Aureille lookout tower

de fr

The highlight of the walk is the wonderful view from the lookout tower over the Alpilles range, giving superb photo opportunities!

Details

n°42667
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 188 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 192 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 339 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 130 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View from the east tower
View from the tower on the north side
Valley and moon
Deuxieme bifurcation / Second fork

Description of the walk

How to get there: Take the D25a out of Aureille Village and continue to the small car park on the right between firefighting access tracks AL236 and AL235.

(S) Starting point: park here and continue up the D25a.

(1) On the left after about 300 metres, there is an unnumbered marker stone which in fact is track AL119. Turn left and follow this track.

Keep going straight ahead ignoring a trail heading right, then another heading left.

(2) At the third junction, bear right. From here, you can see the lookout tower. To reach it, carry on and bear right at the fork (3).

To return, retrace your steps and continue straight on (track AL227, unmarked), following the forest track and unsealed road to Aureille.

(4) Pass through the village and head north, returning to the car park and the finishing point. (E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 177 m - Parking for DFCI tracks AL236 and AL235
  2. 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 178 m - DFCI track on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 305 m - Return junction at the lookout
  4. 3 : km 2.36 - alt. 335 m - Watchtower
  5. 4 : km 6.76 - alt. 130 m - Drive through Aureille. Head north along the - Gaudre d'Aureille (rivière)
  6. S/E : km 8.15 - alt. 176 m - Parking for DFCI tracks AL236 and AL235

Notes

There is a drinking water fountain in the village.

Worth a visit

Aureille http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/bouches/aure...: a charming little village with a former wash-house and the old village on the hillside above (it is better not to go there due to the risk of falling rocks). Make sure to explore the heart of the village: the typical stonebuilt houses are splendid and there are superb squares, the clock tower (place de l'Horloge) and the castle (place du Château).

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 49 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
pfp
pfp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular route starting near a pleasant climbing site (opening to be confirmed). A beautiful path leads to a ridge with great visibility before reaching the lookout point. Gentle return to Aureille. Avoid in full summer sun.

Machine-translated

shumash
shumash

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A gentle route in terms of elevation, with magnificent views of the Alpilles mountains along the way and especially from the lookout point. In the village, there are a few points of interest such as the wash house, the church and the late 11th-century castle.

Machine-translated

Lionel et Bettina
Lionel et Bettina

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great hike with a breathtaking view from the lookout.
The return to the car park is by road
At the end of the village, we advise you to turn right through the olive trees.
Much nicer

Machine-translated

Isamc
Isamc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

magnificent
bewitching

Machine-translated

symy
symy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty walk in lovely sunshine, fairly easy on wide tracks, with magnificent views from the lookout where we were lucky enough to walk a short way with a shepherd and his flock of sheep.

Machine-translated

PatGamb84
PatGamb84

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike starts a little further from the car park!
This hike is best done in autumn and spring due to the lack of trees.
The view from the lookout is magnificent, and the village of Aureille is very nice.
The return to the car park is on the road, which is a shame.

Machine-translated

gg13500
gg13500

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice walk (or ride) for the whole family (on foot or by bike).
wide path all the way (for cars) and return by road.
Beautiful scenery. You can see as far as the sea.

Machine-translated

Munich93
Munich93

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route was taken in the strong mistral wind, ideal for photos. There were no major difficulties on this route, which we followed to the letter. The end of the route on the road between Aureille and the car park may seem a little daunting, but we didn't dare venture into the olive groves.

Machine-translated

schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A fine route, short and without any difficulties, even for our old legs.
Not a soul was to be seen the whole way... and with good reason: a mistral wind that would blow the bious out of the Camargue, and a wind chill of -8°. It keeps!
Beautiful 360° views
Return by road to be avoided, as recommended by other hikers.

Machine-translated

sakado13
sakado13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A leisurely climb along good paths (with a few stones, but we're in the Alpilles!!) to reach the lookout. 360° views, a little obscured by a little mist towards the south, but a good place for a picnic if it's not windy... and it can be. We were a group of 20 retired people, not all of them young, and everyone completed the route without difficulty.

Machine-translated

lingey
lingey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A peaceful walk on easy to follow rough stone tracks, but little shade so take a hat and water. Some uphill for first part to the lookout tower, but the views were stunning across the Alpilles in 360 degrees. The village of Aureille was delightful and perfect for a refreshing drink in the local bar/restaurant before the final 0.9miles back to the start point.

charleri84
charleri84

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent views in the sunshine, but the descent is steep through the combe, but nice in the cool, an important loop but the group was not able to do it all.

