The Saint-Pierre Chapel and the discreet demoiselles coiffées of Théus

There is a lovely view of the Remollon plain during the climb, followed by a wild descent after the Saint-Pierre Chapel.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 481 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 480 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,236 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 783 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking near the Vallaunia stream bridge (below the village of Théus).

(S/E) From the car park by the bridge, go down the path that runs alongside the stream and take a path on the right 100 m further down. Cross the stream bed, continue along the path to the entrance to the field and cross it directly, turning left to rejoin the path at the corner of the field.
Cross the next stream and follow the path, which becomes a trail higher up, until you reach the intersection (altitude 1,140 m).

(1) Continue climbing, turning right, then, at the next hairpin bend, turn left and continue to the altitude of 1236 m (junction with the tarmac road).

(2) Follow the tarmac road to the right and descend to a cistern.

(3) Continue along the road for about 150 m until you reach the Saint-Pierre Chapel.

(4) Return to the cistern.

(3) Take the path on the left, which quickly leads to an orchard. Continue straight ahead along the hedge, then follow the path around the corner of the field to reach the Jean Claux building.

(5) Go straight down below the building (south) and take the path on the left-hand side of the meadow. At the next hairpin bend, if you go down into the trees (for 30 metres), you can get a closer look at the cluster of demoiselles coiffées that you could see from above.
The path continues with two small hairpin bends to reach the clearly visible ridge.

(6) At the end of the ridge, do not continue along the steep path but turn left (cairn). Weave through the trees and descend diagonally to the left (small cairns) to reach the meadow, 50 m lower down.
Walk along the top of the meadow and descend to the lowest point on the left to find the path. Follow it, keeping to this trajectory, until you reach the corner of a platform that you will see at the last moment.

(7) From there, follow the path to the left. Cross the stream and continue along the small path that climbs up to the village of Théus. Once you reach the square, take the road that descends to the right, passing by the bar-restaurant, and follow it to the bridge over the Vallaunia stream (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 813 m - Bridge over the Vallaunia stream
  2. 1 : km 1.87 - alt. 1,142 m - Track on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.55 - alt. 1,236 m - Tarmac road
  4. 3 : km 4.45 - alt. 1,117 m - Cistern
  5. 4 : km 4.6 - alt. 1,119 m - Chapelle Saint-Pierre (Théus)
  6. 5 : km 5.34 - alt. 1,068 m - Path on the left at the edge of the meadow
  7. 6 : km 5.78 - alt. 984 m - On the left in front of the cairn
  8. 7 : km 6.27 - alt. 864 m - On the left at the corner of the platform
  9. S/E : km 7.26 - alt. 814 m - Bridge over the Vallaunia stream

Notes

There are no springs or fountains along the route.
The streams may be difficult to cross during periods of heavy rain.

Worth a visit

At the Jean Claux building, the GPS track follows the path to see the three demoiselles coiffées (rock formations) on the slopes at the end of the field.

The village bar and restaurant is worth a quick stop, with a terrace offering magnificent views and a small grocery shop.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
chris05
chris05

Hello User 186627
Thank you for your feedback!
Yes, vegetation always tends to gain ground!
Enjoy your hike!
Christian

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User 186627

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, not very busy, with lovely views.
One small downside, as already mentioned: the route is not always easy to find (thank goodness for the app that tracks our location!), and we sometimes cross meadows, paths or woods where vegetation has reclaimed some of its space, or a slightly slippery ridge.
But we managed to 'close the circular loop'.

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chris05
chris05

Hello vgasquet
Thank you for your positive feedback.
It's always nice to hear that you enjoyed the hike!
We wish you all the best with your hiking.
Christian

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vgasquet
vgasquet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty route offering lovely views and wonderful encounters with young ladies. Chamois can be seen in the distance – it's a paradise for them! No particular difficulties. Thank you very much for this pleasant route.

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chris05
chris05

Hello Manu from Aix
Thank you for your feedback!
I'll try to take a look at the issue and improve it.

