Lagarde-d'Apt walks

A lovely, pleasant circular walk at the end of June as the lavender is in bloom and the temperature doesn’t get too high due to the altitude. Only the end of the walk is a little steeper in the Vallon des Jardins, up to Les Esfourniaux. The beauty of the vegetation (rowan, plum, dogwood, etc.) will quickly make you forget the effort involved.

This is a beautiful, easy hike in the Luberon in a magnificent landscape where you can discover numerous rain water reservoirs carved into rock and drystone shelters.

Discover rain water reservoirs carved into rock, which enabled rural life to continue in this waterless area.

La Grand Montagne overlooks Rustrel from a height of around 650 m. The army built several tunnels there, which are now used as the Bas Bruit Underground Laboratory. This walk takes you on a grand tour of these hidden treasures, offering stunning views of the Luberon mountain range, the Apt plain, its vineyards, lavender and olive groves, and, of course, the many ochre quarries stretching from Gignac to Roussillon.

A beautiful walk in the hills above Rustrel offering magnificent views of the Colorado Provençal.

From the pretty hilltop village of Simiane-la-Rotonde, a route through coppiced woodland with lovely views to the east, south beyond the Grand Luberon, and north on the return journey from the summit of the Espéron.

This short circular route, starting from the medieval village of Simiane-la-Rotonde, will take you through pretty holm oak forests and along lavender fields. You will pass by old dry stone sheepfolds (or jas) and the ruins of three mills. At the end of the hike, you can visit the Rotonde and lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old village. As a bonus, you will have beautiful, unobstructed views of the Albion plateau, the Lure Mountain and even the Alps.

Start the walk with a visit to the unmissable Colorado Provençal, then take a stroll through the hills in the triangle formed by the villages of Rustrel, Gignac and Caseneuve to admire the lavender fields and enjoy a beautiful view of the imposing Château de Caseneuve and the Grand Lubéron.This walk is a less tarmac-heavy alternative to the ‘Visit and Tour of the Colorado Provençal via the Ridges’ (official route)Best done early in the morning, in summer and in fine weather to make the most of the colours of the ochre cliffs and the lavender.

The hike begins with a visit to the Colorado Provençal Belvédères trail (pedestrian rate), a listed site managed by the Colorado de Rustrel Association, and continues with a tour of the Colorado via the ridges (GR®) to discover views of other ochre quarries. The hike reveals all the nuances of ochre colours in these former open-air quarries.Please note! The Mille Couleurs car park is reserved exclusively for visitors to the two marked trails managed by the Colorado de Rustrel Association for a limited period of approximately 3 hours. If you wish to hike the Tour du Colorado via the ridges, you must park in the village and pay the pedestrian entrance fee for the Belvédères trail.

The hike reveals all the nuances of ochre colours in these former open-air quarries. Paid parking, giving access to the trails to all occupants of the vehicle. There is a pedestrian rate, if you do not use the car park, which allows you to obtain the leaflet with the map, the history of the site and the code for the mobile discovery app. Please note that the Milles Couleurs car park (paid) is only accessible to visitors to the two marked trails managed by the Colorado Association of Rustrel.

A superb hike combining magnificent views across the whole region with unmissable sights. Challenging sections are followed by pleasant, shaded paths or those running along ridges. One of the most beautiful yet little-known hikes around Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt.

A beautiful hike that will allow you to discover the surroundings of Rustrel's Colorado.

A long and beautiful excursion over easy but varied countryside, with some steeper sections on the descent but on an excellent path.

A varied route starting from Saint-Jean de Sault, with paths through the undergrowth or at the bottom of a valley, passages over old charcoal kilns and the discovery of a long path that is now almost forgotten, but was once used by charcoal burners on the Coteau de la Meynière.

This walk is best done when the lavender is in bloom, in late June or early July.

This sixth stage crosses the wooded slope of Perréal Hill before reaching the village of Gargas and winding through the farmland of the Urbane Valley, then climbing up to the pretty village of Roussillon, where you can allow an hour to visit the old ochre quarry, with its magnificently coloured landscapes of cliffs and fairy chimneys. The route returns to the cultivated fields and enters the narrow Gorges de la Véroncle – a little gem waiting to be discovered – before heading up the Ravin de Vézaule to reach Camping des Sources.

A walk in the Luberon that includes a visit to the beautiful village of Viens, some of its hamlets and chapels. Views of the ochre cliffs of Rustrel and Gignac, beautiful trails and forest passages. Geological curiosities (slab with footprints).

A beautiful loop around the Calavon Gorges from the village of Oppedette.

This fifth stage takes you on a journey of discovery through the splendid Gorges d’Oppedette and, once past the Chapelle Saint Ferréol, visits the remarkable medieval village of Viens with its maze of narrow streets marked by the passage of centuries, before crossing the gleaming ochre landscapes of the Colorado de Rustrel, notable for its canyon-like scenery and fairy chimneys reminiscent of John Ford’s Westerns. The route reaches the hilltop village of Villars before continuing on to Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt.

Discover the villages of Oppedette and Vachères, the Saut du Moine waterfall, and sweeping panoramic views of the Luberon, the Alps...

Wild and difficult to access gorges, between 150 and 200m deep, very narrow in places, only a few metres wide. The descent of the Karstic Cave is very well equipped but tricky to navigate.

A short, easy 2-hour walk starting from Viens in the Luberon. Beautiful views of the Luberon geological reserve.

Take the shaded tracks through the forest, climb towards Les Courtines, then descend into a wide valley. Next, pass by the small Conchettes spring and return via the picturesque Combe de Saint-Guillem.

An easy hike from the Monieux lake to Saint-Jean-de-Sault (or Saint-Jean-de-Durefort) with a return trip along the banks of the Nesque.

The Nesque River gorges and the Saint Michel chapel starting from the Bourget Lake in Monieux.

Discover the more or less forgotten trails of the Nesque Gorges.

Climb up the wild Vallon de Peissonnier, follow the paths through the woods and return via the Gorges de la Nesque trail.

This wild trail takes in the mythical lower Vallat du Loup. If you can't spot a wolf, you might spot wild boar or hear a roe deer barking. You return to Le Défens via a little-known combe.

A pleasant walk to discover the old balcony paths on the right bank of the Nesque, with beautiful views over the valley.

A forested circuit to reach the Saint-Hubert farm, then the second part of the route on the cliffs above the Nesque gorge.

This route around the medieval village of Monieux follows two valleys linked by old communal paths. In places, you will find remains of the dry stone walls that lined these paths. This route takes you through unspoilt countryside.