Machine-translated

Isabelle Segretain
Isabelle Segretain
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, easy walk with beautiful views in the heart of the Alpilles.

Machine-translated

oyemou13
oyemou13

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Few hikers we met, perhaps because of the weather (wind) and the time of year. Some difficulty due to the very stony ground, with the risk of slipping on the ground. Otherwise, a pleasant hike with an interesting viewpoint at the lookout.

Machine-translated

macdidi
macdidi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a nice little walk completed in just 2h30, I'd do it again and make it longer as the surroundings are beautiful
and above all not polluted by antennae or power line poles as it is in a regional park. Beautiful views
but that day the weather was overcast, so the horizon was blocked.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Aureille to Eygualières

Visorando member
Aureille à Eygalières
↔17.96 km ↗+380 m ↘-379 m ◔6h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Aureille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
A pleasant walk through the Alpilles. Not particularly difficult, this is a hike that is excellent for beginners. Nevertheless, there are beautiful stretches, commanding views and surprising natural displays of surprise and vigour.

Walking Aureille: through the olive groves

Association / Club / Walk leader
Aureille : à travers les oliveraies
↔10.69 km ↗+94 m ↘-92 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Aureille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
In the heart of the Alpilles Regional Nature Park, this circuit crosses vast olive groves, runs alongside a canal and an old sandpit, and passes close to a Vaudoret oil mill.

Walking The Aureille Loop

Visorando member
La Boucle d'Aureille
↔10.93 km ↗+263 m ↘-264 m ◔3h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Aureille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
This pretty little loop runs alongside olive groves and the Civadières climbing cliffs, climbs up to the watchtower and then descends to the village via a track and a large valley crossed by theGR® 6 hiking trail. The route mainly follows wide, easy paths that allow you to admire the landscape. From the top of the watchtower, on a clear day you can see the Crau plain, the Mediterranean Sea and the Étang de Berre to the south, and the Calans mountain range silhouetted against the horizon to the north.

Walking Les Caisses de Jean-Jean from Aureille

Visorando member
Les Caisses de Jean-Jean depuis Aureille
↔16.38 km ↗+191 m ↘-191 m ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Aureille (Bouches-du-Rhône)
An easy, family-friendly walk in the south of the Alpilles mountains. Passes near the Caisses de Jean-Jean oppidum. ⚠️ 19/08/2025: Hike not suitable for dogs. Herds of 3 to 4 goats with guard dogs watching over them.

Walking Le Gros Calan in the Alpilles

Visorando member
Le Gros Calan dans les Alpilles
↔9.14 km ↗+201 m ↘-200 m ◔3h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Eygalières (Bouches-du-Rhône)
Short hike in the Alpilles, below Eygalières. Best done in autumn or winter.

Walking The Opies Tower

Association / Club / Walk leader
La Tour des Opies
↔13.63 km ↗+419 m ↘-417 m ◔5h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Eyguières (Bouches-du-Rhône)
The Tour des Opies is the highest point in the Alpilles mountain range, rising to 498 m and offering a 360° panoramic view of the Durance plain, the Rhône, the Comtat Venaissin, the Camargue plain and the Crau plain as far as the Étang de Berre. The route, located in the Alpilles Natural Park, begins in the wooded valley of Les Glauges. It leads to the ruins of a Gallo-Roman villa. On the way back, a visit to the charming village of Aureille is a must.

Walking The Quatre Termes and Baume Brignolle

Association / Club / Walk leader
Les Quatre Termes et la Baume Brignolle
↔10.52 km ↗+190 m ↘-183 m ◔3h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône)
A hike in the Alpilles along good paths. A varied landscape ranging from pine forest to Mediterranean scrubland with fine views over the hills and valleys.

Walking Around the Calans from Eygalières

Visorando member
↔10.36 km ↗+244 m ↘-235 m ◔3h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Eygalières (Bouches-du-Rhône)
This beautiful hike to discover the Calans starting from Eygalières is accessible to most people. We will first pass by Maset de la Lèque, where Jean Moulin took refuge after his parachute drop on 2 January 1942. Then, a path lined with boxwood will take us to the ridges and along the southern faces of Gros and Petit Calan. The return to the village will be via theGR®6, lined with olive trees and beautiful properties. This varied route offers beautiful views of the Alpilles, Luberon and Ventoux mountains, and allows you to discover the magnificent village of Eygalières. Some steep and/or stony sections require sturdy footwear and walking sticks. This route is not recommended after rain.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.