Walking in the Pays d'Aubagne

Starting from the Font de Mai in Aubagne, there are several walks available:

• The Garlaban
• The Manon cave
• Angèle’s farm and Aubignane
• The Garlaban loop and Taoumé
• The Douard engravings

To get there, you can park in the Font de Mai car park or take the free line 14 bus.

For a peaceful hike, we recommend taking advantage of the mild weather from September to June. In the low season, the trails are accessible and the number of visitors is moderate. During the summer, due to the risk of fire, some massifs may close, thus prohibiting access for hikers. So be sure to check the conditions before you set off.

It is forbidden to bivouac:

• In the Garlaban massif all year round
• In the Calanques National Parkall year round. Bivouac and camp by any means: under the stars, in a tent, in a vehicle, a trailer or any other mobile shelter. This ban applies not only to natural areas, but also to the approaches to roads crossing the heart of the National Park: from Mont Rose to Callelongue, via the Maronaise cove; the Sormiou and Morgiou road, along the D559 from Marseille to Cassis and the D141 from Cassis to La Ciotat.

However, in the Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park, its use is permitted, and often tolerated, outside areas where it is explicitly prohibited. To find out about the different rules depending on your location, please contact your local council or the local police directly, and consult the PNR de la Sainte-Baume website.

Dogs are allowed in the massifs, but must be kept on a lead. The tranquillity of the fauna, the preservation of the flora, which is often fragile in the garrigue, and respect for other hikers are all at stake.

However, dogs are not allowed on our guided tours.

The Pays d’Aubagne offers a number of walks to do with the whole family, with children, at their own pace and according to your wishes:

• The mills at Auriol
• The springs walk in Saint-Zacharie
• The lagets in Auriol
• The Defens forest in Saint-Zacharie
• Angèle and Aubignane’s farm from the Font de Mai in Aubagne

Before setting off on a hike, it’s important to check a number of things:

• The weather: conditions in the mountain ranges can be different and even changeable. Remember to find out about the day’s conditions before setting off on any trails.
• Access to the massif: in summer, access to the massifs may be forbidden due to the risk of fire. So be sure to ask about the accessibility of the trails.
• Hunting season: from September to February, hunting drives take place in the hills of Pays d’Aubagne. So before setting out on any trails, please contact the Aubagne et l’Etoile Tourist Office for information on the accessibility of certain areas. During this period, please wear visible clothing (fluorescent yellow, bright orange).

Hiking is good, equipped is better! In the Pays d’Aubagne, as on all trails, you need the right equipment to walk with a clear head.

Here are our recommendations on the essentials for hiking:

• Good walking shoes: no small trainers and even less open shoes. The paths here are rocky and require good support!
• Enough water: The heat and physical exertion mean that you should drink at least 1.5 litres of water per person. This will prevent dehydration! If you have pets, don’t forget to take some for them too.
• A hat: The Provençal sun doesn’t spare anyone, so remember to wear a hat (capèu) or cap to protect your head.
• A windbreaker/sweater: Even on sunny days, the wind and nightfall can make the air chilly. So a little wool will never go amiss!