The Alpilles massif is the ideal place for hiking with family, friends or on your own, on foot or by bike. It offers magnificent panoramas and magical architectural discoveries. In this article, I suggest 3 great hikes not to be missed on your next getaway to Provence!
Nature and culture: From the Contras to the Chapelle Sainte-Sixte – Eygalières
A lovely, easy loop that takes you on a tour of old Eygalières. On this hike, you’ll pass through magnificent olive groves and enjoy an exceptional view of the Alpilles from the Contras hill.
The hike starts in the heart of the village of Eygalières, where you can admire the village edifices: the Tour de l’Horloge, the ancient church of Saint-Laurent, typical of the Roman style, and the ancient Château on its rocky outcrop. If you have a little time, don’t hesitate to take a tour of the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, now home to the Musée du Vieil Eygalières.
The walk ends with a visit to the Chapelle de Sainte-Sixte. Built in the 12th century and surrounded by cypress trees, it is one of the finest examples of Provençal Romanesque art. Open for weekly services in summer, it is also accessible on Easter Tuesday for the pilgrimage in honor of Pope Saint Sixtus.
For breathtaking panoramas: La Vallongue – Aureille
This superb hike, lasting just over 3 hours, takes you to the heights of the Alpilles and offers stunning views over the surrounding valleys! Departing from the charming, typically Provencal village of Aureille, this hike takes you to the peak of Les Opies, the highest point in the Alpilles massif.
This loop is ideal for discovering the typical flora of Provence: garrigue, pine forest and ridge landscapes… It’s also not unusual to come across flocks of sheep and goats, as the massif is a mecca for pastoralists.
A walk I recommend to nature lovers, who will delight in the scents of thyme and rosemary everywhere in the heart of this garrigue.
Discovering the region’s history: La Grande Pinède des Alpilles – Saint-Etienne du Grès
This attractive 4-hour itinerary will take you to unsuspected places in the natural and historical heritage of the Alpilles. The marked trail takes you through valley bottoms, ridge lines, olive groves and pine forests.
The hike begins in the village of Saint-Etienne du Grès, first passing through a shady arboretum, then crossing various valleys. Along the way, you’ll come across a troglodyte habitat that was used as a shelter as early as the Neolithic period, before being converted into a hermitage in the Middle Ages.
A little higher up, enjoy a contemplative pause at the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Château. Built in the 11th century on the remains of an oppidum, a fortified settlement from Celtic times, it is the emblem of the village of Saint-Etienne-du-Grès, which it overlooks. In spring, it is surrounded by a magnificent flowerbed, giving it a magical aura!
