From Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt to Gordes via the Gorges de la Véroncle

This sixth stage crosses the wooded slope of Perréal Hill before reaching the village of Gargas and winding through the farmland of the Urbane Valley, then climbing up to the pretty village of Roussillon, where you can allow an hour to visit the old ochre quarry, with its magnificently coloured landscapes of cliffs and fairy chimneys. The route returns to the cultivated fields and enters the narrow Gorges de la Véroncle – a little gem waiting to be discovered – before heading up the Ravin de Vézaule to reach Camping des Sources.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Tour of the Luberon

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 9h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,238 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,670 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,552 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 584 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) On leaving the GCU campsite, turn right onto Chemin du Moulin à Huile to reach a junction.

(1) At the sign, continue straight ahead on the GR®6 to the next junction.

(2) At the sign, straight ahead, continue for 100 m and take the first road on the left, the Chemin de Perréal. Stay on this road, ignoring any side paths. At the sign for the Chemin de Radegonde, in front of a wayside shrine to the Virgin Mary, turn onto the path on the left and continue to a Fork in the road (elevation 384)

(3) At the signpost, ignore the paths to the right and left and continue straight ahead along the path closed to vehicles. Ignore the side tracks and proceed to a junction of marked trails.

(4) Head down the path following the GR®6 to the left. At the Fork in the road, keep to the right. Ignoring the numerous side paths, stay on the GR®6, which makes a wide bend to the right followed by another to the left before heading south and reaching a crossroads (elevation 316).

(5) Take the path on the right. At the junction, head straight on along the Perréal path. Join the D101, follow it down to the left and reach a small roundabout in the village of Gargas (elevation 273).

(6) At the sign, turn right onto the Route des Serres until you reach a junction marked with a stop sign (elevation 294). Continue straight ahead for 70 metres and turn left onto a path that leads into the woods. After passing a water reservoir, ignore the path on the left (elevation 291) and continue to another junction

(7) Ignore the path on the right which leads to the Colline de la Gardette. Immediately at the Fork in the road, leave the path that turns left and continue straight ahead on the GR®6 trail.

(8) At the Fork in the road, keep slightly to the right and, 100 m further on, at the junction, continue straight ahead. After 300 m, at the junction, turn onto the path on the right. After 200 m, at the fork, keep to the right and join the Route de la Bladayre. Follow it down to the left and you’ll come to an access ramp to the D4.

(9) At the sign, take the right-hand branch. Follow the D4 uphill to a junction (elevation 232).

(10) At the sign, turn left then immediately right onto the Chemin des Finets. At the Fork in the road by the Mas du Clos, stay straight on the same road. At the junction, after Les Finets, keep left onto the D199. In its left-hand bend, you’ll reach a crossroads.

(11) Leave the road and take a track on the right through the fields. Immediately, ignore the path on the left and, 50 m further on, at the Fork in the road, keep left (west). After a slight bend to the right, at the next bend, turn left again (north-west). After 200 m, turn left and join a track to follow on the right before reaching the D227 (elevation 247).

(12) Take this road to the left, then immediately turn onto the ascending path on the right. You’ll reach a T-junction with a GRP®-marked footpath. Go straight ahead to join the Route de Saint-Michel. Take this road to the left. At the roundabout, continue straight ahead onto Rue de la Fontaine. Enter the village of Roussillon, pass through a narrow section and emerge onto the spacious Place du Pasquier.

(13) Take the street opposite the square, the Montée du Belvédère, which offers a lovely view of the region. If you have the time and a few euros to spare, continue past the cemetery to visit the old ochre quarries, which offer two spectacular circular walks lasting 30 or 50 minutes. Then return to the Place du Pasquier. Alternatively , turn right and walk along the edge of the square via Rue des Bourgades, going against the one-way traffic. Follow this road until the junction at the end of the Sablons car park (drinking fountain). Turn left onto the D169 towards Gordes. You’ll come to a junction in the bend on the right.

(14) Take the Chemin de Laurette straight ahead. After 250 m, leave the cul-de-sac on your right and take the path opposite. Cross a stream and continue straight on along the Chemin de Cabiscol until you reach a junction.

(15) At the signpost, take the Chemin de Gallas straight ahead. Continue for 250 m and, at the first Fork in the road (elevation 245), keep to the right; then, immediately at the second Fork in the road, carry on straight ahead for a further 250 m before finally turning right at the third Fork in the road. In the left-hand bend, ignore the path on the right and you’ll come out onto the Route de Lumières.

(16) Follow this to the left for 60 m before leaving it to take a path diagonally to the right. Immediately cross the path leading to the Mas des Serres. Keep straight ahead, ignoring a side path, and rejoin the road, the Chemin des Brasses. Follow it to the right, passing the Mas Brantes, and, at a left-hand bend, you’ll reach a junction with a signposted path.

(17) At the signpost, follow the bend to the left and cross the D60 diagonally to join the Chemin du Four à Chaux opposite. Staying on this main route, cross the ford over the Carlet and then continue along the Chemin de la Vignasse and then the Chemin des Cortasses. Opposite, you’ll come out onto the D2.

(18) Turn left onto it and cross the bridge over the Véroncle. Leave it 250 m further on and turn right onto the Chemin des Grailles. Follow the Véroncle and reach a junction in the hamlet of Les Grailles.

(19) At the signpost, leave the GR®6, which turns left, and continue straight ahead along the stream on the GRP® (Yellow/Red). After 100 m, ignore the path on the right; then, 300 m further on, at the Fork in the road, take the path on the right, which leads to a junction at the bottom of the Gorges de la Véroncle.

(20) Ignore the path leading in the opposite direction to the right and go straight on, passing in front of the Moulin Cabrier. Continue along the leat, climb over a drop using a ladder and reach an overhanging narrow passage. With the right equipment, the escarpment can be climbed down without difficulty. Follow the stream upstream, alternating between the right and left banks. Through a widening gorge, you’ll emerge at the ruins of the Moulin Jean Mare. At the Fork in the road, keep left and, 40 metres further on, you’ll reach a junction.

(21) At the signpost, follow the winding path to the left and, via the Ravin de Vézaule, reach a junction at a hairpin bend.

(22) At the signpost, leave the path on the right and take the one on the left to reach a junction (elevation 457). Take the path on the right. After 30 m, ignore the path on the left (not shown on the IGN map) and join the Route des Murs, D15. Follow it straight ahead, passing a picnic area, and, after a junction, reach a crossroads (elevation 443) flanked by the “Camping des Sources” sign.

(23) At the sign, turn right onto the road, Chemin de Fontanille. At the first Fork in the road, keep left, and do the same at the next one, to reach Camping des Sources (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 981 ft - GCU Campsite, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
  2. 1 : mi 0.12 - alt. 1,007 ft - Crossroads. La Bruyère
  3. 2 : mi 0.31 - alt. 1,001 ft - Crossroads. The Château
  4. 3 : mi 1.41 - alt. 1,250 ft - Fork in the road. Perréal
  5. 4 : mi 1.85 - alt. 1,299 ft - Turn left at the fork
  6. 5 : mi 2.47 - alt. 1,033 ft - Crossroads. Les Tamisiers
  7. 6 : mi 2.86 - alt. 896 ft - Roundabout. Village of Gargas
  8. 7 : mi 4 - alt. 1,020 ft - Junction. La Gardette
  9. 8 : mi 4.17 - alt. 1,024 ft - Fork in the road
  10. 9 : mi 4.97 - alt. 748 ft - Junction. L’Urbane
  11. 10 : mi 5.74 - alt. 758 ft - Crossroads. Le Clos
  12. 11 : mi 6.81 - alt. 912 ft - Junction. Route des Gaillanes
  13. 12 : mi 7.32 - alt. 810 ft - Junction. Route de Saint-Saturnin
  14. 13 : mi 8 - alt. 1,030 ft - Place du Pasquier, Rousillon
  15. 14 : mi 9.42 - alt. 928 ft - Junction. Le Ribas
  16. 15 : mi 9.89 - alt. 840 ft - Crossroads. Cabiscol
  17. 16 : mi 10.4 - alt. 735 ft - Junction. Route de Lumières
  18. 17 : mi 11.54 - alt. 623 ft - Junction. Le Buis
  19. 18 : mi 12.78 - alt. 630 ft - Junction. Route des Trois Soldats - Véroncle (rivière)
  20. 19 : mi 13.31 - alt. 673 ft - Crossroads. Les Grailles
  21. 20 : mi 13.64 - alt. 699 ft - Junction. Moulin Cabrier
  22. 21 : mi 15.08 - alt. 1,220 ft - Junction. Jean de Mare Mill
  23. 22 : mi 15.82 - alt. 1,450 ft - Junction. Vézaule Ravine
  24. 23 : mi 16.44 - alt. 1,453 ft - Junction. Chemin de Fontanille
  25. E : mi 16.68 - alt. 1,552 ft - Camping des Sources

Notes

(13) The detour to the viewpoint and the ochre quarry is shown on the route but is only a suggestion as part of it requires an admission fee.

Route markers
From point (S) to point (19) Marked GR®6
From point (19) to point (23) Marked GRP®

From point (23) to point (E) Marked yellow

Accommodation

(Off the route) Murs: Les Chalottes Campsite

Gordes: Les Sources Campsite (E)

Worth a visit

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.

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