Between Lagnes and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

A trek between Lagnes and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on typical Provençal trails.

Details

212903
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.00 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 426 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 422 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 330 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 77 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on "Place de la Mairie" (lots of spaces).

Yellow Waymarks
(S/F) Head up "Rue de la République" on the left leading to the village square. Take a slight right onto Rue Montante which turns into Chemin des Groubelles. Remain on Chemin des Groubelles at the first crossroads and continue the climb towards the D100.
Head left on the road then immediately right onto the path towards "Tête du Soldat" waymark.

(1) Keep going along the path (MV100) which starts to head uphill. Ignore the "Soldat" crossroads reaching La Pleithe waymark 100 m further.

(2) Head right towards "les Esperacons". At a crossing, leave the path, continue on the other side and head off to the right on a trail (crossing not displayed on the map) reaching a ledge near another crossing (crossing not displayed on the map). Ignore the trail on the right and continue straight over 10 m reaching another fork. Take a left leading to "Les Esperacons" waymark.

(3) Turn right towards "Vallon des Esperacons" (small valley), the trail offers stunning views. The trip downhill, easy at first, becomes steeper and slippery before reaching "Vallon des Esperacons" waymark (displaced on the map).

Red and White Waymarks
Turn left towards Valette and start heading down the valley. After about 700 m, the trail heads off to the right and crosses a dry stream bed reaching Valette waymark near the D100a.

(4) Go right towards Font de l'Oule on a trail heading along the D100auntil a small car park and Font de l'Oule waymark.

(5) Head off to the right towards La Pouraque following the uphill path. After about 350 m, you'll reach a large crossroads. Ignore the two paths heading up to the right and take a left onto a path going around the rocky spur.

Blue Waymarks
During the climb, locate a beautiful "borie" (provençal term for a dry-stone hut). Once you reach a ledge, ignore a small trail heading up to the right (not on the map) and keep going on the path. Start a downhill hike, ignore another trail a bit further down (not on the map) and reach Château des Évêques ruins.

(6) Follow the trail on the left of the edifice heading straight down towards the village. Careful, some areas are a bit tricky (steps cut into the rock). The trail continues and winds through houses until Avenue Pétrarque.

Red and White Waymarks
(7) Go immediately right and go through "le passage Arquà Petrarca" leading to the banks of the river Sorgue.
In high season, you can visit the François Pétrarque Museum and Library (closed from November 1st to March 19th). Go back to the avenue heading off to the right to cross Sorgue River.

Yellow Waymarks
Keep heading right on Chemin de la Fontaine, a lovely promenade leading to "le gouffre de Fontaine-de-Vaucluse" (8).
Head back on the same path and turn left, crossing Sorgue River again.

Red and White Waymarks
At the start of the turn, just opposite where the castle path (chemin du château) ends, take a right under Avenue Pétrarque Archways so as not to walk on the lane. At the end of the archways, walk along the edge of the road, go past a large car park and ignore Montée du Guérisseur on the left.
Further ahead, ignore Route Touristique de Gordes on the left and carry on another 20 m. Cross the road reaching "Les Bastides Ouest" waymark.

Red and Yellow Waymarks
(9) Leave the road and head left towards Bondelon. The path will head off to the right above the houses.
At the start on a concrete section, ignore the trail on the left then reaching a fork on an esplanade. Go left on a larger path heading uphill reaching a ledge near some ruins.
Keep going straight, ignoring trailheads on the left until a crossroads. Head right reaching a signpost for Bondelon.

(10) Follow the tarmac road on the left leading to La Bastide Rouge. Pass between two properties leading to La Bastide Rouge waymark post.

''Red and Yellow + Orange Waymarks"
Leave the road and continue on the path on the other side. Be careful, at this stage the waymarks are confusing as a Yellow cross casts some doubt. Continue along the forest trail and go past a lovely property. About 100 m further, locate a rogations cross to the left just before reaching the road (D100a).

(11) Head off to the right reaching Basse Carpiane waymark 10 m after. Leave the road to the right and take the trail heading uphill to the left, towards Lagnes. Go past a beautiful house, go along a dry-stone wall, walk between the houses and leave the road to the left.
Keep going another 100 m and go for a quick round-trip to see a beautiful "borie" (typical provençal dry-stone hut) on a well-marked trail to the right. Go back to the main path and turn right heading down towards the road (D186). Head right down the road for 100 m arriving in front of n°427.

