Around Mont Serein via Pré Saint Michel and the sheepfold

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A lovely walk through the woodland with views of the mighty Mont Ventoux, the Dentelles, the Vallée du Bout du Monde and as far as Montagne Angèle.

Details

n°14335240
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 455 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 459 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,525 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,066 m
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Photos

The Giant of Vaucluse
Lovely view to the south
Local wildlife

Description of the walk

Park in the large car park at Pré Saint Michel as you leave the legendary D974.

(S/E) Take the forest track just in front of the car park. Continue along this wide track until you reach the Lou Roundèu junction.

(1) Turn right, staying on the forest track that leads to Pra Long. You’ll reach a crossroads. Admire the Pic de Comte to the north-west.

(2) Then take the path on your right to reach Pra Long.

(3) Keep to the right on this forest track towards Grand Valat. You’ll reach a junction at Arjalas.

(4) Continue left along the same path to Grand Valat.

(5) Head right towards Faysses and admire the botanical trail and the educational panels about the massif.

(6) Take the path on the left towards the Bergerie de l'Avocat and admire the abundant wildlife in this area. Follow the tarmac road up to the right as far as the roundabout, then take the small path that cuts across the sharp bend in the road.

(7) Head up to the right, along the edge of the D 974, until you reach the sharp bend.

(8) Leave the road by taking the small path on your right.
Make sure you don’t take the wrong path: do not take the forest track.
Turn right and follow the steep path down to a fork.

(9) Turn right just at the end of the path to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,144 m - Pré Michel car park
  2. 1 : km 3.47 - alt. 1,066 m - Lou Roundèu
  3. 2 : km 4.58 - alt. 1,152 m - Crossroads. Viewpoint
  4. 3 : km 4.89 - alt. 1,182 m - Pra Long
  5. 4 : km 5.83 - alt. 1,261 m - Fork in the path. L'Arjalas
  6. 5 : km 6.81 - alt. 1,338 m - Grand Valat. Botanical trail
  7. 6 : km 7.11 - alt. 1,346 m - Faysses. Towards the sheepfold
  8. 7 : km 8.23 - alt. 1,432 m - Chalet Liotard
  9. 8 : km 9.16 - alt. 1,525 m - Right-hand path. Black mountain bike trail
  10. 9 : km 12.69 - alt. 1,200 m - Junction
  11. S/E : km 13.49 - alt. 1,144 m - Pré Michel car park

Notes

Make sure you’re wearing sturdy footwear, as there’s a stony descent at the end of the route.

Worth a visit

(5) The botanical trail is well worth a visit.
(4) Do also take the time to admire the magnificent view of Arjalas.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
CDidier
CDidier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views. Very good.

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randocrem
randocrem

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant, shaded walk; in fine weather there are magnificent views, particularly around the Bergerie de l'Avocat. The route is not difficult, except between points 8 and 9, where, for about 1 km, the path – which will soon be impassable – is overgrown with young pine trees, forcing you to push aside their prickly branches as you walk.
Apparently, there is a trail designed for trail running in this section, which would explain why the other path has been neglected.

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alliaudhenri@gmail.com
alliaudhenri@gmail.com
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

From the Liotard chalet, the stretch of road leading up to the bend is dangerous. The path on the right that leads downhill turns into a track that has been used for logging and then becomes a path that is heavily overgrown with young pine trees and difficult to see for about 300 metres.

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Gépa
Gépa

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and easy walk, mostly through woodland and along forest paths. Only one section of the route, a downhill stretch between points 8 and 9, which is lined with young pine trees 1.00 to 2.00 metres tall, is less pleasant.

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AqualiJu
AqualiJu

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

My first short hike to explore Mont Serein.
A bit disappointed by the paths: it starts with a wide track for 3km (it must get quite hot in summer), then a gradual climb followed by a very pleasant woodland path up to Mont Serein, a short climb along the road (1km), and a woodland path that starts off well but ends up winding through neatly aligned conifers.

I did, however, have a lovely time on this walk; I think the fact that it was mid-season helped a lot (few people on the mountain and no cars along the road).

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Cathy Rtg
Cathy Rtg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk to the sheepfold and Mont Ventoux. A pleasant, shaded path. The botanical trail is interesting.
The descent is stony... make sure you’re wearing sturdy shoes! I recommend this lovely walk.

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