Belcodène – Hiking, Nature and Village Traditions

Belcodène is located in the Bouches-du-Rhône département, at the gateway to the Sainte-Baume massif. Mountain ranges surround the village; pine and oak forests define the landscape, and the area offers panoramic views. Hiking and mountain biking are among the activities in Belcodène. This gives you two tangible perspectives for planning your trip: trails and outdoor activity, as well as local traditions and traces of the village’s history.

Hiking trails and outdoor activities

The Trail des Castellas is 17 km long and includes 430 metres of elevation gain. The GR de Pays “Sentier Provence d’énergies” is a 120 km marked hiking trail that passes through Belcodène. The comparison shows two different scales: the Trail des Castellas combines trail length with elevation gain, while the 120 km refers to the total length of the GR de Pays. When planning, you can distinguish the trail’s 17 km and 430 metres of elevation gain from the length of the marked route that passes through Belcodène.

Mountain biking is also among the activities in Belcodène. If you are weighing up hiking and cycling when choosing a destination, you can consider the two interests separately. This lets you tailor your stay to the activities you want to focus on, without combining the different options into a single route.

Traditions and events

The Trail des Castellas takes place every spring in Belcodène. The Roumavage is celebrated on Easter Monday around the Chapelle de l’Ermitage and is a recurring village tradition. The two events offer different timing cues: the trail is tied to spring, while the Roumavage takes place on a specific public holiday. If you would like to plan your stay around an event, check the exact dates for the year of your trip.

Horse-riding options for different interests

Horse Amazone Ranch offers private or group riding lessons. Adults can go on horseback rides and trail rides by prior reservation; activities involving ponies can be organised for children. The main considerations when choosing are therefore the format and age group: riding lessons differ from rides reserved for adults and requiring advance booking, while pony activities can be organised for children. If horse-riding is a factor in your travel plans, take these differences into account.

Landscape and historical traces

The village’s history also offers points of interest. The former underground mushroom farms of Belcodène preserve rails, galleries and extraction areas. These features recall the sites’ former use and make them part of the local industrial heritage. In addition, the remains of Agache and Tonneau are still visible in Belcodène. The mushroom farms are notable for the preserved traces of their underground use; Agache and Tonneau are represented by their still-visible remains. In this way, historical themes complement the landscape and hiking perspective on Belcodène. If you are interested in the village’s past as well as its trails and activities, these different traces can broaden your view of the destination.

Discover more destinations: Coudoux, Les Milles, La Bouilladisse, Arles, Lamanon, Senas, Châteauneuf-Le-Rouge, Rognes.

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.