Around Senanque Abbey

A beautiful walk, mainly through the woods (so shaded), with some lovely views of the surrounding countryside.
Part of the walk is not signposted, so I recommend following your GPS, especially when taking the small path that leads to the farm, and then for the section between leaving theGR® and rejoining the wide track after the lavender field.

Details

10944262
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 231 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 240 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 568 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 352 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the D177, take the D171a (Chemin de l'Abbaye) and park in the abbey car park after crossing the Sénancole.

(S/E) Continue along the path at the end of the car park, following the abbey wall.

(1) Cross the Sénancole and follow the path that continues straight ahead. After a long, stony climb, take the path on the right. After a few metres, you will reach a wider track.

(2) Turn left (the return route will be on the right). After a few dozen metres, turn right onto a path that initially runs parallel to the track and leads to an abandoned farm.

(3) Stay on the path that passes right in front of the abandoned house and goes around it. Once again, begin a long climb, which is more or less rocky depending on the time of year, until you reach a fork marked by a post.

(4) Stay on the left-hand path and continue until you reach the junction with theGR®6-GR®97-GRP®.

(5) Turn right onto these trails. White and redGR® markings from this point onwards. The descent is a little steeper than the ascent, but nothing too difficult. Alternating between wooded sections and open stone slabs.

(6) At the fork, leave theGR® trails and take a path on the right, blocked by a fallen pine tree whose trunk is crumbling. Follow a single-track path, which is fairly well marked. The path ends in front of a lavender field.

(7) Go around it, then rejoin the wide track from the start, which leads to the first intersection on the way there.

(2) Turn left and retrace your steps. Cross the Sénancole to reach the abbey car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 375 m - Parking at the - Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 358 m - Crossing the - Sénancole (cours d'eau)
  3. 2 : km 1.05 - alt. 407 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  4. 3 : km 1.3 - alt. 410 m - Abandoned farm
  5. 4 : km 2.12 - alt. 465 m - Fork with post
  6. 5 : km 3.6 - alt. 568 m - Junction of the GR and GRP trails.
  7. 6 : km 4.45 - alt. 439 m - Path blocked by a fallen pine tree.
  8. 7 : km 5.39 - alt. 414 m - Lavender field
  9. S/E : km 6.86 - alt. 375 m - Abbey car park.

Notes

No water source.
Good shoes are necessary, especially for the very rocky descent.
A walking stick helped me a lot on the descent.
For those who walk with their dogs like me: few or no grass seeds.

Worth a visit

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

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

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.1 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 13937511

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, well-marked walk, but of no extraordinary interest. A fine view of the abbey at one point. Perhaps best done when the lavender is in bloom.

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PascalBrio
PascalBrio

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : Not used / Not applicable
Very busy route : No

It was very difficult to find our way after the first climb. There are many trails leading from the arrival point, and we were unable to find the path back. So we followed the PR trail to point 5 and back.

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Raoxmeyl
Raoxmeyl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, winding through the heath, which is in bloom in May, except for the lavender (too early). Stony terrain.

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nichou
nichou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike offering stunning views of Senanque Abbey, Gordes and the Vaucluse mountains.
Just one important note: the descent between points 4 and 5 is very rocky and quite steep. It is not very easy, especially when the ground is wet.
To avoid this rather difficult descent, I suggest doing the hike in reverse. This way, we climb between points 5 and 4, and the climb becomes quite easy (a climb is always less difficult than a descent).

The descent between points 4 and 2 is easy.
This is a way to eliminate the difficulty.
Thanks to the author of this hike.

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santon30
santon30

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk in this haven of peace, with clear directions that are easy to follow without a satnav – just pay a little attention.
We set off relatively early, so there were no crowds except on the way back and around the abbey.
Completed in 2 hours and 35 minutes with a few short stops.

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yannickjosselin
yannickjosselin

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off without any problems; however, when we reached point 2, we took a wrong turn and, unable to see the path, we mistakenly took the trail that leads to point 6.
We then climbed back up the GR trail, taking the route in reverse from point 5, point 4 and point 3.
A very beautiful route, ultimately quite sheltered from the strong north wind that was blowing that day.

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Jakusen
Jakusen
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A lovely, very easy walk through the woods, following the GPS.
Very pleasant in October, followed by a visit to the abbey.
After the hike, I recommend visiting the village of Gordes as well.

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Alain Revello
Alain Revello

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very easy hike. Excellent warm-up.

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gerard06440
gerard06440

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We did this walk on 17 June after visiting the abbey. What a joy to find ourselves alone on the trails after the crowds in and around the abbey. A beautiful, partially shaded circular loop with lovely scenery. Unfortunately, the lavender wasn't quite in bloom yet. The GPS came in handy.
Thank you
Kind regards
Michèle and Gérard

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