car park at the Lumières Quarry on the D27.

PR (Yellow) markings

(S) No matter which car park you have found a space in, the start of the hike is opposite the entrance to the Lumières quarry site. Take the road (D27) to the left, ignore a small road off to the left, continue as far as the "DFCI" track on the right (No. AL215) heading onwards after crossing a fence. Stay on this track until the first crossroads.

No markings

(1) Take the track that climbs up to the right. About 200 m further on, leave the track to take another track to the left. Further on, after a steady climb, pass by a trail to the right and continue as far as another trail that is part of the GR6 route (there is a DFCI tank to the left on the edge of the path).

(2) Rather than follow the GR6 to the left, take a small path opposite (for the best views) along a track of the GR until it climbs up to the point where the orientation table was. Climb to the top of the promontory for a 360° view. Head down to the left (overlooking the village of Les Baux) along a fairly steep path to reach the currently paved track.

GR markings (White and Red)

(3) Turn right and go down the paved trail. Note in passing the rocks carved by erosion and again a beautiful view of the Baux. In turn, the GR6 follows a straight path. Stay on track reach the D27 road, near a pass.

No markings

(4) Turn left. At the pass, the road between two rock walls (caution, there is very little space for pedestrians). Immediately after, take a track to the right (on the corner there is a ruined cabin against the rock), pass through a barrier and continue on this track, ignoring paths leading off to the right. Pass by a ruin, keeping it on your left hand-side (the remains of a tower protecting the castle of Les Baux,) and continue on a path through the scrubland. It approaches the cliff. At this stage, be very careful because the maintained rocky path is not visible from the footpath.

(5) When it heads off to the right in a curve, go towards the cliff. An almost cubic cut in the rock indicates the beginning to the rocky steps (see picture “rocky steps seen from above"). Head down with the help of the bars set in the rock and continue on a path lined with small Kermes oak trees (careful, they have spines). It will take you to a large rock plateau as you go down, in sight, to reach a small road below.

Continue to the left. Continue alongside the homes, ignore a path headed to the right and enter the "lower village" of Les Baux. On the left you will see a spring (you are in the La Font valley) and, on the right, a washhouse fed by the spring. Continue straight ahead, cross a small road (D78g)

(6) Continue on a street opposite that leads to the road above (D27). Turn left and, a few metres further on, take the stairs to go up to the village (sign for "Village"). Arrive at a plaza, continue via the stairs to the right, through a door (called “Porte Eyguières”) and enter the village. After taking the time visit the village (optional), head out of the village by the main entrance at the other end overlooking the car park. Go to the end of this car park ignoring the entrance to the upper car park on the right.

Head down the stairs that lead to a turn in the D27A road below. Continue straight ahead, ignore the road heading left towards Maussane and continue on the one towards Maillane. It leads you straight to the site of the "Carrières de Lumières" and the car park.