Circuit in the hills above Moustiers Sainte Marie

Moustiers Sainte Marie is worth a visit, but the route through the hills is a remarkable way to enjoy this very pleasant plateau.

Details

81096
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 466 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 460 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 990 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 578 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the bottom of Moustiers in one of the many car parks.

(S/E) Head towards the village via the narrow streets that join the access road. Cross it and take the steep path that joins thePR® (yellow-marked walking and hiking trail).
Turn left to reach the magnificent stone bridge over the Riou.

(1) Cross the bridge and, at the exit, leave the path that branches off to the left and take the one on the right.
Start a slight climb and you will reach a crossroads.

(2) Take the right-hand path again at a 90° angle and climb steeply to reach a plateau at an altitude of 899 metres, heading east.

(3) When you reach a new crossroads, leave the track on your left and take the one on the right. After 150 metres, take the path on the left. Begin a steep descent into the Ravin du Riou, heading south, then head east again to reach the Itinéraire Équestre near the Ferme Vincel.

(4) Take this route on the right, which is shared with the road. At the first crossroads (be careful, there are no signs), take the wide track that quickly joins the path marked out on the old Roman road.

(5) At the crossroads after the 939 metre mark, signs indicate several directions for Moustiers.
Choose the one leading to the Notre Dame ravine, which is the path on the right.
Walk slowly before starting the steep descent to the village.
Take advantage of the steps to reach Notre Dame de Beauvoir and return.

(6) Go back down the wide steps to the village and then to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 578 m - Parking at the bottom of Moustiers.
  2. 1 : km 0.73 - alt. 668 m - Stone bridge
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 773 m - Crossroads
  4. 3 : km 3.25 - alt. 990 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 5.16 - alt. 955 m - Equestrian route junction
  6. 5 : km 7.03 - alt. 919 m - Carrefour Voie Romaine
  7. 6 : km 8.29 - alt. 743 m - Notre Dame de Beauvoir
  8. S/E : km 9.26 - alt. 580 m - Parking at the bottom of Moustiers.

Notes

Please note that there is no water on this route, so take enough with you as it is hot (even very hot) on this plateau.
Also be careful on the last descent, which is particularly difficult and can be very challenging for inexperienced hikers.
PS: I have classified this hike as Medium difficulty, bearing in mind that, as mentioned above, it may be Difficult for some people.

Worth a visit

Moustiers Sainte Marie, of course, with its potters and beautiful star.
The lake of Sainte Croix.
The Verdon Gorge.
The Provençal villages.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 72 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
SiobanS
SiobanS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

You must follow the suggested route, as the views on the way down are stunning, particularly in the famous Notre-Dame ravine. This descent is indeed technical: you’ll need sturdy footwear, sure-footedness and concentration. We rounded off the day with a leisurely stroll through Moustier, enjoying an ice cream.

Machine-translated

LES DRAILLES 04
LES DRAILLES 04

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello, the route is well signposted and easy to follow with the map. We took a different route at the end to avoid going through the Notre-Dame ravine. We continued along the medieval road, which is also very stony but less steep. It might be worth doing this route in the opposite direction, which would allow us to visit Moustiers on the way back

Machine-translated

Christine_aix
Christine_aix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A beautiful hike that allows you to appreciate the landscapes of Haute Provence.
As the description of the descent from point 5 was somewhat daunting, we took the left-hand path (Courchon), which is a monument in itself and winds gently down to the cemetery, offering beautiful views of the cliffs and the lake.
Thank you for this route.

Machine-translated

gilloua73
gilloua73

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is really nice, climbing through the forest with all the smells... At the top, the plateau is magnificent, and of course, the descent to Moustiers, arriving above the chapel, is breathtaking: WARNING: not suitable for children and requires very good footwear. Thrills guaranteed. Thank you again for this discovery.

Machine-translated

User 1172680

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is closed on a section following a landslide. You must turn back and take a detour.
Advice from the Moustiers tourist office.

Machine-translated

mcg.gabriel
mcg.gabriel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice and varied circuit, with a climb through the woods, a path on the heights of Moustiers with a breathtaking view, and a somewhat arduous descent on the very stony Roman road in the hot sun, so good shoes are a must!

Machine-translated

oponcin
oponcin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A different version of this route has been created, taking the gorge above Moustiers which starts from the Way of the Cross just below the chapel.
no particular difficulties
Pictures: https://youtu.be/k5rK4s-lLjI?si=0grVBTsS...

Machine-translated

saint victor
saint victor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route that we extended after point 5 to go over the chains at the rear (very nice viewpoint but be careful, the path is difficult and not suitable for children). Thank you for this beautiful route.

Machine-translated

cck.stasser
cck.stasser

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The route was done in reverse because the weather was very hot and it was easier to return to Moustiers through the woods. The only downside was that it was very difficult to find the path near the chapel of Sainte Marie de Beauvoir. It was a bit of a scramble but it was great to go up and meet some goat kids. The part towards the gliders and on the plateau was less fun but relaxing after the climb. If you want to rest a bit, you can have a drink and something to eat near the gliders. Charming and welcoming people. The descent seems a little long but is not difficult. A very pleasant and rewarding day. Thanks for the hike and the directions, despite our rough start!

Machine-translated

bernardino
bernardino ★

Hello Anibac, you wrote: Too many people for me, that's absolutely true, but here you are in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a very well-known village and therefore particularly busy whatever the season.
Have a nice day!

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you very much

Machine-translated

Anibac
Anibac

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I met 3 hikers and 6 mountain bikers on this walk. I found this hike of little interest, with a desert landscape and no view of the lake or anything else. A sign for the Riou waterfall caught my eye but I didn't dare go there as I had no indication of how hard it was. The road and forest paths are very boring.
On the other hand, the part of the ravine that runs through Notre Dame is magnificent! The part of the ravine towards the bottom is athletic and technical. I'll keep that part in my memory, it was impressive.
The passage through the village can be fun for those who like licking the shop windows. Too many people for me after this lunar landscape.
Thanks a million!

Machine-translated

CocoduPic
CocoduPic

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A beautiful hike on the heights of Moustiers, a beautiful trumpet at the beginning then quieter. Well-marked walk.

Machine-translated

JPC07
JPC07

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We went straight to point 6 (ND de Beauvoir) and then joined point 1 (Riou stone bridge) via a vertiginous downhill path. The route from there to point 3 is not very interesting: it's all undergrowth, with no panoramic views. It's better from 3 to 4 and on the unpaved part from 4 to 5 where we took the descent via the COURCHON (extremely difficult, as it's very stony). The main attraction was to see the hang-gliders take off and the view below. In conclusion, a walk of average interest: 12/20.

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great for getting your legs ready for the next day's hammering.
IBP 72
Very nice hike
Be careful if you go down the stony path that leads to La Chapelle, you'll need to concentrate a little.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.