Hiking in Vitrolles

The “Plateau de Vitrolles” and “Plateau de L’Arbois,” located close to urban areas and high above Velaux and Rognac, offer a recreational retreat for city dwellers from Marseille. Numerous hikers, cyclists, and joggers can be found on the plateaus, especially on weekends.> There is a small parking lot in front of the Saint-Martin-le-Haut01 cemetery. From there, we follow the wooden signpost toward La Croix de Rognac and follow the yellow (and in some places yellow-red) trail markers out of the village. Amid cultivated fields, we continue straight ahead, past the Ferme du Vallon. Shortly afterward, we enter the forest and turn right. After a right-hand curve, we must pay close attention to the trail markers. We leave the wide path straight ahead and take a trail through the dense, low-growing maquis. The trail winds its way uphill for quite a distance until it reaches a solitary pine tree. There, we turn left, heading toward a power line pole02. We continue walking along the steep cliff face on the plateau until we reach the Croix de Rognac03. The view out over the plain is fantastic. Below us lie Rognac and the Étang de Berre, home to Marseille-Provence Airport. Shortly after the cross, the trail takes a sharp left turn toward a clearing with a signpost and an information board. We continue along the small road, past the Domaine de Saragousse04, uphill to a parking lot. We turn right, behind a green barrier, and continue on our way. At an information sign about the Plateau de Vitrolles, we keep to the right, passing between two green concrete posts. After passing a cistern, we turn left onto the AR109 forest trail. Shortly afterward, the trail forks, and we take the path slightly to the left. Following a metal fence, we reach a parking lot. A gravel path takes us up to the ridge. From there, we can see the entire plateau. At a junction, we turn left, walking slightly downhill into a valley. Passing between fields, we reach a signpost reading “Velaux via the Plateau, 2h35.” We leave the valley, passing under a power line. At the top, we take trail05, a sharp left turn onto a path along the ridgeline. For a long stretch, the trail winds along the cliff edge until we reach a wider path and use a tower to orient ourselves. Passing a sign at a gate, we take the next trail to the left. Amid rockroses, thyme, and rosemary, we reach Tower06. To the left behind the building, we continue on a trail. Instead of yellow markings, we find blue signs and cairns on this section of the trail. At a gas line, we first continue straight ahead on a trail, then continue on a gravel path. Shortly after a power line, we turn left onto forest road AR105 toward Velaux. The trail leads us downhill past a red fire hydrant and back to the gas pipeline. After about 150 m, we descend steeply to the left down the slope. Passing a small house, we reach an asphalt road that takes us to the right, through a residential area, back to Cemetery01.

Hiking without difficulty other than the 19 km distance, showcasing the heights of Vitrolles and sometimes using the Marseille Métropole trail.

Une grosse cote mais courte.

Sans difficulté 😀