Hikes in Camps-la-Source

Bring the whole family and discover a religious heritage lovingly restored by the villagers.

This varied route takes you to the Saint Quinis bar, with its chapel at the summit. The route along the ridge offers magnificent views.

​After a climb to the Chapelle Saint-Quinis, the trail offers scenic views as it follows the ridge of a mountain range. After the descent, we walk along the Issole River back to Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole.▶ We start at the parking lot in Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole 01 and cross the railroad tracks. There we find a hiking information sign and turn left. We climb a few steps up to a road. We follow the yellow trail markers through a residential area with villas uphill until we’ve left the last houses behind us. A narrow, rocky path—which quickly narrows to a trail—leads us steadily uphill to a magnificent viewpoint, then on to the Chapelle Saint-Quinis 02. We take a forest trail behind the chapel that leads us to Saint-Quinis 03, the summit of the mountain range. From there, we’re treated to a breathtaking panoramic view stretching all the way to the sea and Montagne Sainte Victoire. The trail becomes more adventurous, and we often have to search for the yellow markings among the rock formations. We hike a long stretch over rough terrain before reaching a dirt road 04, which we follow to the left. Passing a cistern, we arrive at a launch site for paragliders. We cross the takeoff runway and leave it at its lower end onto a rocky path. The trail leads downhill until we come to a house and a gravel path, which we follow further downhill. The trail takes a sharp turn, and we pass under a railroad track. At a fork, we turn left and hike along the Issole River 05. At the next bridge, we cross the river and head left again through a park. Crossing another bridge, we return to the parking lot in Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole 01.

An urban walk along the water's edge: fountains, wash-houses, springs and canals provide an original way to discover the Cité des Comtes de Provence and its ancient medieval center. Get a 360° view from the Rocher du Gueit!

The village of Camps-la-Source is situated on a hillside overlooking a plain dominated by vineyards. Narrow streets and tall houses with beautifully crafted wooden or stone lintels characterize the village’s appearance. Near the spring stand 19th-century arcades, some of which have been bricked up. For a long time, Camps-la-Source’s abundance of water formed the basis of its most important economic sectors. In addition to grain farming, viticulture, and livestock raising, felt and felt hat production, as well as the production of mineral water by the French mineral water producer Vittel, were once key economic drivers. Today, tourism has become the town’s main source of income alongside agriculture.▶ We start at the parking lot in Camps-la-Source 01, follow the yellow markers into Rue du Canal, and turn immediately left onto a small road. At first, we walk through a residential area, then we leave the village behind. Amid the fields, we come to a crossroads and turn left. We cross a country road diagonally to the left toward Chapelle Saint-Martin. The path enters the forest and turns into a gravel trail. After passing a large equestrian center, the path forks. We keep to the right, continuing toward the chapel. We reach Chapelle Saint-Martin 02 by taking a detour to this beautiful spot. Surrounded by tall oak trees, this is a lovely spot for a break. We then continue our hike along the gravel path. The trail becomes narrower and rockier and leads us uphill. At a fork, we take the wider path heading slightly to the left. At the top, we come upon a small road 03, which we follow downhill. The path winds downhill between chestnut trees. We leave the forest and reach the first houses of Camps-la-Source. The yellow markers lead us uphill, then to the left. We cross a wide road and then take the Chemin de la Calade to the right. After a steep climb, we reach the small Chapel of Saint-Sébastien 04. Back at the road below, we walk past a red house on the right. The path leads downhill, and we turn left onto a street. We continue straight ahead, then turn right onto Rue du Four, which takes us to a square with the town hall. There, we pass the fountain on the left and head downhill into a narrow alley. After a few meters, we come to the beautifully framed Val de Camps spring 05. Turning left, we return to our starting point at the parking lot in Camps-la-Source 01.

This tour takes in a lovingly restored heritage: Chapelle St Sébastien, amphitheatre and the typical village of Camps la Source.