The grotto and the Saint-Pilon chapel
The must-do of the Sainte-Baume. From the Hostellerie to the grotto of Mary Magdalene through the forest, then along the ridge to the Saint-Pilon chapel and its panorama from the sea to the Alps.
- Distance
- 6.5 km
- Duration
- 3 h
- Elevation gain
- 395 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Type
- Loop
- Highest point
- 981 m
- Start
- Parking de l'Hostellerie Est, Plan-d'Aups-Sainte-Baume
Highlights
- The Sainte-Baume beech forest and the chemin du Canapé
- The grotto of Mary Magdalene and its 150 steps
- The Saint-Pilon chapel at 994 m and the 360-degree view
Entering the Sainte-Baume forest is like changing worlds: coolness, shade, beeches and yews in a land of scrubland. This 6.5 km loop, short but steep, leads through the forest to the grotto where tradition places Mary Magdalene's retreat, then climbs onto the ridge to the Saint-Pilon chapel. On a clear day the view stretches from the Mediterranean to the Alps.
The route
With your back to the Espace Tourisme et Découverte de la Sainte-Baume, you reach the parking de l'Hostellerie Est and enter the forest on the GR 9, due south, as far as a wooden bridge. After the crossroads at the obelisk of the Compagnons du Devoir, the chemin du Canapé begins the climb. At the chemin de Giniez you turn towards the grotto; the carrefour de l'Oratoire marks the foot of the stairs, 150 steps up to the sanctuary carved into the cliff.
Back at the carrefour de l'Oratoire, the GR 9 continues the climb past the chapelle des Parisiens and an oratory up to the col du Saint-Pilon, at 952 m. From there a path through the limestone pavement leads in a few minutes to the Saint-Pilon chapel, perched at 994 m on the ridge. You come back down the same way to the carrefour de l'Oratoire, then by the chemin des Roys, marked in yellow, which passes the source de Nans and joins the placette des Trois Chênes and the allée Royale. The route is listed in the Var departmental hiking plan. A shorter variant goes straight down the chemin des Roys after the grotto, without climbing to the Saint-Pilon.
Getting there
Parking de l'Hostellerie Est, 5 km east of the village of Plan-d'Aups via the D80 and 8.5 km south of Nans-les-Pins on the same road. The grotto is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm in winter time and from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm in summer time.
Advice
A mountain route: avoid the ridge in rain, wind or fog. You cross the Sainte-Baume biological reserve, dogs must be kept on a lead. The sanctuary asks for silence. From 21 June to 20 September, access to the massif is regulated according to the fire risk; check the daily map of the Var prefecture.
See also
