Around Fontaine-de-Vaucluse with views of Mont Ventoux

A circular loop of around twenty kilometres with lovely views of Mont Ventoux and the Luberon mountains, and 600 m of elevation gain. A fairly gentle climb but some lovely descents!
There is a more challenging section during the descent to Fontaine de Vaucluse (hence the difficulty rating); otherwise, the difficulty remains moderate, particularly as there is a slight climb.

Details

n°21531285

Creation:
01 May 2022

Last update:
29 Aug 2022

Last review:
10 Mar 2026

Activity: Mountain biking
Distance: 15.03 mi
Duration according to the author: 2.5 hrs
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 2,051 ft
Descent: - 2,060 ft
Highest point: 2,175 ft
Lowest point: 233 ft

Country: France
Area: Monts de Vaucluse
City: Saumane-de-Vaucluse (84800)
Start/End: N 43.921396° / E 5.105334°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3142OT
Type of surface:
■ 20% Road ■ 65% Byway ■ 15% Path
Bike carrying: No
Difficulty: Moderate
Hour-by-hour weather

Avalanche risk assessment bulletin

Discover Visorando Premium

Downloads

Open in the mobile app

Download GPX GPX

Download PDF PDF

Photos

Description of the route

Park in the car park at the École Jean-Henri Fabre.

(S/E) On leaving the car park, take the path opposite, to the right of the roundabout, and head north. Follow the D57 on your left along the small paths until you reach a large crossroads.

(1) Take the tarmac road leading uphill to the right (dead end). Continue along this track until you reach a junction with a white barrier.

(2) Leave the road and follow the path which descends to the right, then climbs up the valley to the Chemin des Fayardes.

(3) Turn left instead of continuing straight on towards Fontaine de Vaucluse.

(4) At the inverted Y-junction, carry on straight ahead, staying on the main path as it climbs, until you reach another inverted Y-junction.

(5) Turn right and head down to the bottom of a small valley.

(6) Continue along the path that climbs until you reach a junction.

(7) Turn right and continue along the track until you reach the road.

(8) Turn right for 100 m, then reach a path leading uphill opposite the entrance to the bend in the road.

(9). Follow this path to the top.

(10) Take in the scenery, then continue along the path towards Mont Ventoux.

(11) At the three-way junction, take the track on the right and follow it until you reach another track.

(12) Take the right-hand branch of the track, which continues straight ahead. Stay on this track, which features some lovely descents. You’ll reach the start of a track branching off at a right angle to the right and a hut with an orientation table.

(13) Turn right and stay on this path, which is more technical and narrow. Head down towards the bottom of the valley, then follow the valley downwards until you reach a road. If you find it difficult, dismount.

(14) Follow the road to the right, which descends towards Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.

(15) At the junction with the cross-road, turn right towards the town centre and you’ll reach a roundabout after crossing the bridge over the Sorgue.

(16) Follow the D25 which runs alongside the Sorgue. Pass under the viaduct and take the next road on the right just after house no. 2228.

(17) Follow this road, which saves you a few metres. Ignore the driveways to the various houses and you’ll soon reach a four-way junction.

(18) Turn right, cross the Canal de Carpentras and head for the École Jean-Henri Fabre (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 322 ft - Car park at the Jean-Henri Fabre School - Canal de Carpentras
1 : mi 0.27 - alt. 387 ft - Turn right
2 : mi 0.69 - alt. 554 ft - Path on the right
3 : mi 2.12 - alt. 1,020 ft - Junction, turn left
4 : mi 2.49 - alt. 1,014 ft - Reverse route
5 : mi 3.33 - alt. 1,329 ft - Reverse route
6 : mi 3.72 - alt. 1,289 ft - Bottom of the valley
7 : mi 4.53 - alt. 1,483 ft - Junction, turn right
8 : mi 5.32 - alt. 1,572 ft - Road, on the right
9 : mi 5.37 - alt. 1,601 ft - Path opposite
10 : mi 6.77 - alt. 2,129 ft - Viewpoint with observation hut
11 : mi 7.55 - alt. 2,073 ft - Three-way junction, turn right
12 : mi 8.21 - alt. 2,021 ft - Three-way junction, turn right
13 : mi 11.34 - alt. 1,027 ft - Hut and orientation table
14 : mi 12.25 - alt. 518 ft - Route
15 : mi 13.18 - alt. 256 ft - Stop - Fontaine de Vaucluse
16 : mi 13.47 - alt. 259 ft - Sorgue (rivière)
17 : mi 14.67 - alt. 266 ft - Turn right
18 : mi 14.79 - alt. 279 ft - Four-way junction, turn right
S/E : mi 15.03 - alt. 322 ft - Car park at the Jean-Henri Fabre School

Notes

There are no water points along the route.
Food and drink are available in Fontaine de Vaucluse.
The route may be closed in the event of a fire alert, particularly in summer.

Worth a visit

The Plague Wall.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.3 / 5

User 22617041

10 Mar 2026 at 10:33 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very clear and easy trail for mountain bikes, less appealing for hiking, but fortunately there are possibilities for side trails.

Machine-translated

Zenplusplud

27 May 2024 at 15:24 7200 • Edited: 27 May 2024 at 15:28 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely cycle route with the views described in the itinerary. A nice parabolic curve in the elevation profile! The start of the valley on the way to Fontaine is indeed quite challenging for those who aren’t experts at downhill cycling, but it doesn’t last long. On an e-MTB, I generally enjoyed this relatively non-technical route on wide tracks. Thank you

Machine-translated

thierryrc

29 Aug 2022 at 13:16 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A route cycled on an electric fatbike.
A superb route that has it all: starting in the woods, then winding through the vineyards on the climb, and a ride across the plateau. The whole route takes you through ever-changing scenery, with the scents of pine trees and heath in the air.
The climb is steady and challenging; the fat tyres really come into their own all along the route. The views from the plateau are truly stunning, overlooking the various valleys and Mont Ventoux.
On the descent, take care on certain sections where there’s a bottleneck for 500 metres as you approach Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. You follow the ‘Mur de la Peste’ (Plague Wall), which still stands today (dating from 1720).
For the record:
There are quite a few options for new routes once you reach the plateau (Gordes, etc.)

Machine-translated

Asterix2018

06 May 2022 at 12:35 7200

Thanks, I was sure it was a walk!

Machine-translated