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Access: park in the car park at the exit of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, on the edge of the D24 (Route de Cavaillon), 250 metres after the bridge in the centre of the village. Paid parking during the season after 9 a.m. (€4).
(S/E) From the car park, turn left onto the D24 towards the centre of the village.
Cross the bridge with its water wheel, then turn right to walk up the Sorgue.
Pass all the shop/restaurant fronts and the Resistance Museum and continue along a paved path to the resurgence. Towards the end, the ground is worn and may be slippery in places.
(1) When you reach the resurgence, go through the wooden barrier to stand in front of the spring.
Take the path on the right, marked with a small blue sign on the rock. The single track climbs up the cliff side above the Sorgue.
The vegetation is quite dense in places. Continue until you reach the ruins of the Château des Évêques de Cavaillon. The blue markings are very discreet.
(2) In front of the castle ruins, continue left around the hairpin bend. After a few metres, ignore the path on the right that leads back down. Continue on the path, which remains fairly wide (facing south).
On the flat section, just before the track descends again, look for a cairn and the blue markings that indicate the start of a small path on the left that climbs steeply.
(3) Take this path and head towards the rocky outcrop. Follow the trail and go around the cliffs on the right above the Vallon de la Fontaine de l'Oule (wide track visible on the right below). Blue markings.
Continue along this trail until it comes close to the cliff. Turn left to find a passage in the cliff.
(4) At the foot of the route, you will see blue markings. You will need to climb about 15 metres vertically using steps carved into the rock.
The first ledge leads to a rock shelter, then a final series of steps without ropes leads to the top of the ridge.
Once at the top, turn left to reach the ruins of a dry stone chapel. View from above, 230 metres above the resurgence.
Retrace your steps and continue straight ahead, climbing this ridge (north-east) following the cairns and blue markings (partially faded in places). The vegetation is fairly low, consisting mainly of small box trees and holm oaks.
Be careful, as there are several paths that are more or less marked on the ground, which can cause confusion about which route to follow.
Stay as close as possible to the ridge line (north-northeast) or follow the blue markings if they are visible. A large cairn marks the summit.
The ridge line continues for about 3.5km and then the path turns north-east and then east. At this point, the vegetation becomes denser and is often cut into boxwood bushes 3m high. There are no markings.
(5) At the intersection on the boxwood path, continue to the left. The track is clearer here. There are no markings.
(6) After 350 metres, leave the path on the left (leading to the Mourre de la Belle Étoile telecoms tower) and take the track on the right for 300 metres to rejoin a carriage road. There are no markings.
(7) At the end of the track, turn left and then immediately right. Continue along this wide track on flat ground for about 700 metres.
(8) At the "Plaine Est" sign, continue left towards La Pouraque on the wide track. This track is shared bythe GR®6/GR®97and theGRP® Sentier Historique du Mur de la Peste.
At the first intersection (where there is an underground fire hydrant), turn right onto the wide track (follow the MV110 and MV12 fire track signs). Stay on theGRP® Sentier Historique du Mur de la Peste.
(9) At the "Croix du Jas d'Esprit" sign, turn left towards Venasque, following the yellow markings. Old yellow/red markings, which are partially faded, are also present in some places.
Enter the Combe Mayaud, which is rather wild and rocky (almost entirely downhill).
(10) At the foot of the combe, facing the meadow, continue on the path to the right which runs alongside a fence and then orchards.
Yellow markings.
You will come out onto the tarmac road (Chemin de la Vachère) and continue to the right. Yellow markings.
(11) At the "Carroufra" sign, turn left towards Saint-Gens, then immediately right to leave the tarmac road. You will find yourself on theGR®91, marked in white/red. Further on, take the tarmac road that goes uphill.
(12) On the flat section, leave the tarmac road by turning right, then immediately left, staying on theGR®91. Ignore all the small paths you come across and stay on theGR®91.
(13) At the "Lou Planestèu" sign, turn left towards Saint-Gens. Stay on theGR®91.
(14) At the "Saint-Gens" sign, turn right to descend to the chapel. After visiting the Hermitage of Saint-Gens, turn around and head towards Combe de la Fontaine (go back up the tarmac road). Return to the "Saint-Gens" sign.
(14) Continue for about ten metres until you reach the "Combe de la Fontaine" sign, then turn left towards Rocher des Trois Luisants / Fontaine Miraculeuse.
(15) At the Miraculous Fountain (there is a small oratory above the spring), continue right on theGR®91. Go up the Combe de la Fontaine de Saint-Gens.
(16) At the sign for "Rocher des Trois Luisants", turn right towards Le Beaucet. Follow the yellow markings.
Go down the path, cross the wide track (Piste du Rocher) and continue straight ahead downhill.
(17) At the "Bourguigne" sign, continue left towards Saumane-de-Vaucluse on theGRP® Tour des Monts du Vaucluse. Yellow/red markings.
You will come out onto a wide track suitable for vehicles. Continue left until you reach the junction of the tracks.
Take the left-hand track at the hairpin bend downhill, following the "MV16" fire track sign. No markings.
(18) At the bottom of the descent, at the first hairpin bend, take the small path on the right that descends into the valley through the vegetation. You will find yourself on a small single track. No markings.
On this single track, ignore any small paths you may encounter. Continue straight ahead, heading mainly south until you come to a wide track.
(19) When you reach the track, turn left to go back up it. There are no markings.
After 250m, look for a path on the right that climbs steeply. Take this path until you reach the fire track (Piste des Fayardes).
On this track, continue to the left (the terrain descends) then turn right onto the path which climbs again.
(20) At the "Mourre Pelé" sign, turn left towards Saint-Gens.GR®91, white/red markings.
The path climbs up through terrain that is quite rough in places. Reach the summit at the watchtower.
(21) At the watchtower, turn right, staying at the edge of the vegetation. Look for a south-facing path that runs along the ridges. There are intermittent blue markings.
(22) At a small fork, continue left on the path that descends steeply. Blue markings also lead off to the right, but do not follow them.
Descend the path to reach the Vallon de Valescure. You will come out at the top of the valley on a scree slope. Pass in front of the arch. Continue descending; a more passable track will appear.
(23) On the descent, look for a small cairn painted with the word "karstic cave" in blue. Turn left and climb steeply up the small gravel pit to reach the entrance to the karstic cave. Walk around it (narrow cave) and descend back onto the track. Continue the descent.
At the edge of a clearing, turn right to reach the Valescure farm.
(24) When you reach the Valescure farm, continue left on the track.GR®91, white/red markings. Descend via this path until you pass close to a wide track.
(25) Just before crossing the wide track (fire access), bear slightly left. Stay on theGR®91, marked white/red.
(26) At the "Les Cabanes" sign, turn left towards Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Yellow/red and white/red markings.
(27) At the "La Verière" sign near the drystone shelter, follow Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on the path that descends. On the descent, pass several drystone shelters.
You will come out onto a small tarmac road. Continue straight ahead, continuing downhill to reach Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
Cross Chemin des Beaumes Rouges until you reach the path leading to the chasm. Turn right towards the centre of the village.
Then go up Avenue Petrarque on the left, crossing the Sorgue again to reach the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
Easy 
