The Grosibou Cave – Garlaban Massif (Marseille) | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Tourism

A cave that completely crosses the Taoumé peak

Perched just a few kilometres from the summit of the Taoumé peak, the Grosibou cave crosses the hill from one side to the other. In the early 20th century, this discreet cave was a closely guarded secret by the residents of La Treille and Allauch: it allowed poachers to easily elude the gamekeepers chasing them!

With an altitude of 667 metres, the Taoumé peak is one of the highest summits of the Garlaban massif. From its summit, a magnificent view unfolds before you: you can see Marseille, the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde basilica and the Mediterranean Sea, the Sainte-Baume massif, the Étoile hills, and the Sainte-Victoire Mountain.

Garlaban Hills

In the footsteps Marcel Pagnol in Provence

The grosibou, or pagnol’s encounter with an eagle owl

In French, grosibou is the phonetic form of gros hibou, which translates to big owl.

The cave is mentioned in My Father’s Glory, an autobiographical novel by Marcel Pagnol. Towards the end of summer, young Marcel and his friend Lili des Bellons are caught in a violent storm while exploring the valleys and hills of the Garlaban massif. Too far from home to return, they take shelter in this crevice known to the young farmer.

But they are not alone: the cave is home to an eagle owl, a bird that appears terrifyingly large to the two children! They abandon the place and run back to Bastide Neuve.

This adventure has become legendary, as it gave the cavity its name: the Grosibou Cave was born!

A hike to the Grosibou cave

Several hiking trails lead you to the peak of Taoumé and the grotto of Grosibou:

Starting from Allauch, several hikes offer loops with a passage at the peak of Taoumé and a climb to the grotto of Taoumé;
Starting from La Treille (Marseille), you can also follow hiking routes with loops that reach the peak of Taoumé and allow you to reach other iconic summits of the massif, including the famous Garlaban.
Starting from the Font de Mai estate (Aubagne), for a loop passing by Garlaban and Taoumé.

The grotto of Grosibou is located near stunning natural sites that you can explore during your hike:

The Escaouprés valley, a wild area that hosts an intermittent stream after heavy rain;
The Grottes des Pestiférés, which serve as a refuge for people from Marseille fleeing the Plague of 1720 in a story by Marcel Pagnol;
The Passe-Temps valley, where there is a cave sheltering a small spring.

Garlaban et Taoumé

Practical information

Access to the Garlaban massif may be restricted depending on weather or climatic conditions, especially in the summer season, during periods of strong winds or high temperatures.

The trails of the Garlaban massif are steep. We advise you to prepare with suitable equipment, including hiking boots and possibly walking sticks. We recommend bringing enough water, a snack, a hat, and sunglasses.

You can reach the start of your route to the Grosibou cave by public transport.

From Marseille:
- To Allauch: bus line 12S (connections with tramway T1 and metro M1)
- To La Treille: bus line 144 (connection with metro M1)
From Aubagne:
- To Font de Mai: bus line 14
- To La Treille: bus line 10