Circular path along the water from Lagorce

Before arriving in Lagorce, follow the signs for the car park:
a) coming from the north: leave the D1 and turn left onto the small road that goes round the cemetery, Chemin du Salastre. 
b) coming from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, leave the D1 3 km before Salastre and turn right onto the D558, then left onto Chemin de Bourgnolle and Chemin du Salastre.

Signposted car park below Lagorce church, also known as the “Parking de la Crypte” (performance hall).

(S/E) At the end of the car park, head down to the right onto a path that quickly turns left at a right angle in front of a house, then cross the Ruisseau de Salastre via a submersible bridge. Head back up the small tarmac road, Chemin du Salastre.

(1) Turn right and head towards the start/finish signs for the botanical trail. Follow the botanical trail to the right.

(2) Pass the sewage treatment plant and walk alongside the newly built fences. At the small sign for “Cerisier Bois de Sainte Lucie/Prunus Mahaleb”, leave the botanical trail markings and follow the path to the right which joins the Ruisseau de Salastre. Cross five fords in succession, which may be difficult to cross after heavy rain.

(3) After the^fifth ford, you reach a fork. Leave the wide path that climbs to the left for a return trip along a well-marked trail leading to the Gour de l'Oule. The rock forms a natural dam crossed by the stream, which you can cross to reach a path on the opposite side (viewpoint over the very deep Gour).

(4) Retrace your steps.

(3) Follow the wide path to the right seen earlier. At the fork, head up to the right up a fairly steep slope. 

(5) At the 234m mark, join a PR®-marked path and turn right for a return trip. About 700m further on, look out for two piles of stones and a PR® marker on the left, indicating the path to the site. Follow the PR® markings along a narrow path through the woods to the “Ranc de l’Arche”.

(6) You will then emerge in front of a monumental natural arch slightly below you. Take a visible track on the right leading to a ledge offering a superb panorama of the Ibie valley. Retrace your steps.

(5) Continue to follow the PR® marked route straight ahead. Pass the ruins of a dry-stone hut. Look out for a path coming from the left near the remains of another dry-stone hut and continue straight ahead to a Yellow Cross and a White Cross.

(7) At the PR® signpost cross, turn left. The marked path climbs quite steeply alongside dry stone walls that once marked the boundaries of enclosures. At the crossroads on a flat area, elevation 283, turn right.  Continue due north along this forest track through the Bois de Notre-Dame d'Ajude. Look out for signs of wear on the rock caused by vehicle tyres. Ignore the paths branching off to the right and left until you reach a fork.

(8) Continue along the track, keeping to the right (the parallel path on the left is less passable).  At the next junction (elevation 284), turn left, then 100 m further on turn right to rejoin the track heading north. Then take the^first path on the right which descends. You will reach a scree slope. Ignore a path branching off to the right (not shown on the map). At the junction, turn right to descend to Pertus de Fabria. 

(9) Enjoy the view before following the PR® markings to climb up through a gap between the rocks. At the top, leave the ridge path and continue left, following the markings. At the next junction, go straight ahead. At the second junction, which is very wide, turn right onto the “Chemin Royal”. 

(10) Turn onto the first path on the left, then at the fork keep left again, onto the path that descends towards the stream. Follow the stream to the left.

(11) Ignore a path branching off to the right; follow the valley floor. You’ll come to a fork.

(12) Turn left at the fork for a round trip along a narrow path that follows the Sompe stream, going up and down several times until you reach the foot of the waterfall.

(13) Return to the previous fork.

(12) Turn left onto the path that climbs up to the top ofthe Gour de la Sompe. Take the time to admire the view whilst carefully making your way over the rocks overlooking the waterfall on the left bank. Cross the stream on the right bank, above the waterfall. Take care; do not cross at the edge of the precipice. Follow the path opposite, which turns left before climbing up to the Devès de la Chadenède. After a short, fairly steep climb of about 150 m, go over a small rocky outcrop, then reach the summit of the Devès.

(14) Then stay on the main path, ignoring the paths branching off to the right, to descend to the foot of the Devès.

(15) At the foot of the Devès, turn left at the T-junction and follow the path down to the Ruisseau de Salastre. Cross it at the ford (or via the weir, depending on the water level), continue along the left bank, ignoring a first bridge on the right which joins the D1. Leave the woods and continue along the edge of a field. The path re-enters the woods to join a track and PR® signposting.

(16) Before turning onto the second bridge, continue straight ahead for a 50-metre round trip to the Ruisseau de Salastre. Admire the natural rock dam and waterfall there. Retrace your steps, then turn left onto the bridge and head for the D1. Take this road carefully to the left for about 200 m. Turn left towards the hamlet of “Le Bouchet”. At the junction, continue straight ahead on the PR®-marked track. 

(17) You’ll come out onto a small tarmac road above the cemetery. Follow it to the left until you reach the original fork.

(1) Turn right, cross the Ruisseau de Salastre via a submersible bridge and return to the starting car park (S/E).

This "Au fil de l'eau" route lives up to its promise when there has been enough rain to feed the streams, pools and waterfalls. But to make the most of the route, do remember to wear waterproof shoes, perhaps bringing a spare pair and a towel.

The village of Lagorce, nestled against the rock face, is well worth a visit. A viewing point at the top of the village offers a superb panorama.

Also in the village, the "Silkworm" Museum and Silkworm Farm, open from mid-April to mid-October: a living museum of the silkworm