Sainte-Victoire la Croix de Provence

Sainte-Victoire is a highlight of Provence for hikers and climbers.

Before you start, make sure access to the massif is allowed because a regulation is applicable from 1 June to 30 September which and can limit access hours.

Technical sheet

4098663
A Vauvenargues walk posted on 11/05/13 by djhoward. Last update : 22/09/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.88 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 6h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 721 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 727 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,005 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 361 m

Description

Start from the Cabassoles car park, just before Vauvenargues.
Go in the direction of Le Prieuré (GR®9) on the Venturiers trail, which is very well marked so you can't to wrong! Count on about 1.5 hours of climbing.
Once at the Prieuré Sainte-Victoire (1), visit and admire the landscape, then climb the Croix de Provence (2), with a panoramic view as far as Marseille and the Mediterranean if it's not too cloudy.
NEThen continue along ridges to the signal, still on the GR®9, then reach the Col Subéroque sometimes bordering the steep cliffs.
At the Col de Subéroque take the trail on the left that descending very steeply (green markers), which is the Sentier des Plaideurs (The "path of pleaders").
__The descent is very abrupt, with lots of rocks, so watch your knees, this is really quite difficult in my opinion!
When you get to the bottom, keep following the green route markers!
Before you arrive at the river "L'Infernet", take a small trail to the left for 50m after a pile of wood.
Then join a track after having crossed the river. Follow a yellow trail and turn left back to the car park!

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 374 m
  2. 1 : km 4.39 - alt. 869 m - Prieuré de la Sainte-Victoire
  3. 2 : km 4.54 - alt. 863 m - Croix de Provence
  4. 3 : km 8.61 - alt. 915 m
  5. 4 : km 10.61 - alt. 467 m
  6. 5 : km 11.1 - alt. 458 m
  7. S/E : km 13.88 - alt. 374 m

Useful Information

I advise you to take an IGN map, especially for the shortcut on the small trail.
Otherwise take water because there is none on the route, and it's best in the morning to avoid the heat.
When you arrive at the Bau de Vespres just before the col, you can people climbing on the flanks of the mountain, which is very popular among climbers.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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