Walking and hiking in Provence — Domaine la Boucharde

Step outside, lace up your boots and head out for a walk. At Domaine la Boucharde, hiking starts on your doorstep: 88 hectares of vineyards, meadows and woodland in the heart of the Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park.

Walk straight from the estate, with no need to drive

For a gentle stroll, enjoy the estate paths and views of Sainte-Victoire. For a more challenging hike, explore the surrounding hills: Mont Olympe and Mont Aurélien offer wonderful walking country, with woodland trails, rocky terrain and wide Provençal horizons.

Mont Olympe

Rising above the country house, it immediately tempts you to climb higher. Close at hand, it offers a chance to leave the vineyards behind, follow wooded paths and discover the landscapes of the Arc valley.

Mont Aurélien

Beyond Mont Olympe, its limestone hills invite longer hikes. This is wild Provence, ideal for walkers who enjoy undulating trails and far-reaching views.

Saint-Jean-du-Puy Hermitage

A walk combining nature and heritage in the hills above Trets. The hermitage is a rewarding hiking destination, offering Provençal scenery and a place to pause along the way.

Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park

You are already here: the estate lies in the heart of the park. From your very first steps, vineyards, meadows and forest trails invite you to explore the landscape, watch wildlife and enjoy the tranquillity of inland Provence.

Discover the park and its activities

Whether you fancy a gentle walk or a longer hike, choose a route that suits your fitness and the time available. Ridge walks take longer and involve more ascent than a stroll around the estate. Contact us to help plan your walk.

Some walks and hikes starting from the estate

Distances and details of the eight walks
Walk / hike	Distance	Total ascent	Walking time	Difficulty / notes
Saint-Michel castrum and chapel — out and back	1.32 km + approach walk			Short heritage walk
Saint-Michel castrum circular walk	5.35 km + approach walk	168 m on the circular route	2–2½ hours + approach walk	Woodland, vineyards and ruins
Winegrowers’ Trail — short circuit	9 km + approach walk			Vineyards and Trets old town
Winegrowers’ Trail — long circuit	13 km + approach walk			Woodland, vineyards and an optional detour to the castrum
Mont Olympe – Mont Aurélien	16.9 km + approach walk	761 m on the circular route	Around 6 hours + approach walk	Strenuous; long ridge circuit
Mont Olympe — out and back				Steep final climb
Mont Olympe and Rocher de Onze Heures				Ridge variation
Saint-Jean-du-Puy Hermitage from the estate				—

A change of scenery just a short drive away

Several mountain ranges around Trets are ideal for half-day or full-day walks. Here is a selection of nearby areas, with estimated driving times of around 15 to 30 minutes from the estate.

Driving times are approximate and depend on your chosen car park, traffic and access roads. They refer to the starting areas listed, not every trailhead in a mountain range.

Around 15–25 min · Kirbon area

Régagnas

Pine woods, ridge paths and views of the surrounding hills: this range near Trets offers varied walks in a distinctly Provençal setting.

Explore the paths around Kirbon and the Pas de la Couelle, choosing a circuit that suits your group’s ability.

Around 20–30 min · Puyloubier

Sainte-Victoire

The mountain you admire from the estate is just as rewarding up close. At Puyloubier, vineyards meet the bright cliffs of the southern slopes, with a choice of foothill walks or hikes involving more ascent.

Explore the Puyloubier Winegrowers’ Trail. For a more strenuous outing, discover the routes around Saint-Ser, where the car park lies further west.

Around 20–30 min · Pourcieux

Mont Aurélien from Pourcieux

Explore our neighbouring range from its northern side. Oak woods and former marble quarries combine forest walking with a glimpse of local heritage.

Around 25–30 min · Saint-Zacharie

The Sainte-Baume foothills

Around Saint-Zacharie, valleys and forest paths reveal another side of the park, between springs and wooded hills.

Explore: Défens forest via the water trail. Allow a longer drive to reach the great beech forest and Sainte-Marie-Madeleine cave at Plan-d’Aups.

A stay in the heart of Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park

Between Mediterranean Provence and higher mountain landscapes, the park brings together limestone cliffs, scrubland, forests, springs and villages. Its richness lies in these contrasts: sunny slopes give way to cool woodland, vineyards to broad ridges and open horizons.

The Sainte-Baume forest, famed for its beech trees, and Sainte-Marie-Madeleine cave are among its iconic places. But the park also reveals itself along quiet paths, through its rural heritage and in encounters with local producers.

Walk and observe

Hiking, botanical walks, birdwatching or photography: take time to enjoy the scenery and discover woodland wildlife.

