Prébayon Abbey and the Bishops’ Cypresses as seen from Vaison-La-Romaine

Park in the large car park downstream of the Roman bridge.

(S/E) Cross this thousand-year-old bridge, turn left after the bridge and, a few dozen metres further on to the right, you’ll find a footpath.

(1) Take this path, the Chemin de la Frigaulière, which begins with a steep climb, and follow it until you join the Chemin des Bois Communaux.

(2) Turn left and continue for a good while along this tarmac road. Start the gentle climb.

(3) At the sharp left-hand bend at the top of the valley, turn right onto the forest track. Pass a hairpin bend and you’ll soon reach a T-junction.

(4) Take the path on the left that leads uphill; it becomes stony. Carry on without leaving this forest track.

(5) At the junction with the stony track, turn right and carry on to the Croix de la Verrière.

(6) Carry on to the right for 300 m until you reach La Verrière.

(7) Keep left at the three-way junction and head towards the Cyprès des Évêques.

(8) Turn right, ignore the track on the left and carry on, keeping the vineyards on your right,

(9) At the top of the path, veer right, heading down between the vineyards and then through the woodland until you reach the crossroads.

(10) Head down the steep, technical little path on the right for about a hundred metres, cross the bridge at Prébayon Monastery and take the small path directly opposite. The ride is then fairly easy and pleasant. Follow the Ravin de Prébayon on your left until you reach a stony track.

(11) Head up the road on the right towards Côte Chaude as far as La Combe and the junction with the forest track,

(12) Turn right and continue along this stony track (^GR® 4). Follow it, ignoring the side paths on either side, until you reach La Verrière.

(7) Turn left, heading in the opposite direction to the way you came, for 300 m until you reach the Croix de la Verrière.

(6) Carry on straight ahead until you reach Les Faysses.

(13) Turn sharply left and head down the Chemin des Fontaines. Continue down the slope; there is a lovely viewpoint at the bottom. Return to the starting path.

(2) Turn right and head back down the Chemin de Frigoulière.

(1) Cross the road, then the Roman bridge, and head right, down below, to the car park (S/E).

A few short technical sections and plenty of forest tracks.

Ruins of Prebayon Monastery. Château du Crestet orientation board