The Watchtower by the North Slope in Les Baux-de-Provence

A circuit on the north slope of the Alpilles on good tracks nice, overlooking cross-shaded valleys and ridges that offer views on all sides of the Alpilles. The view goes far beyond this. The tour starts with a track which “keeps its cards close to its chest”. Apart from the return by the GR 6, you will meet few if any other people on this route that is far off the beaten track.

Technical sheet

190590
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 211 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 210 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 286 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 129 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access

From Les Baux-de-Provence, take the D27 towards Maillane. At the pass, shortly after the road cuts between the rocks and just before heading back down, turn right onto the paved road that goes up to the viewpoint. Car park right in front of this rise before the first turn.

GR markings - White and Red

Opposite the track, turn right, pass close to a remarkable rock, pierced by erosion. A hundred metres away, be very careful: the foot of a hill, on the left starts, a hidden track by a pine leaning.

No markings

(1) Pass the fence and take the track that starts out as a ledge and follows the contours of the hill. It descends gradually. At an intersection, turn left onto the trail that leads down perpendicular to another track. You discover an open space dominated by a large pine tree.

(2) Turn to the left. Pass alongside a water tank (No. 51) and turn right. Soon after, leave this track which joins the D27 road and turn right between the bushes. At the next junction turn right again. The track takes hairpin bends to climb up the ledges. Ignore a track that heads down to the left (this is actually the trail from earlier left before the hairpin and which joins back up with it). Continue straight ahead to the next intersection.

(3) Turn left and keep to the track that descends into a sharp turn. Ignore the one which, in a turn, goes down to the right. The trail rises gradually and then becomes increasingly steep in a hairpin bend. It opens onto a ridge with views over Mont Ventoux. In passing, note the small "structures" of stones (4) erected by children from a day camp. The trail descends to a water tank and another track coming from the right.

(5) Continue straight ahead and ignore the path that starts on the left. Join the main trail used by the GR 6 at the foot of the hill where the watchtower is.

GR markings - White and Red

(6) Turn right and follow the main trail that takes you to the car park. Ignore all tracks left and right. Pass near a water tank (7), cross a fence to find the paved road. Here you can follow the paved trail to the car park or up to the right (8) right to the viewpoint (or what remains of it) for a 360° panoramic view. This is the option I chose for my hike. You will find the trail back down to your left facing Baux (you can also go to the right, but it is a little “steep"). You complete your circuit by the "hidden" trail (1) and come to the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 242 m - Parking facing uphill
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 257 m - Go through the barrier and take the track
  3. 2 : km 1.88 - alt. 151 m - Turn left
  4. 3 : km 3.46 - alt. 208 m - Turn left
  5. 4 : km 4.18 - alt. 240 m - Small stone structures
  6. 5 : km 4.67 - alt. 231 m - Go straight on
  7. 6 : km 5.38 - alt. 281 m - Turn right onto the GR 6
  8. 7 : km 7.12 - alt. 273 m - Tanker
  9. 8 : km 7.59 - alt. 272 m - Junction to the Orientation Table
  10. S/E : km 8.04 - alt. 242 m - Parking facing uphill

In the nearby area

Option to climb to the watchtower for a 360° view, but it will add altitude.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 53 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Boog
Boog

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice easy walk on good paths with some very nice viewpoints over the Alpilles, not very busy. As described. Would recommend

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Devine
Devine
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk, well sheltered from the mistral.
Lovely 360-degree views. Worth doing again

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tizotx
tizotx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk with few people on the first part. Beautiful views. On the day of the hike, there was low fog and only the summits were visible, superb.

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nomisimon
nomisimon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful walk on wide paths.

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Fabady
Fabady

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A great way to explore the area around Les Baux de Provence.
No difficulties other than the heat for those who find it hard to bear.
For us, it was the best, leaving at 9am.

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randojcv
randojcv

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very nice, quiet ride, no problems. Deadlines and mileage respected, wide tracks or paths...everything has been said Thank you.

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LN C
LN C

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A beautiful walk with superb views of the Alpilles, Les Baux, Saint Rémy and the surrounding area along the way.
Avoid hot weather, as unobstructed views mean little shade. Otherwise, there are no difficulties on this route, which is ideal for families.

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epsilonbleu
epsilonbleu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk with beautiful views to both north and south. The presentation of the route is entirely accurate. It is possible to shorten the loop at 2-3 junctions. The ascent to the watchtower is short and gives you a great 360° view!

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LIONEL13118
LIONEL13118

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thank you so much for sharing it with us, we had a wonderful day thanks to you.
I know this region quite well, and I agree that your itinerary is brilliant, as it allows tourists to see all the highlights in half a day.

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vivico
vivico

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent views all along the route.
Easy, can be done with the family'.

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Philippe Audouin
Philippe Audouin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very pretty route with many views over the Vaucluse plain, the Ventoux, Nîmes, the Camargue, the Etang de Berre, the sea, etc.
It's a feast for the eyes.
The diversions to the foot of the watchtower is well worth it for an almost 360° view.

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Michel-75
Michel-75

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thank you for this superb walk, with some lovely sections on balconies and under blue skies.
Away from the crowds
many superb viewpoints.

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lepapou
lepapou
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice little walk in fine sunshine, with superb views at several points along the way.

This route does not seem to be very popular.

The little constructions made by the children are really cute (with a few cuddly toys thrown in for good measure).

A lovely day !!!!

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roselynec
roselynec

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The starting point of the walk didn't seem very clear to us. We happened to have parked before, at the Val d'Enfer. Once on this path, we saw that we could get to point 7 and we decided to do the walk in reverse, heading towards the watchtower. And so we sometimes had difficulty following the description properly... but we didn't get lost thanks to the tracking on our smartphone app.

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diedie
diedie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice tour. Not many people though, as it was a weekday in March. No difficulties

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