The hike starts at the car park of the Eyguières bullring(S/E).
The path follows the GR6 at the start.
Take the path to the left of the arenas (as you look at them), the path passes between the cemetery and the arenas.
After 100m, ignore the paths on your right and continue straight on.
Cross the bridge a little further on.
When you get to the bitumen road, ignore the dirt road to the Vallon des Glauges to your right(1), and continue straight on for about 100m until you reach the D17
At the D17, turn right and continue on the D17 for 200m, pass the small Garrigues canal and(2) pick up the GR6 on your right, marked with the sign AL236
Follow the GR6 for 4500m, you'll see the Baraques (barracks) after 1 km on your right and the ruins of the Romanière Bergeries (sheep pens) after 2km(3)
Pass the bull enclosure (4)and take the Tardières path (not marked) on your right, leaving the GR6. Continue straight on ignoring the path on your left at 50m.
Stay on the main path for 1000m. At the fork take the right-hand path that enters the Opies(5).
Follow the path for 1600m and you'll arrive at the col marked by a large cairn.(6)
The path for the Tour de Guet starts from your right (hairpin).
Be careful, the path requires a little bit of climbing and can be very slippery in wet weather.
When you arrive at the tower(7), turn around to return to the col.
Descend on the stony path for 1000m(8) and take the rocky path to the right (you'll see the ruins of the Château de la Reine Jeanne opposite you in the distance) which descends into the valley.
Follow the path for 1500m until you arrive in the Vallon des Glauges
Follow the path opposite, straight ahead.
At the barrier, to visit the ruins take the path on the left,(9) The ruins are 400m away.
Otherwise follow the main path that turns to the right.
At the end of the path, turn right. The path follows a power line.
After 300m leave the Glauges path to your right(10) (unless you want to taste some wine).
Follow the path through the vineyards and olive trees, and which turns into tarmac at the end. Once you get to the GR6 (followed on the way), take the return path to the left, the Col du Melet path.
The Tour des Opies- the Eyguières Alpilles
Hiking in the Alpilles, starting from the Eyguières bullring.
A quiet start among olive trees and cicadas at the foot of the Opies.
You'll discover the old Romanière sheep pens.
The ascent starts on a beautiful path through the maquis and ends with a little climb to finish at the Tour de Guet where a magnificent 360° view awaits you.
You can also visit the vestiges of Villa Gallo Romaine.
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 16.02 km -
Calculated time: 5h 45 -
Difficulty: Moderate -
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Return to departure point: Yes -
Vertical gain: + 399 m -
Vertical drop: - 392 m -
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Highest point: 460 m -
Lowest point: 95 m
Description
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 95 m
- 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 102 m - Vallon des Glauges crossroads
- 2 : km 1.28 - alt. 104 m - D17 GR06 intersection
- 3 : km 3.07 - alt. 130 m - The Romanière
- 4 : km 5.91 - alt. 149 m - GR6 intersection, Chemin des Tardières
- 5 : km 7.06 - alt. 199 m - Intersection towards the Opies
- 6 : km 8.92 - alt. 348 m - Col 344m
- 7 : km 9.56 - alt. 460 m - Tour des Opies
- 8 : km 11.15 - alt. 224 m - Intersection towards the Val de Legue
- 9 : km 12.51 - alt. 152 m - Gallo-Roman site intersection
- 10 : km 13.15 - alt. 142 m - Vallon des Glauges intersection - Vignes
- S/E : km 16.02 - alt. 95 m
Useful Information
Take good walking shoes.
Difficult sections to get to the Tour de Guet.
Not recommended in rain and with young children.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
A visit to Eyguières and its fountains.
The Alpilles.
The Baux de Provence.
Calès caves.
Saint Rémy de Provence.
The Camargue
Arles
Reviews and comments
5 / 5
4 / 5
5 / 5
Many thanks for your feedback on this walk. I've made the changes you suggested to the wording, so hopefully it will be clearer for other hikers. If you do this walk again, please feel free to post any photos of the walk and let us know your feedback 
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of walk : 02/02/18
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Unfortunately we thought the directions were slightly unclear, and we went off in the wrong direction.
Eventually we found where we had gone wrong and will attempt this walk another day, as it looks very exciting.
Might I suggest a slight rewording of the directions?
Where it says
When you get to the road, continue straight on and ignore the Vallon des Glauges to your right(1).
At the junction with the D17, turn right for 100m, pass the small Garrigues canal and(2) pick up the GR6 on your right.
Change it to
When you get to the bitumen road, ignore the dirt road to the Vallon des Glauges to your right(1), and continue straight on for about 100m until you reach the D17
At the D17, turn right and continue on the D17 for 200m, pass the small Garrigues canal and(2) pick up the GR6 on your right, marked with the sign AL236
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__Caution! Because of the nature of the rock (mollasse sandstone, and therefore friable) and the cliffs, parts of the site are dangerous.
A municipal order prohibiting access to these areas is currently in force. Take great care.__
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.