The Garlaban massif

A limestone massif dating from the end of the Mesozoic era, it overlooks the town of Aubagne. Its formation is attributed to land folds dating back to the Upper Cretaceous. Dominated by limestone, which was used to produce lime, the massif harbours mineral resources that have long been exploited by mankind. A land of clay: the working of this material is inextricably linked to the history of the Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile. Garlaban covers an area of around 8,000 hectares and rises to an altitude of 714 metres, offering a fantastic 306° panorama. Garlaban changes and surprises with every season.

Thousands of hikers now frequent the massif, and numerous trails have been signposted.
From Aubagne, La Destrousse or Roquevaire, you can go to the Croix de Garlaban, the barres de Saint-Esprit, the Mont du Marseillais, Baume Sourne… these are just a few examples of easy, medium and difficult hikes.
The massif also offers a range of other activities for the more experienced climber, including rock climbing (190 routes at Grand Vallon in Roquevaire), mountain biking and trail running.

There are plenty of trails to discover the diversity of the flora and fauna.

The Garlaban massif is home to a typical flora, including endemic and rare species. The garrigue that makes up this emblematic landscape is adapted to the extreme climate and soil dominated by outcropping limestone.

Its composition is rich: thyme, rosemary, kermes, cistus, fennel, mallow, mint, borage, coronilla…
There is also a wide variety oftrees and shrubs: different species of pine and oak, juniper, broom, olive, pistachio, sumac, arbutus…
Vines, olive trees, almond trees, apricot trees, cherry trees, medlar trees, peach trees and, more recently, saffron are cultivated on the terraces.

The fauna has invented a thousand tricks to survive the summer. There are mammals (gerbils, shrews, weasels, weasels, wild boar, foxes? ), birds (robins, serins, chaffinches, nightingales, tits, orioles, swallows, cuckoos, woodpeckers, pheasants, thrushes, screech-owls, great horned owls, etc.) and, of course, the emblematic insect of Provence, the cicada (but also: crickets, crickets, cabridans, dragonflies, grasshoppers, as well as the dangerous scolopendre and the dreaded processionary caterpillar, etc.).

This high level of biodiversity led the French government to include a large part of the Garlaban Massif in the Natura 2000 network in 2003.