Gréoux-les-Bains circular, Les Plaines and the Ravin de la Goutette

Park at the Château des Templiers car park, Rue de la Vière.

(S/E) Head down Rue de la Vière and then along the Chemin des Seigneurs, which continues from there. Cross the Chemin Neuf (Route de Manosque / D82) with care and walk alongside the cemetery for about 40 metres. At the signpost, turn right onto Chemin de la Goutette, following the yellow markings. You will reach a junction at the entrance to Ravin de la Goutette.

(1) Continue straight on, staying on the Chemin de la Goutette, and walk for about 600 m, ignoring the two tracks branching off to the left. You will reach a three-way junction.

(2) Leave the Chemin de la Goutette and take the marked path climbing left towards the plateau and La Colle. At the edge of the forest, the path opens out onto a field of lavender: walk along the right-hand side of this field until you reach a farm building, where you’ll join the GR®69: marked in white and red.

(3) Turn left and follow the path for about 300 m. Enjoy the 360° panorama: the Luberon Mountains, the Verdon Massif, the Alpes de Hautes-Provence, etc.

(4) Turn left onto the Grande Traye des Troupeaux d'Arles. At the next junction, at the 90° bend, continue along the path to the right and you will come out onto the Route de Manosque (D82).

(5) Cross the road with care. Turn left and follow the path marking the GR®4, running alongside the road. At the junction with the Ancienne Traye des Troupeaux d'Arles, continue to the left, following the GR®4 whilst walking parallel to the Route de Manosque.

(6) Turn right onto the Route de Saint-Jean, staying on the GR®4. Reach the junction with the Agasse.

(7) Keep left and continue down towards Gréoux-les-Bains via the Route de Saint-Jean. Arrive in the Garenne district and continue to the junction of the Chemins des Seigneurs and the Chemins des Hospitaliers.

Cross this junction to reach the castle car park via Rue de la Vière (S/E).

At the end of the hike, do pop up to the castle via the Chemin des Hospitaliers. Walk around the south side of the castle whilst admiring the superb views over the Verdon Valley, and round off your walk with a stroll through the old streets.

My hiking gear: a phone with GPS enabled, Visorando for reading GPX tracks and recording the route, and good hiking boots.

In Gréoux-les-Bains: the Château des Templiers and its views over the Verdon Valley, the bustling Rue Grande, the Placette Pauline, the Parc Morelon, the thermal baths and their magnificent grounds, the banks of the Verdon, etc.

Nearby: the Gréoux-les-Bains dam, Lake Esparron, Esparron-de-Verdon, Lake Sainte-Croix, Quinson, the Lower Gorges of the Verdon, etc.

Not to be missed: the fantastic and lively Provençal market in Gréoux-les-Bains, every Thursday on the Place des Marronniers.

Slideshow of Gréoux and the surrounding area

https://www.mairie-greouxlesbains.fr/contacts/tourisme/