On the heights of Hyères

Depart from Place Gabriel Peri, Avenue des Îles d'Or.

(S/E) Take Passage Sainte-Croix, just to the right of the building at 20 Avenue des Îles d'Or. The stairs lead to Montée Sainte-Croix. Turn right, then at Place Cafabre, take the hairpin turn to the left to reach Rue Victor Basch and walk along it for a few hundred metres until you reach the next crossroads.

(1) Opposite, turn right onto the steep Chemin de la Porte Saint-Jean and walk for about 50 metres, then turn left onto Chemin des Maurettes. Continue to the next intersection. Follow Chemin du Vieux Château on the right, which ends in a cul-de-sac at a house gate. Go around the gate on the right and continue straight ahead on the path, which becomes a trail, leaving the house on your left. Continue up the hillside. At the end of the trail, turn left to reach the large car park offering a beautiful view of the sea and the Îles d'Or.

(2) Take the path at the back of the car park on the left, which runs along the top of the Chemin de la Roquette asphalt road (on the left). Around April-May, you will pass through fields of flowering Montpellier rockroses. This path leads to the Chemin de la Roquette at a small parking platform.

(3) Continue straight along Chemin de la Roquette until you reach a crossroads and a track leading off to the right. Turn right at a 90° angle onto the Plan du Pont track.

(4) Take the path on the left at a 90° angle. Continue straight ahead, ignoring all the paths on the right or left, until you reach Chemin de la Roquette at a cistern with a view of Mont Fenouillet on the right.

(5) Turn left onto Chemin de la Roquette towards Hyères. Follow this road straight ahead and rejoin the route taken on the way up. Continue along the same route until you reach the fork at the small parking platform.

(3) Take the path on the left, along the hillside, until you reach the next intersection.

(6) Take the path on the right that climbs steeply to a stele offering a magnificent panoramic view.
At the stele, facing the sea, take the path on the right to descend to the large car park you passed on the way up.

(2) Take the tarmac road downhill towards Hyères. After a few dozen metres, take the first street on the right, Rue Saint-Pierre. Leave Villa Noailles on your left. The road continues along a small path. Continue for a few dozen metres until you reach a Y-junction.

(7) Turn left onto Rue Jean-Marie Ollivier, which descends towards the old town. Continue along this street, which turns into Rue des Princes slightly to the right. You will arrive at Rue Sainte-Claire after passing under the Porte des Princes. Turn left onto Rue Sainte-Claire, then right onto Rue Saint-Paul, which leads to Place Saint-Paul.

(8) Continue on the right to reach Rue de la Croix, then turn left onto Rue Lamalgue and continue straight ahead to Place Gabriel Péri (S/E).

- There are no water sources along the route, so bring enough water, especially during the hot summer months.
- This is a fairly short route, which has the advantage of taking just a morning or afternoon. However, it can be extended in various ways, particularly at (5) with the option of making a round trip to the summit of Fenouillet (but be aware that this significantly lengthens the hike, so plan accordingly). You can picnic at the summit, which offers magnificent views.
- You can shorten the hike by turning back at (3) for a shorter outing.
On the way back, there are a thousand and one ways to descend through the old town, given the large number of alleys, cross streets and roads. I have suggested one route for your information, but you are free to take another route...

Possible visits:
- the castle ruins (magnificent views from the belvedere)
- Villa Noailles
- Stroll through the old town on the way back down (refreshments on a terrace, etc.)