From the cistern to Vaugine via the Rocher de Curet

A short, varied hike that alternates between beautiful views, tracks through the heath and the human-scale escarpments of the Luberon.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.19 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 268 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 270 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 660 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 380 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access by car is possible: space for a maximum of two cars.

(S/E) Follow the small path heading north along a field of olive trees on your right.

turn left onto a small path that climbs through the heath along a valley. Pass some ruins, probably left over from charcoal production in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You will come to a crossroads with a beautiful view of the Durance valley and Sainte-Victoire.

(2) Head almost straight ahead, due north, while noting the return path on your right.

(3) Climb straight up to the right over the scree for about ten metres, then follow a track heading south-south-east which winds above the path you have just come from, alternating between short descents and ascents. You will reach a wide track at a hairpin bend and a fire hydrant: there is a very clear view of the Luberon and the Alps.

(4) Ignore the track and take the path on the right which leads back to the crossroads after the ruins.
(2) Turn right, heading north, and follow the path you took on the way up for about a hundred metres, then turn left onto a track that descends into the valley. Follow the bottom of the valley as best you can to reach a small ledge overhanging four to five metres.

(5) There is a passage on the left with a 3-4 metre crossing on a small slab: there are one or two small steps that have probably been slightly enlarged over time. Then descend through the scree without difficulty. Further on, a cairn indicates where to enter the forest. The trail leads to a white path, which you follow, veering to the left. About 400 metres further on, keep left on the path that climbs and joins a crossroads, leading to a wide track.

(6) Continue in the same direction on this track.

(7) Take the small tarmac road on the left (Chemin de l'Héritage), which leads to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 404 m - Parking, water tank - Chapelle de l'Ermitage
  2. 1 : km 1.03 - alt. 467 m - Fork to the left
  3. 2 : km 1.92 - alt. 582 m - Crossroads of the small circular, viewpoint
  4. 3 : km 2.53 - alt. 652 m - There is scree on the right
  5. 4 : km 3.1 - alt. 630 m - Track bend, cistern
  6. 5 : km 3.74 - alt. 534 m - Ressaut
  7. 6 : km 4.71 - alt. 439 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 5.58 - alt. 381 m - Chemin de l'Héritage
  9. S/E : km 6.19 - alt. 401 m - Parking, water tank

Notes

Alternative starting point

It is possible to start from the village. Park in the car park next to the Bassin de l'Étang. Turn right onto Rue Bérard du Roure and continue straight on towards the new school. After the sports ground, turn left onto Chemin de l'Ermitage towards the chapel of the same name. Well before reaching it, opposite a field of olive trees, turn left. The start of the described route is then on the right, about a hundred metres further on. Allow an extra quarter of an hour.

Please note: some sections of this hike are poorly marked. At point (5), there is a passage that requires some navigation, but it is not particularly difficult. You will need to take a step across, using all the necessary handholds.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

3.3 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
3 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
amilhatb
amilhatb

Thank you, you did well. Classifying it as "difficult" is complicated, because it is short with a small elevation gain, but it is interesting. It is indeed varied. The path to the small valley is pretty. The exit at point 5 is a little exposed in terms of climbing: there is a traverse between levels 2 and 3.
Ultimately, it's a hike that doesn't require a lot of physical effort, but it's "off-piste" and you sometimes have to find your own way. It's perfect for those who like to get off the beaten track, but not for those who are looking to break records like trail runners or who prefer well-marked paths.

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POULIN Gérard
POULIN Gérard ★

Hello Pérégrine,
This hike is classified as "Moderate" with a warning in the Practical Information section concerning the WPT (5). A change was made this morning to clarify this delicate point.

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Pérégrine
Pérégrine

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I believe this route should be removed from the app because point 5 poses a real problem, especially since the hike is classified as easy.
I confidently completed this hike with my 83-year-old mother, who is certainly sprightly on her feet, but we stick to easy routes.
Even the descent into the valley leading to point 5, "Le rocher de Curet", is difficult to follow because it is not a path but a vague trail: you have to step over lots of branches and push them aside so they don't hit you in the face... And then you come to... a drop: a 3-metre gap that is impossible to cross. I couldn't find the famous steps, and in any case my mother would probably not have been able to use them.
We had to climb back up, which was no fun...
What is this kind of thing doing in a hike classified as easy?
In fact, there is another hike that goes around this rock, so what is the point of leaving this one?
I am therefore addressing this specifically to the person who published this hike and to the moderators of this site: for the safety and enjoyment of hikers, please remove this route.

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godillot1
godillot1

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We did the route with a slight variation. We started the hike by passing through the Hermitage and joined the trail at point 1. This route adds a heritage interest to the hike. We also made a detour to the cistern, where we had a picnic either in the shade of a grove or in the sun by the cistern. There are beautiful views at the cistern and between points 2 and 3.

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Stan GLR
Stan GLR

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The descent into the valley towards point 5 is uninteresting and the trail has completely disappeared. The passage at point 5 is difficult (Curet rock). We finally turned back to return via a marked trail to the starting point.

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