Happy hiking!

Christian

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Manu d'Aix
Manu d'Aix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very varied hike with a beautiful, wild climb and spectacular views.
One small drawback: during the descent between points 6 and 7, it is easy to get confused between several well-marked trails.
Thanks for the comment from Emmanuel G2, we took our walking sticks: not a luxury!
And thank you to chris05.

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chris05
chris05

Hello Emmanuel
Thank you for your positive feedback, it's much appreciated!

Best regards
Christian

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Emmanuel G2.
Emmanuel G2.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent hike,
I recommend it, don't forget your camera.
A walking stick and good shoes are essential.

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chris05
chris05

Hello Lapin....
Thank you for the feedback
Yes, there is a small section of tarmac! But at low altitudes, there are often sections of road to enable you to complete circular walks.

All the best
Christian

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Lapinounounours
Lapinounounours
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello and thank you to Christian,

Hike completed on 25 March 2023 ( ).

To confirm the wild nature of the descent, after point 5, you follow a ridge line (too) close to the ravine where the demoiselles coiffées (hooded ladies) are located. If you are prone to vertigo, even though the passage is not dangerous, it may be uncomfortable for some.

Half of the route between points 2 and 3 is on tarmac, which makes it less interesting. The chapel is basically just an open altar.

To avoid making a negative comment, we discovered these demoiselles coiffées, which we are not used to seeing, and the climb offers some interesting views of the Durance valley, particularly the "Trois Lacs".

A good early-season hike to get your legs going.

Thank you for the descriptive work.

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chris05
chris05

Good evening, patemdrun

Thank you for your positive feedback!

Have a great summer hiking season
Christian

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patembrun
patembrun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Thank you for this lovely walk. It was very varied and allowed us to discover the very interesting site of Théus.

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chris05
chris05

Good evening, B-ron
Thank you for your overall positive feedback!

The pin is just after point no. 5, and I think you're counting the one above it (no big deal)!
Yes, finishing on the road isn't very glorious after such a beautiful circular, but for the guidebook I had no other choice!
When I'm alone, I continue the descent more or less along the edge of the stream, but at the end it's a bit wild!

Thanks again and happy hiking!

Christian

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B-ron
B-ron
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike with beautiful views of the Remollon plain, the surrounding mountains and, above all, the Demoiselles Coiffées rock formations.

Things I liked:
- the climb up a small path through the woods.
- The view of the Demoiselles Coiffées and its surprising geological formations. At point 5 of the route, don't hesitate to descend through the trees as recommended, it's really worth it (note that this is at the second hairpin bend, not the first).
- The fact that it's a very quiet route (I didn't meet anyone).
- There is a nice little bar at the finish in Théus where you can have a drink (if it's open, of course).

Things I didn't like:
- Part of the route (quite long) is too urbanised for my liking, following first a track and then a tarmac road that passes through houses and fields. Fortunately, the view is beautiful.
- The route passes through private property (farmland). You literally have to cross the field at the start, so depending on the time of year, there may be crops growing, in which case you'll have to go around. I don't know what the local farmers are like, but they might not appreciate people walking through their land.

Useful information:
- The start is at the car park just before the bridge over the Vallauria stream and not, as indicated on the map, at the hairpin bend a little further up.
- At times, there are no paths and you may be unsure which direction to take, but you will eventually find your way. There is very little risk of taking the wrong path.
- Be careful on the descent (especially in wet weather), particularly around the rock formations, as it is slippery.
- It took me much less than the estimated three hours, even though I took my time.

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rumax
rumax

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This hike is a little less visually stunning than "La salle de Bal des Demoiselles Coiffées" but is still worth a visit if you are looking for fewer fellow hikers.
On Sunday 12 September, there was a game drive, but it wasn't disruptive (it ended around 11.30 a.m.).
Please note that the route seems to be little used and the path is being reclaimed by nature, which means you will need to spend a little time looking for the right landmarks if you are using a paper map.

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