A hike throughout Voire fountain and dead man summit

The trails are steep, but your efforts will be rewarded with a breathtaking 360° panoramic view and the chance to discover spots less well-known to hikers. To reach the trailhead, take the RTM bus (Line 23). Get off at the “Sormiou Shopping Center” stop. After walking a few steps, turn right onto Boulevard Louis Pierotti. Keep walking straight ahead until you reach a green gate marking the start of a DFCI trail. Go around the gate and continue straight ahead, following the red trail markers as they lead you through the wooded Jarre valley (1). Continue until you reach the Voire fountain (2). You’ll begin your first ascent through a narrow gorge that opens onto a clearing shaped like a small cirque. Turn left and follow the yellow markings, which lead you along a path that climbs a bit more steeply. It winds around a rocky outcrop on which you can see two large openings. This is the Dechaux Cave (3). Continue your ascent. Halfway up, your efforts are rewarded with an unobstructed view of the Frioul archipelago, the Prado beaches, Borély Park, the CEPAC Velodrome, and Notre-Dame de la Garde. Upon reaching the highest point of this climb, you’ll enjoy a great view of the Cayolle neighborhood, the wastewater treatment plant, and—in the distance—Mont Puget and, beyond that, Mont Carpiagne. Not to mention, even further away, the Soubeyranes cliffs in Cassis. The route continues and leads you to the next steep climb. At the intersection, turn right to stay on the yellow trail. You’ll reach a vantage point that offers another beautiful view of the Cayolle and Panouse neighborhoods, and more broadly, the entire eastern part of Marseille. As you continue, the view opens up even more, allowing you to spot, for example, Mont Puget, the Grande Candelle, the Devenson Cliffs, and, far in the distance, Cap Sicié. You’ll leave the hilltop and wind your way through a refreshing pine grove, where you’ll come across a trail marked with a green trail marker. Stay on the yellow trail, which climbs rapidly and offers a view of the start of your hiking route, including the very steep path that winds around the Dechaux Cave. The ultimate reward isn’t far off. The yellow trail joins the blue trail, leading you to the western summit of the Plateau de l’Homme Mort (4). Now’s the time to take your sandwich out of your backpack and treat yourself to a break. The view is breathtaking. This time, you’ve reached the highest point of the Calanques. Turn 360 degrees to take in your surroundings. No peak will escape your notice: the Garlaban, Mont Carpiagne, Mont Puget, and the Pic de Bertagne, which towers over the Sainte-Baume massif in the distance (topped by a white dome housing a radar and radio station), the Grande Candelle, the islands that make up the Riou archipelago, and the summit of Marseilleveyre. Leave the plateau by following the blue trail markers. The hike takes you down a rocky ledge. In some places, the limestone is smooth, and loose gravel may cause you to slip on this tricky stretch. Use your hands to help you descend carefully. A few meters before the Col de la Selle, in a wooded area, leave the blue trail and follow the green markings, which lead you down to the right toward the Bois de la Selle. The next landmark will be a junction in the middle of the woods where several trails meet (black, red, green, and yellow). Continue your descent by following the yellow and red markings. The red trail is the last one that will take you back to the starting point of this beautiful loop. So be sure not to miss the final fork, where the yellow and red markings split. A final short climb offers a beautiful, sweeping view of the Frioul Archipelago, the Port of Pointe-Rouge, the wooded areas of the Campagne Pastré, and especially Pastré Castle (5). A little further on, a wall might pique your curiosity (6). Take a quick look at Montagne de l’Aigle (located between the wall and the town). You’ll pass between two cairns and continue your descent toward the Voire Fountain. Enjoy the beautiful view of the Dechaux Cave and the Baume de la Fontaine de Voire. You’ll come back to the start of the trail you took earlier. Follow it back in the opposite direction to finish the hike.