Explore by bike

Discover the area by bicycle or mountain bike on roads and permitted trails, choosing a route suited to your riding ability.

Discover with the park

Guided outings, heritage visits and opportunities to discover local crafts: check the park’s programme to enrich your stay.

Check the park’s visitor information before setting off: trail conditions, access to the hills and car park availability may change with the season or ongoing works.

Discover the park and its activities

An outing to Grand Site Concors Sainte-Victoire

Visible on the horizon from the estate, Sainte-Victoire is already part of your stay. Get closer to discover its limestone cliffs, vineyards and scrubland. Around the mountain, Grand Site de France Concors Sainte-Victoire invites you to explore its unspoilt natural and rural heritage at your own pace.

From Puyloubier, explore the foot of the southern slopes or choose a more demanding hike. Other outings take you towards the priory and Croix de Provence, or into the landscapes of Concors. Each area has its own character; choose your starting point and walking time to suit your plans.

Walk beneath the cliffs

From gentle walks through vineyards and scrubland to trails climbing into the hills, choose a route suited to your ability. Ridge routes call for careful preparation and greater effort.

Discover landscapes and heritage

Take time to observe the terrain, photograph the changing light on the mountain and explore the villages and heritage sites nearby.

Explore by bicycle or mountain bike

Continue exploring on roads and permitted trails. Discover the Grand Site’s landscapes from a different perspective, choosing a ride that suits the terrain and your ability.

Check the Grand Site’s visitor information before your visit: trail conditions, access to the hills and car park availability may change with the season or ongoing works.

Discover the Grand Site and its activities

Further afield: mountain ranges and nature outings within a two-hour drive

Looking for a change of scenery during your stay? The estate is also a base for day trips to the Mediterranean calanques, the Luberon hills, the Alpilles, the Maures forests, the lower Verdon gorges and the valleys of Provence Verte. A variety of landscapes to extend your discovery of Provence on foot.

The driving times below are estimates from the estate to the areas listed, excluding traffic delays. Check the route to your exact car park before leaving: traffic, especially in summer, and parking conditions can vary.

Around 50 min–1 hr 15 min · Cassis

The Calanques range

White cliffs, turquoise sea and rocky trails: a day in the Calanques reveals a different side of Provence. Port-Miou, in Cassis, is a gateway to these landscapes between land and sea.

Choose a route suited to your ability: trails can be steep and very exposed to the sun. Check access arrangements and any booking requirements with Calanques National Park.

Around 1 hr 10–1 hr 30 min · Lourmarin and the southern slopes

The Luberon

Villages, wooded valleys and limestone hills make an ideal setting for a day out. From the Lourmarin area, explore the southern slopes, from gentle foothill walks to more demanding hikes up into the hills.

Find ideas for walks in the Luberon on Chemins des Parcs.

Around 1 hr 15–1 hr 45 min · Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

The Alpilles

Pale ridges above olive groves, scrub-lined trails and characterful villages: the Alpilles capture the essence of Provence. Around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, you can combine hiking with heritage visits.

Choose a walk in the hills on Chemins des Parcs, taking the terrain and exposure to wind into account.

Around 1 hr 20–1 hr 50 min · Collobrières

The Maures range

Around Collobrières, chestnut trees and cork oaks reveal a more wooded side of Provence. Trails invite you to discover the valleys and viewpoints, with options for short walks or full-day hikes.

To plan your outing, explore the walks and hikes around Collobrières.

Around 1 hr 15–1 hr 45 min · Quinson

The Verdon and its lower gorges

At Quinson, the emerald waters of the Verdon flow between cliffs and wooded slopes. The Garde-Canal trail explores the lower gorges, combining riverside scenery with remnants of the old canal.

Around 50 min–1 hr 20 min · Châteauvert and Correns

Provence Verte

Between villages, vineyards and rivers, Provence Verte combines walking with heritage discoveries. The Vallon Sourn, between Châteauvert and Correns, offers walks beside the Argens beneath beautiful limestone cliffs.

Plan your walk

Bring water, suitable footwear and sun protection, and choose a route that matches your ability. In warm weather, set off early to enjoy the cooler hours. Keep to permitted paths and respect the tranquillity of the area.

Access to the hills may be restricted or closed when there is a risk of wildfire. Check the day’s conditions and access information on the Bouches-du-Rhône forest access map and with Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park.

Discover the Aurélien apartment

Contact us

A question about the estate or an enquiry about your stay? Drop us a line or give us a call.

Discover Provence on foot