• TO & Travel Agents
  • Medias
Vasques Sources Huveaune Nans Les Pins JaurrayVasques Sources Huveaune Nans Les Pins Jaurray
©Vasques Sources Huveaune Nans Les Pins Jaurray

Sources of the Huveaune River, a magical place to preserve

  1. Home
  2. Get Inspired
  3. Natural areas of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
  4. Sources of the Huveaune River, a magical place to preserve

Nestled in the heart of the Sainte-Beaume Natural Regional Park, the sources and pools of L’Huveaune are a fascinating place. Even though they are sheltered behind dense vegetation, today they are no longer a secret and they attract many visitors. This is why, to protect their purity, the commune of Nans-les-Pins has regulated their access. Read on!

A landscape fashioned by nature…

Even though the sources and pools of L’Huveaune seem to be something out of a fairy tale, when people talk about tuff, karst and riparian, these aren’t spells or magical formulas, but natural phenomena which have shaped this mysterious place. Tuff, or travertine, is a sedimentary porous rock formed when limestone is deposited on aquatic plants which eventually decompose, leaving only mineral matter. This type of rock is highly sensitive to erosion and is gradually carved by the water. This is when we talk of karstic relief. This is precisely the phenomenon which created the so-called “petrified” pools on the Huveaune where beautiful clear, sometimes turquoise water flows. The charm of the place is also largely due to the riparian vegetation, which here is lush, and mossy and protects many species of insects or small animals. Try and be discreet, this is their home!

… and developed by man

An itinerary has been developed to make this sublime site accessible with the idea of degrading it as little as possible. It helps you to immerse yourself in this bewitching atmosphere along a little forest path, with a little wooden pontoon to cross over the pools safely and without damaging them. To avoid people getting too close to the banks, little promontories have also been installed so that you can enjoy the decor as a whole. The trail takes you to the upsurge of the Huveaune, at an altitude of 590 metres. The walk takes about 2 and a half hours and is 8 km long. If you want to admire the pools filled with water, it’s best to come between November and April, after a bout of rain. Between May and October, they may be dried up.

Keep the right attitude!

Protected at the European level by a Natura 2000 ranking, the site of the sources and pools of the Huveaune is particularly fragile and sensitive. It is therefore very important to follow a few rules for the protection and preservation of this unique place. Access is limited by a Nans-les-Pins municipal by-law. It specifies that it is absolutely forbidden to walk on the banks away from the marked trails, to enter and even to swim in the pools and the river, to pick plants and smoke in this protected area. Please note too that dogs and bikes are not authorized. If these few rules are not respected, the fine will be in the 1st class category. Be responsible and respectful!

Access from the La Ferrage car park

In keeping with the logic of protecting these places, the main access is from the La Ferrage car park in the centre of Nans-les-Pins. From there, go up Cours Général de Gaulle and then Grand Rue, to reach Chapelle de la Miséricorde. Here you will take Chemin de la Bouaou, direction Vieux-Nans. Go between houses, join up with Chemin des Roys, and arrive at the level of a centre équestre (riding school) and the Sermax factory. After having passed it, go towards a forest path where you can see the first information boards reminding walkers of the rules to obey to respect the protection of the place, before entering this protected area more practically. Have a good walk!

Close