A rollercoaster ride above Ollioules

Head to Ollioules and park along the wall bordering Avenue Barthélémy Dagnan, alongside the River Reppe.

(S/E) Head towards the town (southwards) and pass the first bridge on your left.

(1) Turn left onto Chemin de la Bonnefont, crossing a beautiful bridge over the Reppe. Continue along the lane and cross the Route des Gorges to join the^GR® 51 (Chemin de l’Oratoire) on the opposite side. This path first passes the Bonnefont site (one of the springs feeding the River Reppe) and, after a bend to the left, continues uphill on a steep slope.

(2) Pass the ruins of a large chapel (Notre-Dame de l’Espérance) and continue climbing north-eastwards. At the last houses, the paved section of the Chemin de l’Oratoire ends and gives way to a mostly rocky path, still marked in red and white (^GR® 51), which leads into the forest.

(3) At the highest point, the path crosses a track which follows the route of a pipeline from the Canal de Provence. Cross this track and continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads of paths where there is a picnic table.

(4) Leave the return path, marked in yellow, on your left, and the^GR®, which climbs towards the telegraph station, on your right. Take the path marked in blue straight ahead (actually the old route of^{the GR®}), which climbs gently northwards.

(5) Turn right onto a path that climbs steeply and joins the Croupatier ridge.

(6) You’ll reach an old boundary stone at the junction with the^GR®51; take this path to the right. Take care to follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®} carefully, as the route is not always clearly defined; it passes a number of rectangular stone cairns which are the old boundary markers. The path is marked with both red and white markings and blue markings (which appear to correspond to the boundary markers’ route).

The path runs along the ridge, then descends steeply to the square Télégraphe tower. After this, turn left and continue down until you reach the crossroads of paths and the picnic table.

(4) Take the yellow-marked path opposite. About 40 metres further on, slightly off the path to the right, you can visit the Grotte du Patrimoine. The path then descends alongside the Barre de Taillan (which looms over it on the right) down to the Reppe valley.

(7) Take a detour to the right to visit the Puits du Trou de la Bombe, in an open area on the banks of the Reppe, then set off along a track beside the Reppe towards Ollioules.

Shortly afterwards, on the left, you can see a lime kiln and its information panel. The track then crosses the river via a ford, taking you to the right bank, just below the Route des Gorges. The valley floor widens and you pass close to the Noria at the Piot plot – which was undergoing restoration when we visited – as well as all the low stone walls of the surrounding plots.

Further on, on the left, after crossing another ford, you can see the spring known as ‘la Mère des Fontaines’. The track then climbs back up towards the road.

(8) Turn left onto the road towards Ollioules and follow it for about 600 metres, taking care as there is little room on the hard shoulder.

(9) After walking alongside an irrigation canal on the left-hand side of the road, turn left onto a track which crosses the Reppe via a ford fitted with culverts, and you’ll reach the Chemin des Arbres. On the right, alongside the irrigation canal bordering the path, you’ll see the large Les Arbres washhouse.

(10) Cross the Route des Gorges and take the lane opposite which runs alongside the Rattes washhouse; then, opposite the Ollioules Water Services building, cross the bridge over the Reppe.
Turn right and look for the car park (S/E) along the wall bordering the avenue.

Walk completed in February 2024.
This route includes sections shared with previously described walks but also offers a return route that is both physically challenging and culturally enriching, featuring the descent via the Barre de Taillan and the Reppe Valley upstream of Ollioules.
Although water plays a prominent role in the town of Ollioules and along part of this route, there are no drinking fountains along the way: so, in hot weather, do remember to bring something to drink, as you may well find yourself ‘thirsty’ after the rather long climb.
It is estimated that 25 to 30 per cent of the route is on paved paths, but the trails are mostly very rocky or stony, and are often steep, both uphill and downhill. You should therefore wear suitable footwear and carry a pair of walking poles, which are essential for the descent down the Télégraphe and towards the Reppe (between points (6) and (7).
A note regarding the section between points (4) and (5): this follows the old route of^{the GR®} 51 (still marked as such on the Géoportail IGN map) and, although it is now signposted in blue, I came across an old red-and-white marker at the first major left-hand bend, approximately 500 metres after point (4).
As for parking, if you’re travelling with one or two cars, you’ll find it easy to park along Avenue B. Dagnan (the option chosen in this guide), but for a larger group you’ll need to look for a car park in town (watch out for blue zones) or the pay-and-display car park along the Route des Gorges near the start of the Chemin des Oratoires, about 100 m towards Ollioules.
Another option would be to park along the road just south of the point (7), in front of a dog training centre, and start the route from there (passing first by the waterwheel at the Terrain Piot).

The list of points of interest on this walk is long!
These include:
- The two old bridges (Ponts de la Bonnefont) near the starting point.
- The Reppe stream and the irrigation channels and vegetable gardens that line it.
- The Bonnefont Fountain.
- The feudal castle of the Vintimille family, which can be seen in all its glory from the Chemin des Oratoires.
- The Chapel of Notre-Dame de l’Espérance.
- The Provence Canal trench, housing the section of the canal linking the Hugueneuve and Courtine reservoirs.
- The 19th-century boundary markers separating the municipalities of Evenos and Ollioules.
- The Chappe Telegraph.
- The Patrimoine Cave.
- The Trou de la Bombe Well.
- A lime kiln.
- The impressive noria at the Piot site.
- The ‘Mère des Fontaines’ spring.
- The Arbres and Rattes wash houses.
... and, of course, the viewpoints and panoramic views over the hills of Evenos and its castle, over Ollioules, Six-Fours, La Seyne and the bay of Toulon.
Enough to feast your eyes on… and give your legs a good workout.