The Oratory Trail in Saint-Didier

A short family walk that allows you to discover Saint-Didier and its countryside by following the various oratories that dot the village.

Details

134772
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.67 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 21 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 23 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 180 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 145 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Head to the car park opposite the post office and the tourist information point.

(S/E) Head towards the post office and turn right to find the Route de Venasque.

Yellow signposts
Continue left until you reach the junction with Chemin Fond, cross the small traffic island and look for the first oratory opposite, nestled in the hedge of the house.

No markings
Cross Route de Venasque to the right (be careful, the road is busy), and you will find the second oratory just opposite, nestled in the façade of the house by the road at the corner of Chemin de Pousterle. Continue along this path, which turns right at the next crossroads and arrives opposite a very large stone building, which is a wing of the castle. On the left, right next to an information board, is the third oratory.

Yellow signposting
(1) Turn left onto Route du Beaucet until you reach the junction with Chemin des Oratoires, where you will find the fourth oratory at the foot of a cypress tree. Turn left and you will find the fifth oratory at the side of the road. Continue to the junction with Chemin de Gallery to reach the sixth oratory.
Continue straight ahead and you will find the seventh oratory at the corner of Chemin de la Challaysse.
Further on, at the junction with Chemin des Vocades, the eighth wayside shrine is leaning against the stone wall.

No signposts
Continue along Chemin des Oratoires on the left to find the ninth oratory at the entrance to a property on the right. Continue to the next crossroads and look for the tenth oratory (empty) on the left against the fence.

Yellow signposts
(2) Turn left onto Chemin de la Garenne until you reach the junction with the D28. Cross carefully to see the eleventh oratory on the corner with Chemin de Sainte-Garde. Continue straight ahead to No. 120 to reach the twelfth oratory.
Continue straight ahead until you reach the entrance to Notre-Dame-de-Sainte-Garde, which has become a theological study centre. Take the path that goes around the building on the right. It turns into a trail and then rejoins the tarmac road. Continue straight ahead until you reach the junction with Chemin de Saint-Geniez, where you will find the thirteenth oratory (empty).

(3) Turn left, continue straight ahead at the Chemin du Grand Chêne junction to reach the fourteenth oratory on the corner of Chemin Fond, attached to the boundary wall on the left.

No signposts
Continue straight ahead and you will find the fifteenth wayside shrine at the junction with Route de la Sérignane. Continue straight ahead to reach the Cours.

(4) Turn left and go down the Cours, which was originally the castle driveway. Go to the church and pass under the porch located under the bell tower to arrive in front of the castle entrance (private property).
Turn around and go back to the porch (the church entrance is set back on the right at 295 Route de Venasque). Return to the Cours, turn right in front of the town hall and go under the porch to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 165 m - Parking opposite the post office
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 167 m - On the left, Route du Beaucet
  3. 2 : km 1.44 - alt. 180 m - On the left, Chemin de la Garenne
  4. 3 : km 2.28 - alt. 147 m - On the left, Chemin de Saint-Geniez
  5. 4 : km 3.01 - alt. 157 m - On the left on Le Cours
  6. S/E : km 3.67 - alt. 165 m - Parking opposite the post office

Notes

There are several fountains in the village, but the water is not drinkable, just refreshing...

Worth a visit

The castle
It is located in the heart of the old village, opposite the church, through the porch.
The castle, whose date of construction is unknown but which existed in 1160 as a residence, bears traces of the Renaissance.
It is surrounded by a magnificent park designed by Le Nôtre around 1665.
More info...

The church
In the heart of the village, at the end of the main avenue lined with plane trees, stands the porch of the 12th-century Romanesque church.
The church is built on the site of the former castle chapel: a vast room measuring 6 metres by 13, whose walls, pierced by two windows to the north and south, supported a stone ogival vault.
More info...

The oratories
The commune has preserved many reminders of its past, such as its church, castle, fountains, wash houses and oratories. These are a real heritage treasure that is well worth discovering.
More info

Notre-Dame-de-Sainte-Garde
It overlooks the village and is the end point of the Oratory Trail. It is now closed to the public.
More info

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 26691593

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy walk. A wonderful way to discover the local heritage.

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User 16778315

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The only slight downside is that the hike starts along a busy road. An easy route

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courjus52
courjus52

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy route, many oratories are in poor condition and in need of renovation.

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BerPhi84210
BerPhi84210

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy to follow and find the oratories

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MARTINS Olivier-Arnaud
MARTINS Olivier-Arnaud

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk, with no difficulties.

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Makichiro
Makichiro

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant, easy but interesting walk.
There are a few sections in direct sunlight, so be careful depending on how hot it is, but it's fine.

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Mfrancis
Mfrancis

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A nice little hike that we extended a bit.
Very pleasant for anyone who wants to stroll around after a bite to eat in St Didier

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223190GUY
223190GUY

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The route is very well described, so it's easy to follow.
It's a shame that vandals have damaged some of the shrines.

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trailer84
trailer84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I went hiking with my family in 2017, and I signed up today, so I thought I'd leave a review. A great outing for the whole family. Beautiful scenery, and a chance to stock up on papal coins.

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Céline0104
Céline0104
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant short hike, although there isn't much to see apart from the oratories.
At the end of the walk, you can reward yourself with a delicious ice cream at the ice cream bar on your left. There is a beautiful shaded terrace behind it.

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bernardSalon
bernardSalon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 17, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk to discover the heritage represented by these oratories. Very detailed description of the route. Combine with the Pernes fountain tour
Thank you

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Bernard Boucher
Bernard Boucher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant route that allows you to discover the outskirts of Saint-Didier

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jude06
jude06

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

A pleasant, unpretentious walk, well signposted except for the first two oratories, which we couldn't find. We started at the third one.

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Lieve Vanlaere
Lieve Vanlaere

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely short hike, even in rainy weather

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Isabelle latombe
Isabelle latombe

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A short walk halfway between town and countryside, ideal for a stroll with children aged 6 to 8.

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