Cabrières Castle and Les Pitrous

Park at the cooperative winery or, opposite, in the car park by the roadside (D15).

(S/E) Head towards the village and, after about 200 m, turn left into Rue du Mas de Gaussel to explore the old village. Do not cross the stream, but turn right (portico, remarkable staircase) until you reach Rue de l’Église , which you follow up to the left.

(1) At the fountain, turn left onto Route des Crozes. Walk past the stadium and the cemetery. About a hundred metres further on, leave Route des Crozes.

(2) Take the Chemin du Château, which slopes gently down to the left. Cross a ford and, a few metres further on, leave the track for the path on the left, which climbs steadily through groves of boxwood and holm oaks. The slope then levels out.

(3) Leave the path and turn left (steps) towards the Col de la Cisterne, which you will soon reach.

(4) Head straight on towards the Château, which you’ll reach in about ten minutes (path maintained in places).

(5) The Château :ruins, a beautiful panoramic viewpoint over the village and the Pic de Vissou. Follow the path that circles the platform and descends back to the Col de la Cisterne.

(4) Turn right, heading south, begin the descent, note the large overhanging rock sheltering a well that supplied water to the castle and its outbuildings, and walk alongside the ruined buildings of the old village. The slope levels out, then head north-west to the junction with a track, which you leave shortly afterwards for a path on the left that joins another track.

(6) Ashort detour of a few metres to the westtakes you to “Norbert’s Garden” (featuring a pond and a balcony garden). Return to the crossroads and follow the track for about two hundred metres.

(7) Leave the track and turn left onto a gently sloping path. Cross a stream via a wooden footbridge and continue. Pass by a remarkable well and, through the vineyards, reach the tarmac road of the Vallon des Pitrous.

(8) Follow this road, which joins the D15 coming from La Rouquette, pass the first houses of the village, and arrive at the car park (S/E).

The descents from the castle and the Col de la Cisterne feature some fairly steep sections, some of which have been fitted with steps. Walking sticks are strongly recommended.

• Pioch Farrus, Europe’s oldest copper mines (mined from 3000 BC until the 19th century). Not open to the public (2026).
• Museum area in the winegrowers’ cellar.
• Romanesque church of Saint-Martin des Crozes.
• Cabrières Castle.