The northern tip of the Ile de la Barthelasse

A very easy walk. The first part up to the dam, very pleasant and shady. There's not shade on second part until you arrive, so wear hats in sunny weather.
Numerous birds and in particular grey herons, cormorants, swans etc. are visible near the water and on the banks of the Rhone.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 11 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 10 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 30 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 16 m

Description of the walk

Access: Park in the "Parc de Libertés" car park on the Ile de la Barthelasse. Leaving from Avignon, turn right after the Daladier bridge, you are now on the D228 (Route de l'Ison). After the Avignon lock located to your left, take the first road to the right to find the car park.

(S/E) Leave on the small trail the closest to the water (going directly east). Without making too much noise, you can see the various birds that inhabit these banks. The small path will join a large track. Stay on this track until the crossroads before the eastern arm of the Rhone.

(1) Opposite the eastern arm of the Rhone, take the path to your left along the fence, and go between the two stretches of water.

(2)When you get to a gate, turn right. Continue on this path until a metal gate signposted "Rhône/Ventoux". Turn right, a blue concrete post means you're on the right track. After the second blue post, turn right and then immediately left.
Stay on the largest path and you'll see where the Rhone splits. Go around to the left on the large path (west) and you'll come to the dam. Ignore the track that goes off to the left and join the access road to the Sauveterre dam.
(The site is currently undergoing work, so be very careful)

(3) Take the asphalt road to the left for a few meters and then turn right to go around the "Unnamed" power station. Pass the small canal, join the highest path that runs along the second arm of the Rhone.

(4) This is the northern tip of the Ile de la Barthelasse There's a viewing point over Mont Ventoux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape etc.
Turn left while remaining on this path, and go as far as the Villeneuve bridge.

(5) Go under the bridge, take an immediate left and join the track after having crossed a small canal. Stay on this track, with the road to your left and the small canal to your right.
Continue straight at the barrier.

(6) This path takes you back to the road that you cross to reach the car park(S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 19 m - Parc des Libertés car park
  2. 1 : km 2.38 - alt. 23 m - Crossing opposite the Rhône branch - Rhône (le)
  3. 2 : km 2.91 - alt. 24 m - Pumping station
  4. 3 : km 6.32 - alt. 26 m - Sauveterre dam
  5. 4 : km 6.94 - alt. 27 m - North tip of the island
  6. 5 : km 8.98 - alt. 28 m - Villeneuve bridge
  7. 6 : km 9.95 - alt. 20 m - Upward path
  8. S/E : km 10.14 - alt. 20 m - Parc des Libertés car park

In the nearby area

Numerous birds and in particular grey herons, cormorants, swans etc. are visible near the water and on the banks of the Rhone. At the northern tip of the island, the viewing point over the villages: Sauveterre, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Mont Ventoux etc.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
Serge627
Serge627

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Accessible to all, including occasional walkers and children.
It's a pity to find rubbish left by people who don't respect nature (plastic, glass and even asbestos sheets).

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e&oblondel
e&oblondel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Quiet walk, flat terrain.
Not very easy to find the start of the walk.

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nannyfab
nannyfab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A leisurely stroll. We started from the Ile aux Papes. It's very difficult to take the cycle/pedestrian route. No signs. A pity.

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.:Nicolas:.
.:Nicolas:.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very good, simple but enjoyable walk

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DEVILNATOR
DEVILNATOR

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

A short walk that allowed us to discover a hidden side of Barthelasse, not very popular, pleasant on the first part around the lake in particular, then you walk along the Rhône, then the second part is of little interest because the long path along the Rhône in full sun is quite boring... It's a shame... But it did give us a chance to recharge our batteries between 2 plays at the Festival d'Avignon!

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Clopsinette
Clopsinette
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant walk in spring when everything is green! An added attraction is the new ViaRhona cycle bridge between Barthelasse and Oiselay, just before point 3.

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le breton 35
le breton 35

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

advantage close to avignon

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bernard mazieres
bernard mazieres

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Busy trail : No

Walk in bright sunshine. Limited interest: it's flat, windswept by the Mistral and fairly dull. It's just a good warm-up before heading off to the surrounding hills!

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PENEZ PATRICK
PENEZ PATRICK

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

I've known this route for a long time and today I was testing out a new GPS, the Garmin Edge Explore.
I had downloaded the GPX track and everything was in line with my expectations in terms of guidance and also recording.
I'm still waiting to find out how it will perform in recording mode on a much more tortuous route.

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CamilleBD
CamilleBD

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very pleasant walk, I just had trouble understanding the explanations before point 4, but I was probably too busy chatting with my girlfriend. Easy route, very flat, not very busy (on a Monday morning), not much to see.

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visorando84000
visorando84000

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

I did this walk on Tuesday 25/01/2022, passing through a pretty forest, lots of birds and if you don't make any noise you'll see them, but with binoculars it's better, they're far away, I saw cormorants, egrets, ducks, swans even in flight, and grey herons.
On the other hand, BE CAREFUL, on the detail it says RHÖNE GATE, you need to know that there are 4 of them (3 of GREEN colours)! so you have to go along the fence, you go to the end and when you see a GREY GATE it's this one, you have to turn RIGHT (there are two big stones next to it).
I've just read a few comments here about Détritus, I haven't seen any.
The return journey was a bit long to get to the Villeneuve bridge, but I was alone, so it's better to be accompanied. Later I'll go back with friends.

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jeani84
jeani84

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We did the walk on Sunday morning, but it was very cold so we didn't meet many people,
I wouldn't recommend it in summer, but I'd happily do it again in spring with more greenery.

.

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Marie Vernette
Marie Vernette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

right in the heart of the unspoilt wild vegetation of this part of the island, a delightful feeling of plunging into the forest you pass through, a beautiful viewpoint at the tip of the island, perfect for meditation! walking along the Rhône and watching the birds, a walk I'll be doing again.
I did it by bike,

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Janouk
Janouk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice, varied walk in the strong mistral wind, which made the Rhône look like a stormy sea... (at the northern tip).
A real change of scenery!

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constantino2
constantino2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello
Very nice tour on foot and mountain bike Few people except at the SAUVETERRE dam which is accessible by road. I wonder why the roads at the start of LIBERTE and after the dam are accessible. They should be reserved for public security services or the pumping station. Make sure you go as far as the extreme northern tip of the island where the Rhone becomes parish specific to Brittany This would make you think of MISSISSIPI! I also enjoyed the return with the view over the hills of the GARD We also saw quite a few herons ash and other smaller birds We highly recommend especially in this period the hike it relaxes a maximum Good walk to all and all

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