Gordes walks

A beautiful, easy hike that takes you to some of the most beautiful sites in the Luberon, including the villages of Gordes and Les Bories and Sénanque Abbey.

Loop around Gordes and its dry stone dwellings, through the valley of Sénancole and its unique Sénanque Abbey.

The seventh stage brings this week-long hike through the enchanting Luberon region to a close. The route leads to the village of Gordes, perched on a rocky outcrop, where the dry-stone buildings, winding paved slanting streets and its proud, imposing castle reveal all the charm of these Provençal villages that have weathered centuries of conflict. It then heads to the magnificent Sénanque Abbey, peacefully nestled in a valley; its simple Romanesque architecture, built of grey limestone, is set off by the contrast of a vast field of lavender. Through the woods of the Vaucluse Plateau, he visits the charming little village of Saumane-de-Vaucluse, perched on a rocky outcrop and protected by its fortified castle, now converted into a bastion. He then descends to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to admire the mighty resurgence of the Sorgue de Velleron, before returning to the car park where he started.

Circular route north of Gordes with a viewpoint overlooking Sénanque Abbey.

A very pleasant short hike on good paths, surrounded by abundant and varied vegetation, including a cedar forest. Extensive view of the Calavon valley with the Luberon as a backdrop.

The walk starts near Gordes (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France) and passes through the Véroncle gorge to Murs and its castle. A very pleasant, energetic walk in the ravine of the Véroncle gorges, discovering the remains of old mills from different periods along the way. There are a few ladders and ropes, and an old sluice shaft that cannot be avoided.

The route leads up the Véroncle canyon then down the south-facing slopes of the Monts de Vaucluse.

The Gordes Maquis Trail is a suggested walking route between Gordes and Sénanque, commemorating the local activities of the Secret Army during the Second World War… all set against an exceptional natural backdrop. A few information boards are dotted along the route. As well as its historical significance and natural beauty, a brief stroll through the narrow streets and sights of Gordes, together with the magnificent setting of Sénanque Abbey, make this a must-do walk.The term ‘revisited’ in the title simply means that the route is not exactly the one suggested by local organisations, as it is here in the opposite direction – starting from Sénanque rather than Gordes – and does not follow the suggested route exactly. The detour via Les Dilais offers a splendid view of the Gorges de la Sénancole.

A beautiful walk, mainly through the woods (so shaded), with some lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Part of the walk is not signposted, so I recommend following your GPS, especially when taking the small path that leads to the farm, and then for the section between leaving theGR® and rejoining the wide track after the lavender field.

A very pleasant loop in a varied and, in places, wild landscape, offering beautiful views of Sénanque Abbey and Mont Ventoux.

A lovely walk sheltered by the trees and cliffs of La Sénancole.

Starting from Saint-Pantaléon-de-Gordes, where you mustn't forget to visit the small Romanesque church with its rock necropolis, this is an easy little circular route that winds through the undergrowth and between traditional Provençal dry stone walls. Numerous drystone shelters line the route, some accessible, others on private property. Walkers can also discover the remains of an old Jas and, well hidden in an oak forest, the longest drystone shelter in Provence, which is in perfect condition. A private path is available for the respectful use of hikers and cyclists, excluding all motor vehicles. The app's GPS is highly recommended on this route.

An easy walk between two magnificent villages in the Monts de Vaucluse, Joucas and Murs.

Starting from the Trois Termes car park, situated at the first road junction north of Sénanque Abbey, this circular walk takes you through the heath on the Vaucluse plateau. The route runs alongside a historic section of the famous Plague Wall on two occasions. Wide, easy paths, occasionally rocky trails, and just 350 metres of tarmac.

A very, very beautiful circular hike (technical in places) through wild gorges with varied and pleasant paths that alternate between woodland, a hamlet, pools in the Véroncle riverbed and mills in picturesque gorges. At the request of some hikers, I have classified this hike as ‘difficult’ Allow 5 hours for this hike, not 3 hours 45 minutes as indicated.Do not attempt this with a dog, nor in or after rainy weather, nor in excessively hot weather. Read the reviews.

A very beautiful and dynamic hike through the Véroncle Gorges and its four famous water mills. Climbing up these gorges, sometimes with the help of ladders or knotted ropes, is a real pleasure. The exit from the gorges leads to a sunny, stony plateau where you can take a well-deserved break. The return from Murs to Joucas via Notre-Dame du Salut will round off this original hike that you will certainly never forget.

A lovely circular loop with no particular difficulties in the hills above Cabrières d'Avignon. The end of the walk follows the Plague Wall. Best avoided during periods of high heat as there is little shade.

From Cabrières-d'Avignon, this is a nice circle route leading to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse going along the Wall of the Plague (Mur de la Peste) and passing by Fontaine-de-Vaucluse castle.

A lovely circular loop between Cabrières-d’Avignon and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, taking you through varied landscapes and offering magnificent views of the Sorgue.

This is a beautiful circular route that takes you along wide, shaded paths to the summit of Mourre de la Belle Étoile, which rises above Fontaine-de-Vaucluse at 673 m. The return journey can be combined with two other hikes, depending on whether you want to return as directly as possible or continue exploring the region's rich history.

A short trail to discover the hidden attractions of the western part of Cabrières d'Avignon: olive groves, vineyards, hills, cedars, the Plague Wall (the "Mur de la Peste")

The plague wall was built in 1720 to protect the Comtat Venaissin from the plague that was ravaging Marseille. This 27 km long dry stone wall was guarded day and night. Guard posts can be seen all along the wall. For 17 months, the plague did not cross this wall.

A short trail to discover the hidden attractions of the upper part of Cabrières d'Avignon: the distinctive architecture of the village houses, porticos and dry-stone walls, fountains and wash-houses, the cedar forest. It also includes Léopold Truc's "paradise", stone shelters ("bories") and olive groves.

A short route to discover the history and remains of the Plague Wall.

A pleasant circuit, partly in the shade of the forest, to discover many very well-preserved stone huts (“bories”) and splendid olive groves.

If you want a challenging circular with handrails, cables, etc. On the programme: descent of the Gorges de La Véroncle with some of its ruined mills and ascent of the Combe de Vaumale.

Be prepared to visit the caves on all fours or even crawling, but it's worth the detour. A little dusty clay, a few harmless bats, but a magnificent sight once inside. So avoid wearing a suit and opt for less easily soiled clothing. The rest of the walk will offer you generous sunshine and all along the trail you can see the Combe Denca and the Luberon in the distance and even Sainte-Beaume. The hike takes you along small paths lined with holm oaks, thyme and rosemary.

Lovely hike without much difficulty. After climbing uphill for just under a kilometre, just enough time to reach an altitude of 700 m, where the the panoramic view of Lubéron with its lowlands and further below the valley behind Murs, opens up to you. Just for your enjoyment, this view will last for more than 4 km. The majority of the circular hike is through forest paths.