Coastal Mediterranean and Provence
From the calanques of Marseille to the long ridge of the Sainte-Baume, the GR98 strings together white cliffs, garrigue and relict forest in a few days’ walking.
From La Madrague de Montredon (Marseille) to Col du Saint-Pilon, over 59 km.
The GR98 starts from La Madrague, a small harbour south of Marseille, and crosses the Calanques National Park to Cassis, on a route the park calls the GR98-51 because it is shared with the GR51. Limestone cliffs, turquoise coves such as En-Vau, pine woods and garrigue make up this first section, known to be demanding.
After Cassis, the trail leaves the sea and heads inland via Roquefort-la-Bédoule, between pine forests, garrigue and vineyards. It then climbs onto the Sainte-Baume ridge, in the heart of the regional nature park of the same name, and follows it to the Col du Saint-Pilon. There it meets the GR9, which descends to Mary Magdalene’s cave and the Hôtellerie de la Sainte-Baume, on the edge of a renowned beech forest.
Short but varied, the GR98 lends itself to a few days’ walking between sea and mountains. It is for hikers at ease on stony paths, able to carry their water and cope with the heat. Like all the Provençal hills, it is subject in summer to access rules linked to the fire risk, which can close the paths from one day to the next.
La Madrague de Montredon (Marseille)
La Madrague, south of Marseille, is served by city buses from the centre. Saint-Charles station has TGV and TER services; Cassis, at the far end of the Calanques, has a TER station and is linked to Marseille by coach.
Col du Saint-Pilon
The Col du Saint-Pilon can only be reached on foot: the GR9 descends to the Hôtellerie de la Sainte-Baume, in the municipality of Plan-d’Aups-Sainte-Baume. It is wise to check the available coach connections in advance or to arrange your return.
Spring and autumn are the best periods, with bearable temperatures. From 1 June to 30 September, access to the hills depends on the daily fire risk, and the heat makes walking hard going.
Challenging
The terrain is modest, but the limestone ground is rocky and often without shade, and the national park describes the crossing of the Calanques as demanding. The Sainte-Baume ridge is exposed to the wind.
1 unstaffed hut and 11 hotels
Marseille and Cassis offer the full range of accommodation, including a campsite in Cassis. Bivouacking is strictly forbidden in the core zone of the Calanques National Park. In the Sainte-Baume, it requires the consent of the landowner, public or private, and remains forbidden in particular in listed and registered sites.
From 1 June to 30 September, access to the forested hills of the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Var is regulated by prefectoral order: the risk level is set area by area and can be checked from the evening before; at red level, entry is forbidden. All year round, it is forbidden to carry or light fire in the forest and up to 200 metres from it, stoves included. In the Calanques, smoking and fires are forbidden and you must stay on the waymarked paths.
There are no fountains at all in the Calanques: the park advises carrying at least 1.5 litres of water per person per half-day. Cassis and the villages along the way let you stock up; beyond them, set off with enough in reserve. The park has no bins: carry your rubbish back down.
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Madrague de Montredon (Marseille) → Cassis | 24.6 km | 920 m | 920 m |
| 2 | Cassis → Roquefort | 11.5 km | 630 m | 190 m |
| 3 | Roquefort → Col du Saint-Pilon | 22.5 km | 1,070 m | 560 m |
12 places to stay near the route, from refuges to campsites.
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.
