Discovering Roubion

Park in the upper village car park (signposted from the RM 30)

(S/E) Follow the road leading to the village. Before the porch, climb the steps on the left to reach the viewpoint above this road. Continue in the same direction to enter the village, then go down the steps on the right to rejoin the main road at marker ‘295’.

Red-and-white markings

(1) Turn right onto the main road (RM230), then continue downhill, carefully following the RM30, until you reach a hairpin bend at marker 297.

(2) Head down to the right and cross the Vallon de Saint-Sébastien, then climb up the other side to the chapel of the same name. If you have collected the keys (see section ‘During the walk’), take the opportunity to admire its murals in honour of Saint Sebastian, painted by an unknown itinerant artist.

Continue the ascent along the path that enters the forest to the left of the chapel. After a few steps, the slope levels out and you’ll soon reach the car park at Les Buisses. Cross the car park to reach marker 295 at the foot of a flight of steps.

Yellow markings

(3) Climb these steps towards Le Puy, then a few metres further on, at marker 300, turn left between the chalets towards the Belvédère du Puy.

At the road, turn right for a few metres, then head up to the left, following the marked path between the chalets. Follow this track through the woods until you reach a track. Head up to the right, trying to follow the ridge path, which offers a few views of the Lauvets d’Ilonse and Roubion.

Then head downhill along a steep path with numerous tight bends; after a few longer bends, you’ll reach a small wooden marker on the ground pointing towards Les Arches.

(4) From here, you can make a round trip to the natural arches by turning right; a surprising and unexpected sight, particularly given the size of the cavities.

Retrace your steps and continue the descent through the forest along a path that winds its way to marker 301.

(5) Head down to the right and, after a few hairpin bends, you’ll reach the bottom of the Vallon de Saint-Sébastien at marker 294.

(6) Cross the stream towards Roubion, then head back up the path overlooking the road to reach it at marker 293.

Red-and-white markings

Cross the RM 30 and follow the GR® as it climbs into the village along a concrete road, then, at the top of this, up some steps offering a lovely view looking up towards the eastern part of the village.

When you reach the porch, turn right to reach the Place de l’Église, then left along the main street, passing the town hall, to return to marker 285.

(1) Head up the stairs on the right, following the same route as at the start of the walk, to return to the car park in the upper village (S/E).

To view the murals in the Chapel of Saint-Sébastien, collect the keys from the Roubion tourist office (from April to mid-October) or the Les Buisses tourist office (from mid-October to the end of March). You may wish to ring ahead before visiting (directory here).

As well as the chapel, this walk takes you past Roubion’s magnificent painted doors, offers some lovely views of the village and the Vionène Valley, and reveals some surprising, large natural arches in the heart of the forest.