In the Footsteps of Saint Mary Magdalene

from Marseille La Barasse to Gémenos

Stage 8

On the previous stage of your voyage you explored Marseille. Now you’ll be leaving the city and winding your way through the landscapes so dear to Marcel Pagnol, between the Garlaban and Sainte-Baume hills, redolent with the timeless charm of deepest Provence.

Stage profile

Length: 25 km
Ascent: 846 m – Descent: 915 m
Walking time: 6h15
Level of difficulty: fairly difficult

On your way: Landscapes and relief

You leave Marseille’s La Barasse district. This day’s hiking in Provence gets off to a good start (certainly under sunny skies). You soon pass through La Candolle, La Millière and then the Vallon de Luinant. The path offers a beautiful panorama over the rocky massifs and the Vallon de la Barasse, where Sainte Marie-Madeleine certainly spent several centuries. We leave the Notre-Dame de Nazareth chapel behind. The sea is just around the corner: try to catch a glimpse of Cap Canaille! You rejoin the GR® de Pays 2013 Marseille Provence Métropole after the Escourtines valley. After crossing Aubagne, take the Chemin des Petits-Mellets and the Chemin de Saint-Jean-de-Garguier. Then it’s a straight shot to Gémenos, where you stop off. From La Barasse, if you want to stroll through La-Penne-sur-Huveaune, there’s an alternative route that allows you to stay in the urban environment. From Saint-Jean-de-Garguier, an alternative route takes you a little more leisurely up towards Plan d’Aups.

Must-see sights: Keep your eyes peeled

Surrounded by rugged landscapes, Aubagne has a lovely charm, well described by the most Provençal of writers, Marcel Pagnol. To visit Aubagne is to stroll through the narrow streets and perhaps hear the accent of the locals in an echo. Enter the church of Saint-Sauveur, a fine example of the evolution of ecclesiastical art, built around a 12th-century Romanesque chapel. Admire the 17th-century Virgin and Child and the monumental organ. The Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs, a symbol of the exponential growth of brotherhoods in the 18th century, has been fully restored. Here, local Aubagne stone is cut and shaped in the most beautiful way. The Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs completes your spiritual tour. Baroque in style, it can only be seen from the outside. The world of Pagnol and Provence can be discovered at the Petit Monde de Pagnol, in his birthplace, and at the Village des Santons.

Where to sleep?

There are several overnight options for your tour of Gémenos and its vicinity. The Prieuré Saint-Jean de Garguier welcomes you in a rejuvenating setting near the sea with a choice of individual rooms or a dormitory; just take your pick before dining, saying your prayers and settling down to rest… If you’re seeking a chic, serene atmosphere, opt for the Hôtel La Magdeleine and its exceptional restaurant. Equally charming and simple, the Hôtel Le Provence is perfect for resting and relaxing before tomorrow’s hike on one of France’s most beautiful spiritual routes. When it comes to shared accommodation, you’re spoilt for choice: the Appart’hôtel les Rochers in the Aubagne area and the Villangines in Aubagne and Auriol. The Côté Sud residences welcome you in the towns of La Bouilladisse and Peypin, and the Résidence le Parc du Loriot in Auriol.

Find out more

Practical info

Contact: Office de Tourisme Intercommunal du Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile / 8 Cours Barthélemy – 13400 AUBAGNE / Tel. +33(0)4 42 03 49 98 / accueil@tourisme-paysdaubagne.fr / www.tourisme-paysdaubagne.fr