Aiguèze and the rocks of Castelviel

The medieval village of Aiguèze is among the most beautiful villages in France. This hike, overlooking the gorges of Ardeche, follows the paths and trails through the heart of the scrubland, olive groves and vineyards.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.60 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 266 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 265 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 277 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 94 m

Photos

Description of the walk

At the north end of the village, instead of top gate, take the PR (yellow markings) to the north which shares the same route as the GR4 (red and white markings). Along the ridge overlooking the Ardeche is a large iron cross calles La Croix du Gier (1).
Continue left along the marked trail (yellow markings) towards the vineyards that we will follow to the right. Continue to a crossroad (2), leave the trail to the right and go straight ahead to the barn called “La Grange de Marcello" (sign) (3).
Continue straight ahead for 200 m and then take a small path on your right (yellow markings). 300 m further on, take the path on the right (yellow markings) and follow it up to a junction (4).
Go up to the viewpoint and then back on the track. Follow this to the right to the Grange de Meisselle barn. Meet up with a wide track and just before it, take the path to the Grange de Marcello (3).
Turn right (yellow markings) and continue straight ahead. After passing a new-build home, take the next path on your left (5) to reach the road that leads left to the village of Aiguèze.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 95 m - Car park at north entrance
  2. 1 : km 0.47 - alt. 166 m - Croix du Gier
  3. 2 : km 1.64 - alt. 254 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 2.02 - alt. 237 m - Place called "la Grange de Marcello" (Marcello's Barn)
  5. 4 : km 2.39 - alt. 257 m - Viewpoint loop crossroads
  6. 5 : km 3.51 - alt. 237 m - Viewpoint intersection
  7. 6 : km 3.69 - alt. 186 m - Castelviel Rocks
  8. 7 : km 4.68 - alt. 269 m - Before the junction with a wide track
  9. 8 : km 6.66 - alt. 139 m - Path on the left
  10. S/E : km 7.6 - alt. 95 m - Car park at north entrance

Practical information

In season, the car park at the southern entrance to the village has a fee to use (2 euros per day in 2014). You can park 500 metres further to the north (follow the sign that reads “Aire de Stationnement).

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 110 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
BERTHET Jean-Pierre
BERTHET Jean-Pierre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very fine walk, not always easy going but very well signposted.

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maryljoe
maryljoe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

lovely walk, most of it under the trees on a sunny day. magnificent views over the ardêche. well worth the diversions!

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Anne Jo
Anne Jo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I really enjoyed this walk because of the beautiful views over the Ardèche.
Admittedly there are some climbs, but nothing terrible. The route is partly shaded. The start and finish are in the sun.
It's a route with lots of stones, but of all my hikes in the Ardèche I'd say that the paths are always stony 😂
I then visited this charming village: what a pleasure, it's magnificent!

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Baobast
Baobast

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The route was taken in the middle of August, and started at 8am to avoid the heatwave. After the uphill start, you soon arrive in shady spots.
The end is in the sunshine. On the way in, take a stroll around Aigueze, it's a nice village.

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Herbert62
Herbert62

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We did this walk with 2 adults and 2 adolescents. It is a very nice and easy walk although there is some ascending involved. The views of the Ardeche river down below and also on Mont Ventoux in the far distance are very beautiful. Coming back, the views of Aigueze are also great. The track is mostly wide and there are no dangerous or difficult passages. We did meet a few other hikers, but not many. A walk that will be accessible to most.

Flaps 8
Flaps 8

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Nice tour.
May seem a little physical for some people but nothing to stop them.
Beautiful views of the Ardèche gorges.

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Alves Martine
Alves Martine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful walk with magnificent views over the Ardèche. Best done in spring, when the weather is not yet too hot, and to take advantage of the cysts in flower along the path. The village of Aiguèze is superb. Thank you for this easy and well-marked walk.

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yrené
yrené

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Magnificent view of the Ardèche gorges once you reach the crag, well signposted, no major difficulty.

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Francine84
Francine84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

After a steep, stony climb in the blazing sun, the walk continued pleasantly from viewpoint to viewpoint under the relative shade of the vegetation.
Thank you for sharing.

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mano2607
mano2607

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Beautiful walks, easy to do without great difficulty, with a beautiful view of the Ardèche from the start and the village of Aiguèze.

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Rodger0è
Rodger0è

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Hello
Lovely walk with beautiful views of the meandering Ardèche river, not to be missed.
The loop is good and not monotonous.
roger

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nimesULM
nimesULM

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A lovely, varied walk, ideal for mid-season.
At junction 4, the little path on the right is signposted in yellow and also in red and white GR.
There is a PR marker at junction 5, which leads to the Castelviel rocks and the magnificent view over the Ardèche gorges. Note that the GPS track is not very accurate at this point.

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schnogeloch
schnogeloch

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nice hike, but a bit monotonous on the way back if you take the proposed route between 3 and 8. We preferred to take the gorges back to Aigueze, with a different outlook from the morning's climb.
Problem with the GPX track between 5 and 6: the track doesn't follow the path, and doesn't correspond to anything on the ground; in fact, the description indicates a distance of 0.180 km between these two points for a difference in altitude of 104 metres! Should we have abseiled down? This would correspond to a viewpoint located... at the bottom of the gorges. In reality, at point 5 you simply follow the path up to the viewpoint, which is a belvedere above the gorges.

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Happy Walker
Happy Walker

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice hike. This is the 2nd time I've done it. The signposting has been revised (the paint looks fresh) and there are few people at this time of year. The views over the Ardèche are superb. Small downside: the return journey along the forest road between points 3 and 8 is a bit monotonous.

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kp
kp

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The markings at the fork in the road at point 4 are not very visible for accessing the path.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.