From the sentier Merveilleux to the Miette oratory
A 10.8 km loop combining the legendary Sainte-Baume forest, the limestone landscapes of the plateau and the Miette oratory on the chemin des Roys.
- Distance
- 10.8 km
- Duration
- 3 h
- Elevation gain
- 271 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Type
- Loop
- Highest point
- 879 m
- Start
- Hostellerie de la Sainte-Baume, Plan-d'Aups-Sainte-Baume
Highlights
- The sentier Merveilleux under the cliff
- The open landscapes of the plateau and the view over the whole mountain
- The Miette oratory, a landmark on the chemin des Roys
This loop extends the sentier Merveilleux towards the plateau. After the dense forest of the north slope, it crosses more open limestone country that opens the view over the whole mountain, then joins the GR 9 and the Miette oratory, one of the oratories that mark the old chemin des Roys between Nans-les-Pins and the sanctuary.
The route
From the Espace Tourisme et Découverte, you reach the parking des Trois Chênes and pass the fire-service barrier to take the track on the left. A path then climbs to the right to the Ravel spring and the sentier Merveilleux, which you follow along the rock wall for three kilometres.
At the Saint-Cassien track you leave the yellow waymarks, then a steep pitch leads to the Béguines track. A path then descends to the road, which you cross to pass a fire-service barrier and follow the "Le Plateau" track. A stony track climbs to the Miette oratory, on the GR 9. You then return by the GR, marked red and white, which overlooks the road and then skirts a building to reach the Hostellerie.
Getting there
Car parks of the Hostellerie de la Sainte-Baume, 8 km from Nans-les-Pins via the D80 and 12 km from Saint-Zacharie via the D480.
Advice
Flock and guard dogs possible on the route: give the flock a wide berth, stop if a dog approaches and talk to it calmly. 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.
