La Vaunage starting from Calvisson

Start from the Place du 8 Mai in the centre of Calvisson.

(S/E) With your back to the car park, head left towards the exit from Calvisson and carry on straight on until you reach the main road (D107).

(1) Take the Chemin d’Ounèze opposite, then turn left at the Fork in the road. Walk alongside the vineyard, continue along the road, go round the right-angled bend to the left and reach a three-way junction.

(2) Turn onto the path on the right and follow it, ignoring any tracks to the left or right. You’ll reach a T-junction after leaving the valley.

(3) Turn right (it climbs a little), pass two very beautiful drystone shelters and don’t forget to look up to enjoy the magnificent view of the Vaunage on your right. Continue to the watchtower, go round the back to the left and follow the stony but easy-going path along the ridge, ignoring the paths branching off to the left and right. You’ll reach a small pass.

(4) Head down to the right, towards Saint-Étienne d’Escattes, along a very stony path. Generally follow the bottom of the valley to the village. At the fork, turn right and head towards the church.

(5) Walk behind the church and follow the Vidourle cycle path for 600 m.

(6) Turn left onto a path leading to a house running alongside the road (private property), then turn immediately right onto the path bordered by a dry-stone wall. As you enter the woods, ignore a turn-off to the left and stay on the main path for about 1.6 km.

(7) At the road, turn left, then quickly leave the road and take the path on the left which runs alongside vineyards on your right.

(8) At the bottom of the vineyards, turn left onto the road, which turns into a track. Continue to the junction leading to the horse boarding stable (Mas du Puech Long).

(9) Keep to the right and continue along this track, ignoring those to the left and right, then pass in front of a cattle ranch at Terme Blanc.

(10) At the fork in the road with a house opposite and various sculptures, carry on straight ahead, ignoring the other paths. You’ll reach the village of Congeniès, which you cross whilst admiring these authentic village houses.
Follow Rue de la Vermeillade (a narrow street) until the first turn-off on the left (marker), a few metres before the square.

(11) Turn left, follow Rue du Temple and, at the Fork in the road after the temple, veer left. At the end of this small road, turn right onto Chemin de Bragassargues, which joins the main road. Follow it to the left for about 500 metres until you reach the second turn-off on the right (gate).

(12) Go through the gate and immediately take the^second path on the right.

(13) Just before the descent, follow the single track to the left. Continue through the forest, then take a stony path to the right. Ignore the paths to the left and right and pass in front of the Mas de la Treille (ruins).

(14) In the valley, turn right and keep going along a stony path (it’ll stay like this for a while).

(15) At the Fork in the road, carry on to the right to join a wider path (^PR®) a little further up. Pass beneath the windmills (you can reach them a little further on by heading up to the left) and reach the village of Calvisson via the road, taking the opportunity to admire the authentic village houses. Head down towards the Grande Rue, leaving the town hall on your left. At the roundabout, head back up towards the Place du 8 Mai, turning left at the no-entry sign (S/E).

No water, the path is often very stony; you’ll need to carry your bike 2 or 3 times as the single track is too narrow.