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To reach the start point from Lapalud-sur-Verdon, follow the D 123 towards Châteauneuf-le-Plan. Follow this road for 4.5 km and you’ll find a car park a few metres past the hamlet of Le Plan, on a track to the left 400 m before the end of the tarmac.
(S/E) Continue along the D 123 to the end of the tarmac and take the track on the right at the three-way junction. Pass two hairpin bends and reach the ruins of Châteauneuf-lès-Moustiers.
(1) Continue uphill, then, at the cemetery, follow the Roman road to reach the Notre-Dame Chapel.
(2) At the chapel, take the time to climb up and see this beautiful cave, then continue along the Roman road.
(3) Once you reach Les Brochiers, carry on along the road.
(4) At the junction, turn left and follow the D 17.
(5) At the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, continue along the D 17. The road turns into a track a little further on.
(6) At the junction, turn right towards Majastre, staying on the D 17. The track climbs through a beautiful pine forest. Stay on the main track.
(7) At the next junction, turn right onto the Piste du Chiran, a track suitable for vehicles that climbs through the fir trees. Ignore a turn-off to the right and continue the climb. Go round the shoulder of Peire Naisse and, after crossing a stream, look out for a path starting on the right at a hairpin bend.
(8) Continue along the track, winding your way up through numerous hairpin bends, until you reach the Chiran observatory.
(9) After taking in the majestic view from the observatory, head back down the same track to the start of the path you spotted on the way up.
(8) Leave the track and follow the hiking path to the left, towards Portail de Blieux. Descend along a lovely, slightly technical single track.
(10) Join the Paluds track, turn right and head for the D 17.
(5) Follow the route you took earlier in the opposite direction until you reach the next junction.
(4) Continue along the D 17, pass two troughs and, immediately afterwards, you’ll find the start of a path on the left (Piste Romaine).
(11) Take the Piste Romaine on the left, marked with yellow signposts. Follow it, generally following the contour line and alternating between footpaths and tracks.
(12) At the junction with a track coming from the left, carry on straight ahead and ignore the path leading down into the field. Follow the line of trees and veer left downhill. Continue, generally following the base of the foothills of the Serre d’Engai mountain on your left. Pass just above the houses at La Sorbière, then reach the Torrent de Praux.
(13) At the ford, take a sharp right-hand bend and head down the path.
(14) Join the access road to the hamlet of Serre; continue downhill at the next junction, then take a sharp left onto the D 17 until the next junction.
(15) Head down to the right and join the D 123.
(16) Turn right and return to the car park (S/E).
