Ste Baume - Auriol, from Pont des Encanaux to Pic de Bertagne

We bet you didn't know you could go mountaineering in the Bouches-du-Rhône?! Reserved for confirmed walkers, this exciting hike takes you all the way up Pic de Bertagne (1,041 m) – the region's highest mountain, forming part of the Massif de la Sainte-Baume hill chain. Don't be fooled by the first easy section of the itinerary comprising a succession of ravines (Infernets, Coutronne), at the bottom of which flows a sometimes-bubbling, sometimes-dry stream. The view gets clearer as you approach the chalky plateau, overlooked by Tour de Cauvin. This is where the "alpine" part of the walk starts. And don't smile – these landscapes really are alpine even if their altitude remains fairly low. The proof of the pudding? Source du Cros, a high a cool valley, laden with flowers and conifers. The mountain passes and summits are also unlike those typically found in these southern climes. Stretching from Col du Cros to Col de Bertagne and Pic de Bertagne, this adventure hike in the secret folds of limestone Provence offers up an unambiguous reminder of the region's proximity to the Alps.

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