(12) Ignore "chemin du Cimetière" to the right and the road leading to Lagnes on the left. Instead take the path on the other side which bypasses the house to the right. Continue on this path with stunning views over L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue leading to "château de Lagnes".
Take a right, then immediately left passing under a portico; follow "Rue Venteuse".At the next crossroads, keep to that road until n°57 (house with miniature "bories").

Turn right and after a short walk downhill, head off to the left down a lane and follow the stairs on the right. At Rue des Remparts, go left reaching Rue de la République. Head right down the road reaching the car park (S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 117 m - Parking Place de la Mairie
  2. 1 : km 0.82 - alt. 180 m - The Soldier's Head
  3. 2 : km 2.08 - alt. 285 m - La Pleithe
  4. 3 : km 2.67 - alt. 325 m - The Esperacons
  5. 4 : km 3.84 - alt. 158 m - Valette
  6. 5 : km 4.44 - alt. 117 m - Font de l'Oule
  7. 6 : km 5.63 - alt. 139 m - Château des Evèques
  8. 7 : km 5.84 - alt. 80 m - Avenue Pétrarque - Sorgue (rivière)
  9. 8 : km 6.8 - alt. 104 m - Fontaine de Vaucluse
  10. 9 : km 8.05 - alt. 77 m - Les Bastides Ouest
  11. 10 : km 9.34 - alt. 191 m - Bondelon
  12. 11 : km 10.29 - alt. 182 m - Lower Carpiane
  13. 12 : km 11.23 - alt. 149 m - 427 Route Touristique de Cabrières
  14. S/E : km 12 - alt. 117 m - Parking Place de la Mairie

Notes

Water points and catering at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 61 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
rando843063
rando843063

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 26, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk. A beautiful view of the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse. I recommend this walk. Do it with the app. It's very easy. To be continued.

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srgdcs
srgdcs

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A route with significant elevation changes, the hills are tough but easy because they are wide and well ventilated. There are a few downhill sections or single tracks that need to be negotiated with caution, but overall it is a very beautiful route with a halfway point at the Fontaine du Vaucluse, a remarkable spot in the region. I recommend it.

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alliaudhenri@gmail.com
alliaudhenri@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant and relatively easy route. Note that after the uphill street, at the crossroads, continue along the Route du Chat. Take care on the descent from the castle to Fontaine de Vaucluse. We thoroughly enjoyed this hike. Henri and Evelyne.

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BOUCHER
BOUCHER

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant 3-hour walk, mainly on tracks (outside villages), with no particular difficulties and a very reasonable gradient. The route is well signposted and easy to follow. Visits to the ruins of the Château des Evêques, which offers a fine view over the village of Fontaines de Vaucluse, and the unmissable spring are real added extras.

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Unocaminarello
Unocaminarello

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very, very beautiful hike, perfectly explained, with no orientation difficulties. A real treat!

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hervevisorando
hervevisorando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, a must, with a varied itinerary and magnificent viewpoints.
The route is not too busy except for Fontaine de Vaucluse, but at the moment the fountain is well worth the diversions.
We are sorry that Slinky has left the Vaucluse and that he no longer offers us such beautiful walks.
Best regards Slinky.
Hervé

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cabonine
cabonine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Walk in fine weather. Easy route with beautiful views and interesting features such as the fountain and the magnificent drystone shelter.

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M.maurice
M.maurice

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a nice hike, but I'd advise doing it in the opposite direction because the descent from the castle to the fountain is short but I think quite dangerous, with no ropes and only 1 ladder, which isn't very stable. At the moment the fountain is very low, even at the edge of the chasm you can't see the water.

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Cabanial
Cabanial

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk in the shade.

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godillot1
godillot1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An interesting route for both the variety of terrain and the tourist interest.

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ThierrySca
ThierrySca

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

There is enough shade to leave after lunch (although there are a few uphill sections in the sun).
The variation to reach the chasm by the path is very superb
The return is different but still very nice
Thank you very much.

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francisjoellatie
francisjoellatie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike on 6 March, the map and signposting are very easy to read, allowing you to enjoy the scenery at your leisure.

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Les copines de rando
Les copines de rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty walk from start to finish, with a variety of paths and landscapes. Passing through charming little villages, ruins, heath and superb viewpoints.
Very well signposted and accessible to all.
A 4-hour walk, including a photo break and a 40-minute lunch break.

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Pierrau
Pierrau

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, no particular difficulty, pleasant terrain, well signposted on the whole.

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cornilletou
cornilletou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk 👍😍 very pleasant with a large shaded part 😉
Good walking shoes are required for some sections as they are quite slippery.
Arriving at the ruin above the Fontaine de Vaucluse, a very steep section 😏

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