Stage profile
Length: 24.6 km
Ascent: 460 m – Descent: 455 m
Walking time: 6h00
Level of difficulty: not very difficult
Leaving Fos, you pass through the ponds, the Castillon national forest and the Pourra Regional Nature Reserve. After Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts and the Cadéraou balcony, you’ll come to the shore of the Etang de Berre. Stroll along Figuerolles beach. Take the GR® de Pays 2013 Marseille Provence Métropole to follow the coastline, cross the Caronte channel and reach the heart of Martigues, a city built on the water’s edge.
After its natural landscapes, Martigues boasts a rich religious heritage that invites you to visit or to pray. Take a stroll through the Provençal town and enter the Eglise Sainte Marie-Madeleine. Located in the Île district, this edifice has been enthroned since 1680, and boasts a remarkable two-storey facade. The Virgin and Child is particularly noteworthy for its sculpted decoration. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Marins (Our Lady of the Sailors Chapel), dedicated to sailors, features ex-voto offerings and a superb silver Madonna.
The Jonquières quarter, just next to the sea and Etang de Berre lake, is reputed for its tranquillity. You’ll also appreciate the peace and quiet of the Résidence La Cigalière and its 25 m² studio with delightful views. La Tartanne features agreeable guest rooms and is situated next to Plage de Ferrières beach – the promise of a delicious night before getting back on the road, refreshed and ready to continue your tour of Provence.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. (Luke 7,47)