Hike around the Sainte-Victoire Mountain

It is a circle hike starting at the village of Vauvenargues.

The guide will enjoy showing you this exceptional natural space.

You will observe various ecosystems on the shady side of Sainte-Victoire, from the piedmont to the crests.

6 h of exceptional panoramas (flexible duration and price according to your level).

The theme of this circuit is: the biodiversity of Sainte-Victoire

You will start the hike by the observation of a castle.

This castle, first Roman, was rebuilt in the 15th century and restored in the 17th century. It is located on a knoll south of the village of Vauvenargues. It was bought by Picasso in 1958 who was buried there in 1973.

You will then start the climb of the shadier side

After having crossed the line of hills separating the valley of Vauvenargues in two small valleys, you will start the ascent of the shady side of Sainte-Victoire. For at least a half-hour, the vegetation is a dense underbrush made up of Aleppo pines, white oak trees, mountain ashes and Austrian pines.

On the ground level, the flora is varied: lavender, valerian, centaurea, columbines, fritillaries, cistus…

You will then continue on the 2^nd stage of the shady side

{0>La pente se redressera fortement, les arbres se feront de plus en plus rares et de moins en moins grands.<}0{>The slope will become steeper, trees will become rarer and rarer and smaller and smaller.<0} {0><}0{>Only clumps of white oaks and scotch pines manage to cling to the rocky escarpment._{0><0}  {0>Ils sont peu nombreux sur l’arête.<}0{>They are few on the crest.<0} {0>Ils se regroupent dans les petits vallons.<}0{>They are grouped in the small valleys.<0} {0>Quelques 500m avant d’atteindre la crête, le paysage se fera de plus en plus minéral.<}0{>Some 500 m before reaching the crest, the countryside will be more and more mineral.<0} {0>Ce changement de végétation est lié au changement d’altitude.<}0{>This vegetation change is linked to the change in altitude.<0}

The crests

A beautiful 360⁰landscape is before you! Your effort is thus rewarded.

Several landscapes are offered to you:

The view from above of the Cengle plateau and of the village of Saint-Antonin.

The vegetation is low. : lawn sprinkled with boxwood and junipers, covered in spring with flowers of many colors.

Toward the top of the mountain, le Bau des Vespres (1011 m) you will admire its imposing cliff turned toward the east, 250 m in length and over100 m in height.

by continuing by the crossing of the Plan de la Crau, oasis with very green grass.

The line of crests gets tighter, giving the impression of navigating an immense vessel in the middle of an ocean of landscapes.

While are approaching the Croix de Provence, visible for more than 1 hour, the opening of the Gouffre du Garagai will let you see the plain below, then you will reach the imposing cross.

And finally you will end the hike by the descente des venturiers

The descent will begin in the direction of the Prieuré, an old medieval hermitage made bigger and restored in the 17^th century.

Then, after a few turns, the descent will take place on the wide path of the Venturiers.

A magnificent view will be offered to you of the valley, the Lake Bimont, and, in the distance, the Luberon, the Ventoux and the Mountain of Lure.

Progressively the tree cover returns, the slope is softer and finally it’s the arrival into the valley.

A roadbook will be given to you to indicate where and when to meet.

This is an average difficulty walk with some short steep and/or rocky passages.

For this day:

- You will need good shoes and a good supply of water.

- Plan on a picnic

Hoped-for level of the participant: All levels

Minimum and maximum number of participants: from 6 to 15 people

Number of kilometers hiked: 14kms

Duration: 6h

Rate for adults: 30€

Children’s rate: 22€

Minimum age required 8

We can prepare an organic picnic basket for you for an additional fee.

The route may be modified according to the desired duration of the hike and your level.

To know more about the town of Aix-en-Provence