<< A Three-Day Hike || Day 2 – Point Sublime to La Maline >>

The Town: A compact 16th-century town, Castellane is hidden between the hills of the Gorges du Verdon – a sort of village perchée in reverse – only the Chapelle Notre Dame du Roc visible from the distance. The “roc” in question is an astonishing block of limestone that rises straight up behind the village to an altitude of 903 m/2,962 feet. Maybe even more astonishing is that the path up to the 18th-century chapel, which starts from behind the parish church in the village and is punctuated by stations of the cross, is fairly wide and not too difficult. As one of the gateways to the Gorges du Verdon, the town is well equipped with shops, restaurants, guide services, hotels and campgrounds. It is also well served by public transportation.

The Hike: Day 1 of the hike takes about five hours. Join the GR 4 (the trail is blazed white above, red below) behind the Hôtel du Verdon on the Boulevard de la République.

• Cross the Plaine des Listes, a flat area of washed stones on the north bank of the river, and then turn right toward the D952 (the Route des Gorges), which is a left turn after about 200 m/660 feet. The route climbs to the hamlet of La Colle, which you should reach after about 30 minutes from the start of the hike.
• At La Colle, cross a stream at the bridge and continue along the access route to the hamlet of Villars-Brandis. To the north, you will see the dramatic vertical promontories of the Cadières de Brandis (a popular, ecologically delicate climbing site).
• Where the route branches uphill (to the right), toward Villars-Brandis, leave it and instead take the path on the left, which follows a Roman mountain road to the Col de la Chapelle Saint Jean (1½ hours).
• At this point, you can take a 10-minute detour, on a path to the left, to see the Chapelle. Otherwise, continue along the Roman road (GR4) on the mountainside for another 45 minutes to Chasteuil. This charming village has been restored by potters and artisans working in stone, leather and wood. There is a very nice gîte/chambre d’hôte here (Le Gîte de Chasteuil, page 208), whose owners make and sell handmade soaps.
• Another hour of uphill walking will take you to a high pass (1,200 m/3,937 feet) between two rounded massifs. Stop and enjoy the view – to the east, the village of Talloire, to the north and west Robion mountain and another spectacular view of Les Cadières de Brandis.
• After the pass, the path plunges down a grassy sinkhole or doline. Pass under two electric lines and continue down to Rougon (one hour farther at an altitude of about 930 m/3,050 feet).
• After 20 minutes more, you come to Chalet du Point Sublime, which, at 787 m/2,580 feet, marks the start of the Sentier Martel. Leave the path for a few minutes to enjoy the view from the Belvedere du Point Sublime. The first day of the hike ends here.

There is a hotel at Point Sublime, the Auberge de Point Sublime (04120 Rougon, ☎ 33 04 92 83 60 35, 33 04 92 83 74 31, point.sublime@wanadoo.fr), but it fills up early and, at the height of the season, you may have to spend the night in the nearby villages of Rougon, La Palud or Chasteuil. There is also Municipal Camping in Rougon (☎33 04 92 83 70 94, fax 33 04 92 83 66 32). It is easy to get taxis from this point to various accommodations and there is a minibus service during the summer months.

<< A Three-Day Hike || Day 2 – Point Sublime to La Maline >>