Towards the Chartreuse de la Verne

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike starting from the small car park below the Route des Guiols, where the signs for the lake and the Chartreuse are located.
From there, there are two fords across the La Verne river, which are more or less easy depending on the water level (one crossing is equipped with two logs placed side by side at a height of 50 cm, for those who are good at balancing), and the crossing at the bottom of the dam, where there is a small marshy area and the stone dyke of the dam's spillway: feasible but very convenient for some people.
The route along the lake is pleasant, more or less flat, but a bit long, especially on the way back (6-7 km from the car park).
Note that the Chartreuse is only visible 300 m from the end of the route, but the view is worth the detour.
There is a steep, rocky climb to La Chartreuse, but the descent on the Argentière valley side is less rocky.
There are a few chestnut trees along the route.
Note that along the lake, there are several stream crossings that have been damaged by storms.
The app gave me 18.58 km to the viewpoint on the Chartreuse (about 200 metres before it) and 447 metres of elevation gain.

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Date of your route : Apr 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I really recommend starting with the St Julien path.
Stop before the red and white barrier (no vehicles allowed) and park along the path.
We tried via the hamlet of Les Guiols: crossing the river barefoot. What's more, you end up on the wrong side of the dam.
Otherwise, it's a beautiful hike with the passage to the dam. I took the opportunity to visit the charterhouse (nothing extraordinary) but the entrance fee pays for the work. Beautiful view of the Alps.
At point 9, a slight hesitation, follow a fairly steep stone path.
A pleasant hike in a beautiful landscape.

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Date of your route : Jan 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 3 January.
After 300/400 metres from the start indicated in Visorando, we came to a gate with a private property sign.
We returned to the car, headed towards La Mole and after 600/800m in a bend we found signs indicating the direction of the dam and La Chartreuse... and a small car park.
We then followed the stream and found the path and the Visorando trail. This must add 1.5 km to the entire circuit.
Apart from this hiccup at the start, the hike is very enjoyable.

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Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk. Magnificent forest with some beautiful trees. The highlight, of course, is the Carthusian monastery!
Unlike the hikers before us, the approach on the tarmac road was not a problem. It must be said that, having done it at the end of February, the mimosas formed a real guard of honour for us!

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Date of your route : Mar 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

nice walk,
leave your car at the DFCI barrier and walk a few kilometres before
a big climb up a mule track (marked by yellow signs). You arrive fifty metres from the charterhouse, then after visiting it, you descend into the heart of the Maures forest, which is very pretty. Be careful on the way back, as the car park seems very far away when you're tired and you can't see the end of it!

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Date of your route : Nov 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

There are a few parking spaces available approximately 500 metres before the monastery on the left-hand side among the vineyards. There is a walking trail, but nothing extraordinary. The monastery is worth visiting, even if it is nothing special. Unfortunately, there is no access to the gardens and outdoor areas. Distance: 18.9 km and 3 hours 40 minutes at a steady pace

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Date of your route : Jan 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Downhill route to the lake, which the trail does not border but can be approached, then a fairly easy but long 6 km climb. Less interesting, just forest and no views along the route except at the very beginning, where there is a view of the Chartreuse

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Date of your route : May 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The approach walk along the lake is a bit tedious. However, the lake itself is very pretty.

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Date of your route : Oct 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,

Following Blanche Lck's comment, we parked our car right next to the sign indicating the "Chartreuse de la Verne" hiking trail. This trail is marked with yellow signs and is indicated on the 1:25,000 IGN map that I downloaded via IphiGénie (a tool I recommend). At the start, this trail descends towards La Verne and follows its left bank. About 700 metres after the start, it crosses La Verne and, after about 400 metres, crosses it again to return to the left bank. That's where the markings end. We continued up the valley, crossing a field with a shed to reach the foot of the dam. It is not very easy to reach the road that climbs up the left bank (a bit of downclimbing from the dyke). After that, we followed the hike description without any problems. We found the long flat stretch along the Verne dam lake rather tedious, but arriving on foot at the Verne Charterhouse was well worth the effort. The charterhouse and its wild surroundings are unique.

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Thank you for your opinion, Blanche Lck

i have added your suggestion to avoid the private path in (1) to the description

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Date of your route : Aug 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, we did the "Chartreuse de la Verne" hike today, setting off at first light to avoid the oppressive afternoon heat.
We were captivated by the beauty of the paths and landscapes, as well as the tranquillity that emanates from them. The restoration of the Chartreuse is splendid and definitely worth a visit.

However, there is one significant downside, which is the start and finish: as indicated in the comments and description of the hike, we had difficulty parking near the last houses in the hamlet of Les Guiols and took the first path after the famous iron gate. After about a hundred metres, just after crossing the electric wires marking the boundary of the field, we came face to face with the owner of the land who, while letting us pass, told us that it was private property and that we had taken the wrong path. On the way back, it was the same story: we had to cross the same wires and walk across the same property.
After a quick look at the geoportal and the cadastral maps, it is indeed private property. Obviously, our crossing of the plot and our respect for the place did not bother anyone, but we felt rather embarrassed to have taken a private road.
Upstream from this gate, 400 metres further down, you will find a sign indicating a hiking trail called "Chartreuse de la Verne". We did not take it, but we assume that this is the path you should now follow at the start to avoid the same inconvenience we experienced.

This mishap did not detract from our overall satisfaction with this walk, which, apart from this sign, is very well signposted and marked out.

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Date of your route : Jun 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

GPS PHONE REQUIRED, but this allows you to take photos and identify plants. The passage through the hill of prickly pears is spectacular due to the strangeness and beauty of the place. Be sure to visit the Chartreuse de la Verne. A magnificent site with beautiful gardens that contrast with the simplicity and intimacy of the interior. Beautiful pottery made by the nuns is available to purchase. Low prices and well worth it.

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a very pleasant, shaded walk. We didn't visit the monastery as we've already been there

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Date of your route : May 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the Maures massif: diverse landscapes (reservoir, etc.)
and the discovery of the Chartreuse monastery.

Not too difficult - medium and very "relaxing". I did it at the ideal time of year (mid-May): the vegetation was in bloom!
A delight for the eyes.

Jean Paul Dutron.

P.S.

The visit to the Chartreuse: very interesting (remarkable restoration!)

The only slight downside: the car park at the start (not easy to find along the road!)

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Hello, it's a very good idea to start from La Chartreuse, as parking is difficult near La Môle. Best regards. Patrick

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