Discovery tour of Oppède-le-Vieux

Start : Parking de Sainte-Cécile. (Fee apply)

(S/E) Go behind the "guérite" and take the footpath going uphill towards the village. On the right-hand side you can find some "restanques" (terraces maintained by stoned walls). Take the stairs made of stones to go from one another. You will find signposts describing species of trees and shrubs you can find in the area.

Go up until you reach the old "aire de battage", then turn left towards the orientation table. From here you have a magnificent viewpoint of the valley and the mountains in the distance. Carry on along the path towards the village.

(1) When you reach a paved road, turn right (South-West) and walk downhill towards houses. At the junction, in the center of the old village, walk straight ahead and pass under the porch. Walk along the "calade", an old cobbled street, winding between houses.

(2) At the junction, bear right (South-West) towards the chapel. You will walk along the remains of ancient troglodyte houses. Some vaults are still visible. When you reach the chapel, turn left (South-East) and carry on up hill until you get to the top of the village and the Collegiale Notre-Dame d'Alydon. From the public square, you will have a magnificent view of the Ventoux.

(3) Carry on a little further to the castle ruins, which is being restored and then retrace your steps. On the way back down, take the path straight away on the right going under the "collegiate" and stay on the main path.

(2) Follow the path on the left (already taken on the way up) which leads you to the chapel. When you reach the chapel, this time, turn right on the path which will bring you back to the center of the village (place de la croix). Walk straight ahead along "rue du Portalet" going past the front of the covered market (1732) and as you go downhill admire a SATOR square called "carré magique" (you normally find those squares in Pompeii's ruins), then walk back to go up to the path towards Ste Cécile. Walk back on the path straight ahead where you came from before and go up the alley along houses.

(1) At the top of the alley, stay on your right-hand side and follow the Chemin de Sainte-Cécile going past the left-hand side of the cemetery. Go downhill through the woodland, be careful, the leaves can be slippery when wet, and walk until you reach the road (D178).

Turn left (North) and walk for 50 meters or so along the road. At the junction, take the dirt road on the left (West) and walk along the fields. Keep the main dirt road until you reach Oppède-le-Vieux paved road.

Turn left twice to find stairs and a path that will bring you back to the car park (S/E).

Start : Parking de Sainte-Cécile.

Parking : Leave your car on the large obligatory car park located at the bottom of the old village, Parking de Sainte-Cécile. Please note this parking lot is not free of charge, depending on the season.

Terrain : Be careful when descending in the woodland: the leaves hide flat stones and roots which can be slippery when wet.

The village of Oppède-le-Vieux