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In Vauvenargues, you can admire Picasso's beautiful castle after having a drink at a café nearby. Unfortunately you won't be able to visit it as it still belongs to Pamela Picasso, his daughter. Picasso, himself is burried in the garden of this beautiful property. (More pictures in the travelogue page).
Written Dec 31, 2003
Address: Vauvenargues
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At around 4 kms from Vauvenargues, turn right to the "Bimont dam". Once you've parked your car walk 1 minute to enjoy the view from the dam.
Updated Dec 31, 2003
Address: Barrage de Bimont
skydivefred Says: In the Ste victoire Mountain, there are several "refuge" one of them being at the top. There is no confort there, Wooden beds and a fire place. It is free to stay there. It is really nice to stay there when you are with a bunch of friends to have an evening barbecue. There...
To be honest, I have not taken this bus for ages. The best way to find out is to go to the coach station.
When you face the tourist office, walk all the way down the avenue on your right ("Avenue des belges") At the round about turn right and there you are. Tel and address below.
Written Jan 1, 2004
Phone: 04 42 91 26 80
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Subsenquently to the first warning, most of the countryside in southern provence is FORBIDDEN to any people. From mid June to beginning of September the Ste Victoire mountain area is not allowed to visiting because of fire dangers.
However, the Bimont dam is still accessible and the top of he mountain can be reached by only one path "Le chemin des venturiers" (see my sports travel tip) when it is not windy. All these rules may change from one year to another. Please check exact dates and conditions at the tourist office of Aix.
Written Dec 31, 2003
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The "département des Bouches du Rhone" is a region that has been devastated, over the years, by accidental fires as well as criminal arsons. Even the Ste victoire area did not escape that sad fate about ten years ago. Nature is recovering very slowly. Let's all make an effort to avoid these catastrophes again.
Written Dec 31, 2003
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As I warned in my tips, the whole area is locked up in the summer because of potential, dangerous, forest fires. The police, and fire fighters are present and you can get a fine if you are found strolling there in the summer.
Nevertheless, tourists are allowed to walk to the top of montagne ste Victoire by only one path: Le chemin des Venturiers.
Updated Jan 1, 2004
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This walk follows the GR9 path and allows to walk the whole length of the mountain.
4 hour walk up to Puyloubier
Written Jan 1, 2004
Address: Barrage de Bimont
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Another hike that can be done from the "Bimont" dam is the one that goes to the top of the Ste Victoire mountain ( about 1000 m high ). It will take you about 1hour and 15 minutes to get to the top and enjoy a view that goes all the way to the mediterranean sea. To walk back will take you about 45 minutes.
Updated Jan 1, 2004
Address: From "le barrage de Bimont"
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From the Bimont dam, on the road to Vauvenargues, you can start hiking alongside the Ste Victoire Mountain but also reach an older Dam, called the "Zola dam", after the name of the French writer's father who was the engineer who invented that semi circular dam shape. The walk is easy and charming. And , which is more, the hike is a loop (about 15 km) going from one dam to the other.
For those who enjoy Mountain biking, the same loop can be done, with some quite tricky technical spots and real nice fast, rocky downhill tracks.
Written Dec 31, 2003
PICASSO used to live and is burried there!
10 kms east of Aix, lies this peaceful, traditional, provencal village at the bottom of the famous Ste Victoire Mountain, a mountain that inspired the famous french painter Cézanne.
Build your own Vauvenargues page
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