Vallon and Saint-Clair Chapel

On the D43D, park in the large car park at the Prieuré Saint-Jean de Garguier.

(S/E) Head towards the priory and cross the road to follow the Chemin de Saint-Jean. Further on, turn left onto the Chemin de Saint-Clair towards the DFCI CB103 track. After the last houses, go through a gate and arrive at a junction with a path.

(1) Turn right and follow this path towards the Vallon Saint-Clair. The walk is very easy in this magnificent valley, with beautiful sculpted cliffs to the right. You’ll reach the DFCI CB102 track; follow it to the left to quickly reach a Y-shaped junction and underground cistern no. 56.

(2) Continue straight on along the track until you reach the hairpin bend. Then turn right into a meadow towards the Petit Tuny hut: a former sheepfold and refuge, 565 m. Explore the area, then follow the path to the right of the hut to discover some caves at the foot of the cliff.

(3) Turn back and return to the track junction.

(2) Keep to the right on track CB103, Chemin de Saint-Clair to Roussargue. Admire the landscape: the Garlaban, Géménos, Marseille, and to the right the Sainte-Victoire massif. Pass underground cistern no. 11.

(4) Leave the track to the right for a detour to the Chapelle Saint-Clair: signposted. Take a look around.

(5) Retrace your steps and turn left to rejoin the track at a hairpin bend.

(6) The descent becomes steeper but remains easy. Return to the junction you passed on the way out.

(1) Turn right, then at the next bend, leave the track to the right onto a path through the woods which runs alongside the track at the top, rejoining it further on. Then follow the path back the way you came to return to the car park for this walk (S/E).

For reference: the author’s time for this route was 2 hours 30 minutes, excluding breaks.