The Croix du Vellan from Beaufort-sur-Gervanne

Coming from the south, at the roundabout at the entrance to Beaufort-sur-Gervanne, turn right and park on the Esplanade du 28 juin 1944.
Go to the north of the Esplanade (GTV sign and map, signpost for "Beaufort-sur-Gervanne").

Section marked^GR® 9

(S/E) Take the street that extends the Esplanade northwards towards Plan-de-Baix. After about 150 m, at the fork, take the street on the right, then after a few metres take the path that extends from it (property on the right). 250 m further on, join the road and follow it carefully on the right.

(1) Just before the bridge over the Gervanne, take the road on the left towards "Plan-de-Baix" (signposted "La Scie"). After about 100 metres, when you reach the houses ("La Bergerie"), take the track on the left. After another hundred metres, take the steps on the right. You will arrive at Le Cadet (campsite, refreshment bar) and its access road, then at the signpost for "La Belonne".

(2) Take the path on the right towards "Plan-de-Baix". This joins the D 70. From this point, the path crosses or follows the road (D 70) for almost 1,500 m, so be very careful!
After the first crossing, follow the road on the left to the hairpin bend where the path starts again. The path then crosses the road three more times. At the^fourth junction, follow the road on the right to another hairpin bend.

(3) Take the track on the right at the hairpin bend (signposted "interdit sauf ayant-droits" [no entry except for authorised vehicles]). Enjoy a pleasant, steady climb to the 12th-century Notre-Dame Church below the village of Plan-de-Baix.

(4) Join the D70 road (be careful!) and immediately turn left onto the road that climbs towards the village of Plan-de-Baix (signs for "Marché de producteurs" and "Parking"). Continue to the crossroads at the entrance to the village.

(5) Take the road on the right (signpost for "Le Vellan"), then, opposite "L'Éterlou", take the first road on the left (wash house and fountain), still following signs for "Le Vellan". After about 400 m, the tarmac gives way to a good carriage road. Follow it until you reach the "Rimon" signpost.

(6) Turn right towards "Croix du Vellan". The track climbs up a small, damp valley and comes out behind the house at Rimon. After passing through the undergrowth, you will arrive at the "Sous le Vellan" signpost. Continue straight ahead towards "Croix du Vellan" and enjoy the picturesque passage between the rocks and cliffs before coming out onto the access road to the Plateau du Vellan. Follow it a few metres to the right, then take the wide path on the right leading to Croix du Vellan, at the top of the cliffs overlooking Plan-de-Baix.

(7) From the cross, admire the view from this exceptional promontory. Be very careful and do not get too close to the cliffs!
Then retrace your steps to the "Rimon" signpost.

Yellow and red GTV marked section

(6) Take the path on the right. After the house (Bouroul), at the fork, turn left, head towards Sauzy (farm campsite) and the D 70 road (be careful). Follow the road to the right heading north and, after about 100 metres, at the fork, take the road downhill to the left (D 70b) (signpost for "Sauzy", direction "Lozeron"). After 800 metres, you will come to a wide path on the left (signpost).

(8) Turn left towards "Lozeron", "Les Vingt-Cinq". After a long straight stretch heading south, the road turns right and arrives at a fork (signpost).

(9) Take the path on the left. After several hairpin bends, the path crosses to the other side of the valley. You will come to another fork (signpost for "Les Vingt-Cinq").

Yellow and green marked section

(10) Take the left path towards "Lozeron". Stay on this wide path for about 3 km. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Trois Becs massif opposite and the Falaises du Vellan cliffs on the left. After passing the signposts for "Route des Blaches" and "Les Peupliers", you will reach the D 743 road.

(11) Turn left at the road (be careful) towards "La Jonzonière". After about 400 m, as the road curves to the left, take the signpost for "La Jonzonière" on the right at the end of the curve.

(12) Take the path uphill to the right towards "Beaufort" "Les Trois Prés". After about 500 m, once you have entered a pleasant wooded area, you will reach the signpost for "Les Trois Près".

Section marked red/yellow (GTV) and yellow/green

(13) Turn left towards Beaufort. Continue along the path until you reach the road (signpost for "Chaux de Lozeron"). Cross the road and continue along the path opposite towards Beaufort. Join the D 743 (transformer).

(14) Turn right and walk alongside the Sanoflore Research and Development Site (Domaine des Arômes). At the signpost for "Domaine des Arômes", take the track on the right towards Beaufort. The track runs alongside the car park and then the estate's botanical garden. Do not take the road on the right about a hundred metres after the road, but continue straight ahead. You will come to a crossroads (signpost for "Les Chaux").

(15) Turn left towards Beaufort. At the crossroads at the entrance to Beaufort (D 70, D 743, D 732), take the Grand Rue almost opposite. At the end of the street, turn left, then right to reach the Esplanade du 28 juin 1944 (S/E).

Shops in Beaufort-sur-Gervanne, water at the Plan-de-Baix fountain.
The route crosses or follows the road several times: be careful.
The Croix du Vellan is only a few metres from the cliffs: be careful, especially with children.

The villages of Beaufort-sur-Gervanne, Plan-de-Baix and Lozeron.

The plateau and the Rochers du Vellan, whose cliffs and cross overlook Plan-de-Baix. The site was home to a Gallic oppidum, then a castle, of which only ruins remain.
From this promontory, the view stretches from Diois in the east (Montagne de Glandasse) to the Rhône Valley in the west, passing through the Gervanne Valley, the Massif des Trois-Becs and Saint-Pancrace in the south.
The climb to the cross from the village winds its way between cliffs and rocks along a narrow, picturesque path.

The Domaine des Arômes between Lozeron and Beaufort-sur-Gervanne (Sanoflore research and development site) and its botanical garden; around it, the path runs pleasantly alongside fields of aromatic herbs.

The Omblèze Gorges from Plan-de-Baix.

The Plateau des Chaux nature trail around the Domaine des Arômes, this family trail offers an introduction to the fauna, flora and human activities of the Plateau des Chaux (signposted, with numerous information panels).