A short circular loop in the Gros Cerveau, above Sanary

Coming from Bandol Plage, head towards Saint-Cyr – La Ciotat, then turn right under the motorway towards the Jardin des Oliviers, Chemin de Sainte-Trinide, and continue along this road after passing the entrance to the Jardin des Oliviers. It becomes the Chemin de la Piole Paul Venel. Pass a sign describing the walking trails and park on the right just after it, opposite the wide entrance to a property.

The starting car park is actually the same as for the walk to La Roche Curade.

(S/E) In front of the sign indicating the hiking trails, find the start of the path which heads straight north, running alongside a large villa, between two rows of wattle fences.

(1) As you emerge from the ganivelle corridor, leave the path heading due east (which passes in front of a lime kiln) on your right and head straight on, climbing the rocky path, as for the variant route to La Roche Curade. Very soon, this path veers westwards.

(2) Ignore a path on your right heading due north (the return route), and continue westwards, soon reaching a balcony-like path offering fine views of Sanary and Bandol. After about 600 m, this path descends steeply to the bottom of a narrow valley and climbs a few metres before joining another path coming from the left, whilst turning at a right angle towards the north. Head north, following the valley floor.

(3) At the junction with a path that climbs steeply westwards, continue northwards along the valley floor. After about 700 m, you’ll emerge onto the Gros Cerveau ridge road, having passed through an area of rocks and heath.
You are now just below the eastern slope of the highest ridge of the Gros Cerveau, opposite the entrance to the Grotte du Garou, with a superb panorama over the Beausset basin, beyond the Val d’Aren to the north, and a beautiful view of the coast to the south.

(4) Head east along the botanical trail, marked by a few information boards about the flora, which were unfortunately in poor condition when we visited.
When the botanical trail joins the tarmac road, follow it westwards for a short distance until you reach the entrance to a track with a gate. Take this track heading due south.

(5) Ignore the path continuing southwards (which leads, amongst other places, to La Roche Curade) and turn right onto the lovely track that runs horizontally through a beautiful pine forest.
After a left-hand bend, this track passes close to a cistern and continues straight on, narrowing as it goes. It becomes a stony path that descends along a ridge and rejoins the junction you passed earlier at the start of the walk.

(2) Then follow this path back in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

Walk completed in March 2023.

No particular difficulty, but you’ll need suitable footwear and walking poles: many sections are stony or rocky, with a risk of slipping or falling in wet conditions.

The route is relatively short but consists mainly of footpaths and does not follow any tarmac roads or many forest tracks.

Each of the sections, between (1) and (4) and between (5) and (2), can be combined with other trails to create one or two further routes.

It is worth noting the quality of the scenery from the path after point (2) and from the Gros Cerveau ridge after point (4).

Don’t forget to visit the Roche Curade site nearby.

Alongside this walk, or even as a complement to it, you can visit the Jardin des Oliviers, as well as the zoo and botanical garden.