A loop which poses no problems so can be undertaken with children to discover a dovecote which is still in a good state.
Access : At Manosque, take the Voix road (D4096), then turn left to take the Chemin de Valverane and follow it to the end. Park on the left at the entrance of the ancient Gaude mines.
(D/A) Head north-westwards until you reach a path. Take the left, going through the barrier. Take this path alongside the amenities, leave the path to the right until you meet a fork in the path (1).
Leave the path, head towards the right at a right angle and take the small path heading east-south-eastwards. Climb this path which zigzags up and leads to a large path (2).
Take the left and carry on for 400 m up to the start of another path on the left (3). ("_be careful not to miss this path_"). Follow this path which curves to the left and leads to another path on a sharp bend.
Take the path on the right for 200 m until you arrive at a wooden post with a green band at the top situated on the left (4). Turn left on to the path which is poorly marked at the start. At the T-junction, veer towards the right to discover a magnificent dovecote (5). Turn around and go down the path which leads back to the path.
Turn right, passing the big bend, then take the path on the right. Head downwards to join the path a few metres from the point (1).
Take the path on the right and follow the outward route in the opposite direction back to the car park (D/A).
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 456m
1 : km 1.09 - alt. 507m - Fork in the paths, take the path to the right
2 : km 1.95 - alt. 589m - Large path, to the left
3 : km 2.35 - alt. 623m - Path on the left
4 : km 3.04 - alt. 618m - Wooden post with a green band
5 : km 3.17 - alt. 620m - Dovecote
D/A : km 5.21 - alt. 457m
As usual, hiking shoes and water.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
You park at the entrance to the ancient Gaude mines mines de Gaude where you will find a sign with information about the mine. It is located next to an underground gas reserve, one of the biggest in France.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.