Discover La Fare-Les-Oliviers: GR2013, Botany and Heritage

For a trip to La Fare-Les-Oliviers, you can plan around your interests in specific routes and cultural sites. Section A16 of the GR2013 leads to Velaux; the Sentier botanique focuses on Mediterranean vegetation, while the orienteering area has permanent control points. Other highlights include the Gallo-Roman finds at La Garanne and visitor information at the Moulin Roustan. These topics differ in terms of activity and historical connection, helping you match the destination to your travel plans.

The GR2013 Section A16 and Getting There

The 9.8-kilometre GR2013 section A16 runs from La Fare-Les-Oliviers to Velaux. It starts among vineyards and olive groves, then follows the Canal de la Gorde. This lets you assess the walking route both by its length and by the landscape it passes through. The distance is a specific reference point for planning your day; bear in mind that route conditions can change, and check them before setting out.

Section A16 starts at the Eglise bus stop. Cartreize line 16 connects it with Aix-en-Provence. Check the latest public transport information before setting off if you plan to use this connection to get there. This also lets you coordinate your walk with travel from Aix-en-Provence, without confusing the route’s length with its transport connections.

Botanical Trail and Orienteering

The Sentier botanique follows the blue route. Information panels offer insights into Mediterranean vegetation. If you are interested in plants and learning about them along a trail, this offers a different focus from orienteering. The orienteering area on the colline farenque has around 100 permanent control points. Check the condition of the markers on site. The two activities are clearly distinct: the botanical trail focuses on vegetation, while orienteering involves navigating between fixed control points.

Gallo-Roman Finds and the Moulin Roustan

In 2010, the remains of a large Gallo-Roman villa were discovered at La Garanne; the remarkably well-preserved mosaics are also part of this find. This provides a specific archaeological link to the history of the area. The year refers to the discovery of the remains and mosaics.

The Moulin Roustan offers a different cultural focus. It was restored between 2008 and 2017 and has an exhibition room and an information point. An educational film about olive oil is aimed at schoolchildren and visitors. The two sites therefore offer different themes: La Garanne connects the history of a Gallo-Roman villa with its mosaics, while the Moulin Roustan brings together restoration, exhibitions and information about olive oil. If you would like to include culture in your travel plans, you can choose between archaeological finds and the exhibition and information facilities here.

The Wider Landscape

As part of the wider landscape, the Collines de Barjaquets belong to the Massif de l’Arbois. This is an extensive plateau covering more than 15,000 hectares. This figure gives an idea of the scale of the landscape; it describes a broader regional setting, while GR2013 section A16 and the Sentier botanique are specific route themes to consider when planning your trip. You can therefore consider the activities described here and the wider landscape separately, rather than inferring the length or route of an individual trail from the size of the massif.

Discover more destinations: La Ciotat, Barbentane, Eyragues, Saliers, Peynier, Saint-Cannat, Charleval, Gardanne.

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.