Derboux Castle – Saint-Pierre Chapel

Park at the Roquette car park on the edge of the D12.

(S/E) Facing the road, head right towards the old botanical trail and turn right again. Join the GRP® trail of the Massif d’Uchaux: yellow and red markings.

(1) Head towards Mondragon on the right, following the GRP®. A few prohibition signs indicate which path not to take. You’ll come out onto a forest track; follow it to the left until you reach the junction with another track.

(2) Follow this track to the left and ignore the next one on the left.

(3) At the top of the climb, leave the GRP® and take the path on the left.

(4) At the ‘chasse gardée’ sign, take the path on the left to the vineyard. Join the road, follow it to the right for 50 m and take the path on the left to come out onto the D12, just south of Derboux.

(5) Cross it carefully and take the tarmac road opposite. At the end of it, take the path on the right-hand side and you’ll reach a junction.

(6) Take the path on the left towards the vineyard and follow it to the track. Turn right and follow the edge of the vineyard to its boundary.

(7) Turn left into the woods and continue to the track. Turn right and follow the track uphill to another vineyard. Take the single track on the left which passes under a power line and curves to the right; follow it. Continue for about 200 m.

(8) Take the path on the left, leaving the power line behind. Then turn left to climb up to Château de Derboux, following the steepest slope: enjoy the view from the ruins.

(9) Turn back and rejoin the route to the left, taking the descent gently. Continue down: where there is a good step, take the ridge path to the left. There are many parallel paths, all leading to the same place. Reach Les Granges Blanches and rejoin the GRP®.

(10) Continue straight on. At the cross, turn right into the wooded area to reach the Chapelle Saint-Pierre and the adjoining cemetery.

(11) Follow the GRP® by taking the small road, then turn right to leave it.

(12) Leave the GRP® by taking the track on the left before the entrance to the woods. At the top, beneath the power line, the path narrows. Follow it and take the track on the left which runs alongside the GRP® to join the D12: lovely view of Mont Ventoux.

(13) Cross it carefully and take the path on the right that runs parallel to it.

(14) Turn left onto a track, staying on the GRP®, walk for about 200 m then take the path on the right.

(1) Head straight on, leaving the GRP® behind one last time, and return to the car park (S/E).

There is a water tap near Saint-Pierre Chapel (11).

The enclave of Derboux was a barony. The charter of the Principality of Orange, dated 1128, confirms that the feudal lords of the enclave of Derboux paid homage to the Prince of Orange.

(11) Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens Chapel – A Romanesque cemetery chapel with a single nave and a semi-circular apse, altered in the 19th century: roofing work and construction of the sacristy.

The chapel dates from the same period and features the same architectural style as that of Saint Blaise de Bauson.

Texts taken from the websites https://www.rhone-medieval.fr/index.p and https://pop.culture.gouv.fr