Loop around the Pas de l'Étroit valley

Starting from Meyrargues, this hike offers superb views of the castle overlooking the village and the Durance valley. It takes you along the picturesque Pas de l'Étroit. The horizon is dominated in turn by the Luberon, Sainte-Victoire and finally the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.76 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 290 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 285 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 503 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 253 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Meyrargues (13650)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.633649° / E 5.53243°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3243OT, 3244ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking south of the cemetery, near the bus stop.

(S/E) Take the small paved road up to the castle in a south-westerly direction, which runs along the old wall of the estate.

(1) At the top of the hill, at the castle gate, leave the road and turn left onto the path that passes near the Chapelle Mère de Dieu. The yellow/blue trail heads south up the hill (ignore the paths on the left), winding its way to a pass (cairn) and then joining a wide track. Take this track to the right and climb up to the orientation table.

(2) Orientation table. Retrace your steps back down to the cairn and continue 170m along the track heading south.

(3) At a signpost for Terme de Judas, leave the track and take a yellow/blue marked path on the left. When this path forks, take the yellow path marked "1" on the right. The path joins a wide track which you follow south for 400m (you can take a path parallel to the track on the left).

(4) Near a sign for "Lou Pous de Fouquet", leave the wide track and take the yellow/blue trail on the left heading south-east, which enters the pine forest and then descends to join a wide track at the bottom of a small valley.

(5) Go up this wide track heading south and stay on this main road, ignoring the track that comes in from the right and then another that also branches off to the right. The track climbs slightly, bending eastwards and passing under a sheepfold. Ignore the two Y-junctions to the right and continue to a cistern (no. 91).

(6) Head north on the wide track at the back of the hill, which descends gently. Ignore the track that comes in from the right and continue to a major fork.

(7) Turn left for 50 m, then left again to descend towards a cistern and then towards the bottom of the valley after 450 m.

(8) Leave the track and take a small path on the right that goes around the hill (the Collet Redon). After 150 m, take the blue-marked path on the right that descends along the valley and joins the main track at the bottom of the valley.

(9) Follow the track northwards, which passes near a car park and then becomes a tarmac road that takes you back to the starting point near the cemetery (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 253 m - Cemetery car park
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 277 m - Path on the left opposite the castle gate
  3. 2 : km 1.18 - alt. 376 m - Orientation table
  4. 3 : km 1.54 - alt. 362 m - Signpost to 'Terme de Judas'
  5. 4 : km 2.67 - alt. 405 m - Signpost "Lou Pous de Fouquet"
  6. 5 : km 3.49 - alt. 377 m - Pas de l'Étroit valley
  7. 6 : km 5.53 - alt. 494 m - Cistern no. 91
  8. 7 : km 7.31 - alt. 427 m - Fork in the road towards the valley
  9. 8 : km 7.77 - alt. 377 m - Bypass route around the Collet Redon
  10. 9 : km 8.42 - alt. 308 m - Pas de l'Étroit valley
  11. S/E : km 9.76 - alt. 254 m - Cemetery car park

Notes

Shelter available at the Chapelle Mère de Dieu

Worth a visit

- Orientation table with views of the village of Meyrargues, the Durance valley, the Luberon and the Southern Alps
- At the "6", you can make a round trip to the viewpoint at the watchtower (2 km there and back)
- To the north of the valley (end of the hike), the Pas de l'Étroit is a renowned climbing site. The magnificent rocks leave only a narrow passage for the torrent and the road that serves the valley.
- The return route passes close to the ruins of a Roman aqueduct.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 52 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Micmich
Micmich

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk through this valley south of Meyrargues. It can be extended:
- by the climb up to the castle, which offers magnificent views over the Durance valley and the Luberon,
- a return trip to the lookout point from point 7 on the route, where a 360° panorama reveals the Durance Valley, the Luberon, the Montagne de Lure, and the mountains to the south: Sainte-Victoire, Sainte-Baume, the Étoile range… Follow the track heading north-north-west from point 7 to the viewpoint marked on the IGN map.

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fanmirando
fanmirando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk.

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User 4053053

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We didn't see the sign for "Lou Pous de Fouquet"
The return trip to the lookout point starts from point 7, not point 6

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cornille b
cornille b

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At point 3, the sign had been removed, and we found the signpost lying on the ground without the inscription; as a result, we took the wrong path but found it again further on! Otherwise, this route was very interesting.

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The rocks are as beautiful as ever and there are magnificent trails through the woods. Much of the hike is shaded, which is nice in summer.
There were a few mountain bikers out on this Sunday, though.

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Biquette13
Biquette13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant route, quite popular with families in the valley.
I would classify it as "easy" because the paths are comfortable and there is little elevation gain.
Completed in 2½ hours.

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KrisVal
KrisVal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very pleasant walk in the forest

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Gargani
Gargani

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

Beautiful pine forest with plenty of variety and lovely views from time to time

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CPA67
CPA67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant route, not too difficult and well signposted

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Sylvie Parfum
Sylvie Parfum
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, more than a real hike.
The route took 3 hours without any effort.
For the lookout point, take the path to the right of point 7, not point 6

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jyc rando
jyc rando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very varied landscape. Very accessible and well-marked trail

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hélène13
hélène13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant outing, organised using the app on my phone.
We did a variation on the hike (a round trip); at point 6, we headed towards Jas de Ligourès, where we had a picnic.
We didn't go to La Vigie.
A feast for the eyes: blue bellflower, white flax, yellow flax, Montpellier aphyllanthes.
The remains of the aqueduct and the information board add extra interest to this route.
I would have appreciated a slightly shorter distance on the trail.

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denisnicoli
denisnicoli

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with beautiful views. The paths are clear, so don't forget your hat or cap. The trails are shaded. Irises and daffodils are in bloom at the moment. The end of the walk is on a fairly long paved section. The explanations are perfect

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BLANCJOEL
BLANCJOEL

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike with beautiful landscapes to discover, no particular difficulty, follow the description carefully as it is perfect

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phildaix
phildaix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk, well described, with beautiful landscapes, beautiful views and beautiful rocks: go for it!

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