Vallon du Ru and Château de Janson starting from the Saint-Christophe basin

An easy, family-friendly hike in a little-visited mountain range along the refreshing banks of the Durance.

15/05/2024: Route modified in (10) to avoid walking along the D66E.

Details

1885674
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.69 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 456 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 449 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 823 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 492 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Rognes (13840)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.705053° / E 5.357727°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3143ET, 3243OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the last car park at the Saint-Christophe basin on the right of the D543 before the Marseille canal buildings when coming from Rognes.

(S/E) Take the DFCI path in the Ru valley to the electricity pylon.

(1) Leave the DFCI road and take a grassy path on the left that descends towards some ruined buildings and an old reservoir of the Marseille canal.
Pass between the two small reservoirs.

(2) Go back up the clearly visible path that heads left (no markings) towards the old Ponserot spillway.
The path descends gently into the valley before reaching this reservoir.

(3) Turn right onto an unmarked path at the end of the path on the Durance valley and almost at the edge of the Marseille canal (do not confuse it with the Provence canal below).
Take this path, which becomes a track. You will reach the entrance to the Moulestre valley (houses).

(4) Take the tarmac road on the left under the Marseille canal towards the D561.

(5) At the road, turn right (watch out for traffic) until after the bridge over the Provence Canal coming from the Saint-Estève-Janson power station.

(6) Cross the D561 and take the wide road straight ahead towards the banks of the Durance. Do not take the road on the left that runs alongside the Provence Canal. You will arrive at the left bank of the Durance.

(7) Turn left onto the path along the Durance and head towards Janson Castle, the ruins of which can be seen on the left.

(8) When you see the castle at the end of the lake, turn left before reaching the foot of the castle.
Several small paths lead up to the ruins. Take the main path that runs alongside the old enclosure wall and a well.
The path is now in a pine forest between the canal and the Durance.

(9) Cross the D943, taking care of the traffic on this road. The path continues along the edge of the Canal de Provence until you reach an EDF bridge over the spillway, which you can cross (the fencing has been cut).
Continue to the next bridge after Les Gontard.

(10) Cross the canal on the bridge to the D561 and turn right for a few metres. Cross the D561 at the junction with the D66E and take this road until the first path on the left. Follow this road for about 450 metres and turn left onto a small path until you reach a road that joins the D66E at the edge of the St Christophe basin. Cross this road and follow the edge of the basin.

(11) Cross the D66E and follow the edge of the lake, take a small passage over a narrow bridge, then cross the D543 to reach the car park at the Saint-Christophe basin (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 607 ft - Parking Departure point: Saint Christophe basin
  2. 1 : mi 0.56 - alt. 823 ft - Electric pylon
  3. 2 : mi 0.88 - alt. 761 ft - Fork in the road towards the Marseille canal
  4. 3 : mi 1.7 - alt. 623 ft - Canal de Marseille
  5. 4 : mi 2.43 - alt. 581 ft - Tunnel under the Marseille Canal
  6. 5 : mi 2.59 - alt. 531 ft - D561
  7. 6 : mi 2.86 - alt. 538 ft - Towards the banks of the Durance
  8. 7 : mi 3.17 - alt. 541 ft - Banks of &gt - La Durance
  9. 8 : mi 3.78 - alt. 531 ft - Below Janson Castle
  10. 9 : mi 4.75 - alt. 528 ft - Crossing the D943
  11. 10 : mi 5.81 - alt. 535 ft - Bridge over the Provence Canal
  12. 11 : mi 7.1 - alt. 610 ft - Saint Christophe Lake
  13. S/E : mi 7.69 - alt. 607 ft - Parking

Notes

Worth a visit

The Durance Valley, the banks of the Durance.
Janson Castle.
The Saint Christophe basin.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 36 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Patricia LeC.
Patricia LeC.

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very easy and pleasant hike, sometimes in the forest above the Vallon du Ru, often along waterways (Canal de Provence, Canal de Marseille and Durance). We avoided almost all walking on busy roads by going down along the canals (somewhat steep but very short access, without danger).
Between 10 and 11, as soon as we reached the St Christophe basin, we descended onto the path bordering the basin - access slightly to the left. Stay on the left of the path at the signposted "Chutes de pierres" (rockfalls).
We passed close to the impressive St Estève Janson power station.
At point 8, don't hesitate to climb up into the forest to the ruins of Janson Castle, which has an astonishing suspended fireplace!

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Michèle d'istres
Michèle d'istres

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful autumn day. The route is varied and interesting at the start and end. It's a shame about the busy roads you have to cross and the noise from the vehicles. For the last two kilometres, you can follow the Saint Christophe lake right up to the car park.
This is a hike with no technical difficulty.

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le islois
le islois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike between the Marseille canal and the Durance river with stunning views of the Durance. The hike ends on a pleasant note on the banks of the St Christophe basin.

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Another Day In The Nature
Another Day In The Nature

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy but very pleasant route, offering the opportunity to take some beautiful photos of the Durance, the canal and the St Christophe basin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeqSHYRs...

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BCC
BCC

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike in the hills at the start and end, towards the small canal in Marseille, before leaving and rejoining the Bassin de Saint-Christophe, but very disappointing for the rest. The D561 departmental road is very noisy, even when you can't see it, throughout the section between the Durance and the EDF canal, as there is heavy traffic. You have to cross it twice and walk alongside it for a short while, then cross the D 943 as well. The section along the Durance is fairly monotonous, with few views of the river

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lionelguin
lionelguin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike with stunning views of the Marseille canal and the Durance river - The Château de Janson site is a great place for a picnic with views of the pond at the former St Estève gravel pit - At point 9, you can still cross the canal thanks to the cut fencing - At point 10: after crossing the canal, when you reach the D561, cross immediately and take a small path that overlooks the road, thus avoiding the edges of the D561

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Graines de Tournesol
Graines de Tournesol

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant route, often along the water's edge between the Durance and the canal, with no difficulties

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cordoba
cordoba

A very pleasant route, with no difficulties except for crossing the RD twice, which was very busy. Great place to stop for lunch on the banks of the Durance.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

About the appeal of the route: it is original because we are not used to walking along the Durance like this; it is also interesting because of its undergrowth and landscapes. However, there are two sections that are not very exciting (one at the beginning and one at the end of the Durance, and especially the arrival at the basin).
However, it seems to me that the return trip along the basin could be done close to the edge of the basin rather than along the road (as suggested by the GPS track). I haven't tried it, but it would be much better and, above all, less dangerous.

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cordoba
cordoba

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant route with lots of little paths. The only slight difficulty was crossing the busy main road twice. The lunch break by the Durance river was fantastic.

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Paccou
Paccou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A varied hike, following a route through the hills, then along a path beside the Durance river and the EDF canal, towards the Saint Christophe reservoir. No difficulties

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LIONEL13118
LIONEL13118

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you very much for the tour. Thanks to you, we had a wonderful day.

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jousselme13510
jousselme13510

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, best done clockwise in case of strong mistral winds. The D66e road can easily be avoided. To do this, go around the Saint Christophe basin and cross the D 66e at the forest path located 100 metres before the start of the Marseille canal. This path leads to the D561a, almost at the junction with the D561. I have recorded the GPX track

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abeille.gerard@free.fr
abeille.gerard@free.fr

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike without much interest and dangerous road crossing

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mamiclo
mamiclo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that there's road noise on part of the ride and that the last part on the road is difficult

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