On a beautiful late summer Sunday, I started from the Franciscan Monastery (Balise 20) and climbed slowly up on a wide path,

stopping to rest at a mountain fountain (Balise 162)

It was mostly sunny but with patches of shade. There was some cultivation and a working donkey.

A steady, gentle ascent brought me to the Chappelle Sainte Croix.

Then the road got steeper with a brief climb over schist. Finally I reached La Pinee and its abreuvoir (Balise 433, 360m dénivelé)

Beautiful views

It was a beautiful picnic spot. Then I slowly descended through a pine forest.

The descent was much shader than the ascent which made me wonder if it would be best the other way around.

The vegetation was Mediterranean with fig trees (not yet ripe), blackberries (already dried out) and apple trees (not yet ripe). It was the perfect time of year for this pleasant, not too demanding hike.