Saint-Paul-Lès-Durance can be explored in different ways: with a walk around the village, along two longer hiking loops, or by taking in the landscape and local cultural sites. The routes vary in length and in the planning information available. This lets you tailor your stay to your interests and schedule without having to combine the different options into a single outing.
Hiking around Saint-Paul-Lès-Durance
The “À la découverte de…” route is a nature and heritage walk around the village. It is suitable for exploring with the family and is marked with signs. This makes it a distinct option alongside the two loops whose lengths are specified. If you want to focus on the village itself, you can plan this route as a walk around Saint-Paul-Lès-Durance.
The Boucle du Chemin neuf is 11 kilometres long, while the Boucle du Camp de Mus is 13 kilometres. The Camp de Mus loop is therefore two kilometres longer. A walking time of 4 hours and 20 minutes is also given for it. This estimate refers to walking time; it is not a guarantee of how long your entire outing will take. When choosing between the loops, you can therefore compare the shorter Chemin neuf route with the longer Camp de Mus loop, for which a walking time is provided. The figures help with planning your time without requiring you to infer a walking time for the Chemin neuf.
Belvédère and heritage
From the belvédère, you can see the Durance and the cliffs of Saint-Eucher. If you want to include a specific landscape feature in your stay in addition to the walking and hiking options, this named viewpoint offers two clearly identified sights. The view complements the route options without needing to be included as part of a particular route.
Another highlight is the Eglise Saint-Paul. The church was rebuilt in 1704 and is in the Romanesque style. Inside are altarpieces and paintings considered to be of rare quality. This offers a separate way to explore the village’s history and religious heritage, regardless of which hiking route you choose. If you plan to visit the church, check visiting arrangements in advance.
The Grotte de Saint-Paul lies below the church. Access is via the waterfall or by a staircase from the church square. No opening hours are specified for the grotto; if you plan to visit, check visiting arrangements in advance. This lets you consider the cave and the church as cultural destinations in their own right, rather than automatically combining a visit with a hike.
Getting there and planning your stay
Bus route 150 from Aix-en-Provence is one way to reach Saint-Paul-Lès-Durance. If you plan to travel by bus, check the service before setting off. For the rest of your planning, you can first decide whether to focus on the walk around the village, one of the two loops, the belvédère, or the cultural sites. The different route lengths and the walking time given for Camp de Mus provide concrete points of reference for planning your time; the church, grotto, and viewpoint add other themes to consider.
Discover more destinations: Lambesc, Cabannes, Berre-L'étang, Eyragues, Rognonas, Sausset-Les-Pins, Saint-Victoret, Châteauneuf-Les-Martigues.
For the overview of the wider region: Bouches Du Rhone.
