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Hikes in Provence: From the Coast to the Countryside

Between the sea and turquoise rivers, varied vegetation and majestic settings, Provençal hiking trails never disappoint!

The Calanques

Breathaking

Exceptional with their wild, well-preserved character and listed as a National Park, the Calanques stretch for twenty kilometres from Marseille to Cassis, a former fishing port renowned for its fruity white wine. The rocky massif, a dazzling white limestone that is sprinkled with garrigue, ends in cliffs in the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Many hiking trails allow you to explore this timeless site. In particular, take the GR 98-51, which connects Marseille to Cassis. For a professional guide, contact the Bureau des Guides des Calanques.

Discover the Calanques

The Gorges du Verdon

Unforgettable

Marvellously described by the Provençal writer Giono, the gorges, jewel of the Regional Natural Park offer exceptional hikes as close to the water as you can get. They are accessible via many signposted routes, suitable for beginners as well as experienced walkers. To walk around the Grand Canyon, you can take the legendary Blanc – Martel trail from La-Palud-sur-Verdon, a small town perched at an altitude of 915 metres. It takes its name from the first caver to have explored it in 1905. For a professional guide, contact the Bureau des Guides du Verdon.

Montagne Sainte-Victoire

Cultural 

A few kilometres east of Aix-en-Provence, this massif stands like a sphinx. You can traverse it on many signposted hiking paths, including the GR9, which follows the ridge. Along the way, under an azure blue sky, you will find a wide range of colours, from the ochre of the cliffs to the white of the limestone rocks. It was this variety of colours that inspired Cézanne. By the end of his life, the painter from Aix had dedicated 44 oils and 43 watercolours to Sainte-Victoire. For a professional guide, contact Provence Évasion.

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