Aiglun, its cave fortress and its waterfall

Coming from Roquesteron, Aiglun has plenty of parking spaces on the outskirts of the village.

(S/E) Head towards the municipal covered market.
Marked trail. Take the path known as “Le sentier de la Forteresse”, which starts to the left of the municipal building. The path climbs, then descends, immediately offering spectacular views of the cliff.

(1) Turn left at this crossroads. Below, the first views of the gorge.

(2) At this junction, before turning right, take a break on this specially designed “viewing platform”, which is full of information recounting the history of these places. Continue along the ascending path to the next “viewing platform”. Be sure to follow the sign for “Sentier de la Forteresse” and not “Clue d’Aiglun”, which is unsecured.

(3) The Fortress: a true monument from another era, leaving every visitor in awe. Below lies the department’s most famous canyon. Turn back and return to the starting point.

(S/E) Head towards the village, staying on the main road which continues through a road tunnel under a house and leads into the heart of Aiglun, where the town hall is located.

(4) After passing under the house, turn left immediately. Look for Marker 80. Follow the signs for the “Botanical Trail”. Take the steps leading up between the church and the village inn; this staircase, known as Rue Mont Saint-Martin, ends at a stone wall.

(5) Turn right; the path runs alongside a field. Continue to the unnumbered marker.

(6) Turn right and follow the sign for the “Botanical Trail”, also marked as the “Discovery Trail” on the map. It is a magnificent route, featuring information boards about the flora. It runs alongside beautiful terraced fields and rocky outcrops in a sparse oak forest. Another view of the Vegay waterfall. Unfortunately, some of the information boards have been damaged.

(7) From this point onwards, the path has not been used for a long time and has disappeared. The Chapel of Saint Joseph, visible in the distance, is our next destination. Use the Visorando app. Then, after following the course of a dry stream, at the edge of the woods, there is a wide, long clearing made up of terraces. Follow the lowest wall on the right, which leads to the foot of the Chapel of Saint Joseph.

(8) Below the chapel, take the path that leads into the woods, runs past a house and then reaches a crossroads.

(9) Turn left and, 30 metres further on, turn right onto the Aiglun road, heading towards Vascogne. Marker 87 is at the crossroads. Although this is a quiet road, please take care.

(10) Pass marker 86a. Continue along this road towards “Pont de Vegay”, which you will cross. The rushing waters of the Estéron can be heard.

(11) Marker 85 is visible. Turn right; the tarmac gives way to a forest track called “Chemin des Eigages”, which you will follow to marker 83a.

(12) Turn left. Follow the signs for the "Cascade de Vegay". The path climbs steeply through this wooded area.The sound of the waterfall grows louder and louder. Take care: there is a small overhang over a 2-metre stretch just before you reach the waterfall.

(13) The waterfall is an “exceptional water feature” 140 m high; it is a magical place. A stop is a must. Cross the stream (river); there is no bridge, so take care again when crossing over the stones. The water is about 40 cm deep. Continue straight ahead and follow the path towards the GR®4.

(14) Turn right onto the descending path which joins the “Chemin des Eigages”. At this point, where marker 83 is located, turn left onto the track and follow the signs for Aiglun. Cross an ancient stone bridge. Shortly afterwards, marker 82 directs you towards Aiglun. After the second stone bridge, the semi-tarmac track climbs steeply. Continue to marker 81.

(15) Turn left and follow the signs for Aiglun. The path climbs steeply to reach the lower end of the village.

(16) Take the steps and walk up the cobbled Rue Frédéric Mistral, which winds its way between the old houses, to reach the heart of the village once again, where you will find marker 80 as well as marker 81; the two markers are situated on either side of the road.

(4) The village inn is in front of you; continue under the road archway of the building to reach the car park (S/E).

Hiking boots and poles.

Close gates behind you.

No drinking water along the route.

Use the Visorando app for approximately 400 m.

The architectural heritage of the village of Aiglun.

The remains of the troglodyte fortress. By the same author, a 2.3 km return walk to the fortress is the subject of another route (No. 92930432).

The 140-metre-high Vegay waterfall.