Double circular route from Saint-Gens to Sénanques

Park at the oratory below the Saint-Gens spring.

(S/E) Head south towards the spring, which is signposted at the side of the road.

(1) After the spring, take the^GR®91trail, also marked in brown and yellow. Gradually, the path becomes steeper and heads between two rocks framing the valley. Pass between them and then begin a gentler slope through the box trees, which were spared from the moth infestation in 2019. Tackle another slope to reach the Rocher des Trois Luisants.

(2) Turn left towards Fontaine de Vaucluse. Leave the path on the left framed by rocks marked in green. Continue straight ahead. You will reach the Trois Luisants crossroads.

(3) Keep going straight ahead towards Senanques. You will reach the junction of^{the GR®} and^GRP® Sentier Historique du Mur de la Peste at a place called La Plaine.

(4) Continue straight ahead on the^GR® 6 and 97, crossing a small grassy area and following the sign for "Abbaye de Senanques, 5 km". Another narrow path flanked by greenery. Go through the barrier, which makes the passage more difficult, but stay on the^GR®, which widens.

Continue straight ahead at the intersections with paths leading off to the left. Cross a wide service road and continue straight ahead on a footpath. Join a wide, gently sloping path and follow it downhill to the left for about 100 metres before taking a footpath on the right, marked^GR®. You will then come to a cairn.

(5) Take the path on the left; further down, the^GR® turns right. Then a canyon opens up on the left, with an impressive rock face. Below, houses and a road appear. After descending the rock face and then through the forest, you will reach this road, the D177. Cross it carefully and keep to the well-marked^{GR® trail} opposite, which cuts across the bend. You will reach the entrance to the Senanques Abbey estate.

(6) Go through the gate and turn right towards the abbey. Take the road that runs alongside it on the left, signposted: Église abbatiale, Communauté, Hôtellerie monastique. A statue of the Virgin Mary marks the entrance to the path.

(7) Behind it, climb the hairpin bend to the left towards Gordes. (No markings).
The path climbs up the hillside and, after a right-hand bend, runs along a balcony above the abbey and then its valley. You will find^GR® markings^again. Join the D177 at Côte de Senancole.

(8) Leave the^GR® here and take the path on the right marked Les Dilais and signposted in yellow. It descends very gently into the undergrowth, then along a balcony to reach Les Dilais.

(9) Take the small path on the right towards La Senancole.
Caution here: Be very careful on this very steep descent, crossing scree and exposed rocks, but it is very well marked.
At the bottom of the gorge, climb up the opposite slope, still following the yellow markings accompanied by blue dots. Stay close to the bottom of the valley until you reach the Sénancole stream.

(10) Turn right towards La Pouraque and Les Boujolles, following the yellow markings. Begin a gentle climb through the more open undergrowth. Pass to the right of a large rock.
Pay attention to the markings at the forks that follow, which will take you to the hamlet of Les Boujolles. Cross it via the main path until you reach the signpost marked Les Boujolles.

(11) Turn right, then left at the next intersection, and right again. The yellow markings leave no room for doubt. When you reach a wide forest track, turn right and head north. Stay on this track, ignoring the private track on the left that leads to the Chalet des Colets, then another on the right, which is the Piste du Resquelet. Continue north to reach the Puits des Cayères.

(12) Keep heading north and begin a long, gradual climb. You will reach the Suéi crossroads and rejoin the^GRP® du Mur de la Peste.

(13) Head opposite towards La Pouraque, on the wide ridge path marked in yellow and red. You will then reach the La Plaine crossroads you passed on the way there.

(4) Turn left and follow the same route as on the way out until you reach the Rocher des Trois Luisants crossroads.

(2) Leave the path you took on the way up on your right and head straight ahead to quickly reach the Bourguigne sign at the crossroads.

(14) Take the^GRP® des Monts de Vaucluse trail on the right, marked in red and yellow. At the next crossroads after the quarries, leave the^GRP® and turn right to return to the Oratoire de Saint-Gens car park (S/E).

(S/E) You can fill your water bottle at the fountain.
Good walking shoes and walking sticks are necessary: the paths are often stony.

Good physical condition and experience of "alpine" type trails is preferable, especially between (9) and (10) (steep slope with cliffs).

Refrain from walking in case of rain or threatening storms.

Bring plenty of water (this is the south). As indicated, you can fill your water bottle before setting off from the hamlet of Saint Gens, or buy bottles halfway along the route at the abbey.

- The Saint Gens spring.
- Sénanques Abbey, especially when the lavender is in bloom
- Nearby Gordes is a highlight of the Luberon.