Alpilles Roquemartine: The Mouriès loop

Description

Between plains and mountainous areas, get away to the heart of the beautiful agricultural landscapes of the Alpilles! The beautiful and varied setting of this loop will allow you to roam quiet roads along many vineyards and olive groves. Before strolling through the Alpilles Massif with its impressive rock walls, you will pass through the small town of Aureille, where the tranquility and authenticity are matched only by the beauty of its church. From the Tourist Office, take the D24 "Avenue Paul Revoil" towards Eygalières until the roundabout. 1 - Cross the roundabout and continue on the D24 until the intersection with the D24a, heading towards Aureille. 2 - Take a right. Continue on the D24a which goes through olive groves over 5km until Aureille and its junction with the D25a. 3 - Take a left towards Eygalières. Go through the village of Aureille and cross the mountain pass named "Pas de la Figuière" to reach the intersection with the D25. 4 - Switch to the left towards Eygalières. Continue to the vineyards of "Vallongue" and the junction with the D24. 5 - Take a left towards Mouriès. After 8km you will reach the place called the "Destet" and the intersection with the D78. 6 - Take a right. Take the D78 until the junction with the D5, before arriving in Maussane-les-Alpilles. 7 - Turn left towards Mouriès. Continue on the D5 until the intersection with the D17. 8 - Do not take the D17. Just before, turn left on the "Chemin d'Alphonse Daudet" and reach the roundabout from the start.

Difficulty

Official rating: moderate, by Parcs naturels régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Before you go

• For your safety and for the preservation of forests, access to natural areas is regulated from June to September. For more information during the summer, call 08 11 20 13 13 (cost of a local call) or go to www.bouches-du-rhone.pref.gouv.fr or download the free application MYPROVENCE ENVIE DE BALADE (available on Appstore and Android Market)

Getting there

Start: Bureau d'Information Touristique, Mouriès, Mouriès (13).

Sources

• Track: Parcs naturels régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Chemins des Parcs), Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (www.cheminsdesparcs.fr/trek/57118-MOURIES---Alpilles-Roquemartine-a-velo-%3A-la-variante-de-Mouries). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 406 m, Parcs naturels régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur