Discover the heritage of Uchaux

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About ten kilometres north of Orange, in the Haut Vaucluse, the hills of Uchaux conceal a little-known heritage: a chapel and 13th-century "castellas" surrounded by forests and vineyards offering quality wines await you.

Technical sheet

n°993460
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 115 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 118 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 157 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 44 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the library in the hamlet of Uchaux-La Galle.

(S/E) Head to the town hall square, where you will find the Bistrot de Pays "Les Acacias". Walk down towards the school to pick up the yellow PR® trail markers.

(1) The street quickly turns into a path. Continue straight ahead to reach a small road and follow it to the left (private property on the right).

(2) At the crossroads, go straight ahead, leaving thePR®, and reach the D172. Make a quick first turn right then left to head towards the hamlet of Les Vincenty. Cross the hamlet and continue to the next crossroads.

(3) Turn right twice and cross a small bridge. On your left is Château Simian, a biodynamic wine estate that is well worth a visit and... a tasting! Continue straight ahead, noting the shed on your left and the old well.

(4) At the junction with the D172, turn opposite. Follow theGRP® markings by turning right, opposite a small area reserved for boules players. Fork over the Riou. Go around the vineyard on the right and follow the Riou on your left until you reach the ruins of Moulinas on your right (an old flour mill). Go up behind Moulinas to rejoin the road and theGRP® markings, which you follow to the left. The road turns into a track and then a path.

(5) Leave the marked path before crossing the Riou and take a well-marked path on the right through the forest to reach the D74.

(6) Cross the D74, follow it a few metres to the right and rejoin theGRP® on the left (track). Follow the track, join and cross the road (D11). Continue for a few metres and then turn left. Climb up to the old chapel and the Castelas.

(7) Go around Castelas on the right and take the path on the right that descends into the forest. Cross the ruins of the old village and, when you reach the path, descend to the right via Chemin Voie Romaine to join the D11.

(8) At the D11, continue left, walk alongside the cemetery and take the second right, Rue de l'Église, to reach the small square you crossed at the start. Turn right at the post office to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 91 m - Uchaux La Galle car park, in front of the library
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 88 m - Straight ahead on the PR
  3. 2 : km 1.13 - alt. 53 m - Go straight ahead, leave the PR
  4. 3 : km 2.59 - alt. 45 m - Crossroads, turn right towards the bridge
  5. 4 : km 3.42 - alt. 51 m - Crossroads (D172), straight ahead
  6. 5 : km 4.89 - alt. 75 m - Turn right (not signposted)
  7. 6 : km 5.72 - alt. 92 m - Road, on the right
  8. 7 : km 6.86 - alt. 156 m - Le Castelas
  9. 8 : km 7.66 - alt. 93 m - D11, on the left
  10. S/E : km 8.04 - alt. 91 m - Uchaux La Galle car park, in front of the library

Practical information

Bistrot de Pays in Uchaux-La Galle.
Picnic table at Saint-Michel Chapel.

In the nearby area

Château Simian: biodynamic wine estate.
Remains of the "Le Moulinas" flour mill.
Chapelle Saint-Michel (Romanesque art).
Le Castelas (13th-century medieval castle).

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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

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Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 23 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Tricastine
Tricastine
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A bit too much walking but an easy hike, sunshine and woods. You can see a chapel with picnic areas and the castle.

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Serge627
Serge627

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Journey to point 4, all clear
Did not see the change of direction at the boules court.
Then a firebreak track takes us away from the route.
Return via the Mérindol stud farm, Cros path to point 6.
Then take the Mornas road, D74, and head straight to the car park. Forgot points 7 and 8.
Total 13km and without GPS.

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Grappa26
Grappa26

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

the first part on tarmac after leaving the path, which has been rebuilt and widened on the outskirts of the village, is less pleasant than the rest of the route along the stream in the undergrowth and the climb to the castle, where you can enjoy magnificent Provençal scenery. Having known the area for several years, I didn't encounter any major problems as I walk there regularly. Thank you to the author.

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grahawi
grahawi ★

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A lovely walk, not spectacular but very pleasant. Thanks to the author.
A few comments regarding orientation:
1. The school is not visible from the town hall square. You have to take the path that passes to the right of the grocery store.
2. Do not rely on the GRP markings, which I could not find in some places where they are mentioned in the text (and in one place they prohibit the path that you have to take according to the GPS track, which is actually the right one!).
3. I have the impression that the Castelas descent path must have been redone recently, as the first part does not correspond at all to the GPS track. On the other hand, point 7 of the text is well worded, except that it might be necessary to specify that it is the path that descends steeply to the right that you should take.

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Christian FRAYSSE
Christian FRAYSSE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful hike,
An opportunity to discover CASTELAS and its chapel

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Guiylaine
Guiylaine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

This is the second time we've walked around Uchaux; I really like this place.
the start of the walk along the small road is interesting because of the fortified towns and the views, but it's a shame that it's only a road!
What a pleasure it was to follow the path this time, accompanied by the sound of the stream.
Our adult children loved Castelas and the beauty of the site with its view of Mont Ventoux

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lolopat84
lolopat84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant route, with a bit of road at the start, but then beautiful paths through the woods.

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chris84
chris84

You're welcome! Thank you for your appreciation. :-)

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FeedoRando
FeedoRando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Hello, this route is really very pleasant and not particularly difficult. The castelas are surprising and the café restaurant terrace was a welcome respite at the end of this walk, which was done in the cool of the evening given that it was summer. Thank you for mapping out the route and sharing it.

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chris84
chris84

Thank you very much for this information regarding the work in progress.
I will go and see for myself shortly so that I can amend my description if necessary.
In any case, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself!

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Francine84
Francine84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Please note: work on the riverbed is making the start of this hike difficult. Otherwise, it is a pleasant route, especially from point 4 onwards. Enjoy exploring and visiting Castelas.

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chris84
chris84

Thank you for your comment. It is indeed better to view this route on a map beforehand, as it is not always signposted, so a GPS is welcome...

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Michel FRERY
Michel FRERY

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

The route description lacks precision; fortunately, the GPS function associated with the circuit is very accurate and does indeed make signposting unnecessary, but you mustn't run out of battery power.

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jean2669
jean2669

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

small problem with the description in this section:
At the crossroads, go straight ahead, leaving the PR® and reaching the D172.
++!!!''__Make a quick right-left turn to head towards the hamlet of Vincenty.
Cross the hamlet and continue to the next crossroads.
(3) Turn right twice, cross a small bridge++''.__ On your left you will find
is "Château Simian", a biodynamic wine estate, which is worth visiting and..
taste! Continue straight ahead, noting the shed on your left and
the old well.
(4) At the junction with the D172, turn opposite.
not clear: cross the hamlet and continue in which direction? The right turn is not close to the hamlet
the small bridge is 1 km after the hamlet

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chris84
chris84

Thank you!

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