The Mur de la Peste, starting from Méthamis

On arriving in Méthamis from Blauvac or Malemort-du-Comtat via the D5, take the road leading up to the Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul and park in the large, well-signposted car park on the left after the café.

(S/E) As you leave the car park, admire the pretty hill on which the village was built. Return to the access road to the car park, which slopes down slightly, passing the café on your right and a pretty wash house on your left. At the junction, turn left and continue along the road until you reach the signpost “Près de la Grand Font”.

(1) Turn left towards the Gorges de la Nesque until you reach a fork.

(2) At the sign for “Les Devens”, take the^GRP®, marked in yellow and red, which runs through the bed of the Gorges de la Nesque (there is no water, but take care in the event of rain or storms). Follow the^GRP® and ignore the paths branching off to the left and right. You will reach the junction between the Nesque and a track.

(3) Take the track, keeping closely to the^GRP®. As you climb, admire a superb troglodyte drystone shelter on the left. Further on, you’ll reach a junction.

(4) Leave the track and make sure you don’t miss the path on the right marked^GRP®. Continue the fairly steady climb, pass two hairpin bends, then join a track suitable for vehicles.

(5) Follow it to the right until you cross the Vallat de Vignal.

(6) Head up to the left, then turn slightly to the right. Further on, turn left at a 90° angle with the path and continue to the junction with the D5. Take this to the left for about 200 m , taking care of traffic and cyclists.

(7) At Faraud, leave the tarmac road and take a wide track on the far right, heading towards Pas du Viguier. This will be the final climb before reaching the Mur de la Peste. You will arrive at a multi-way junction.

(8) At the start of the Mur de la Peste, note the ruins of the old guardhouses. The wall has been partially restored. The spot is ideal for a picnic at the foot of the wall, with a lovely view over the Vaucluse hills.
Head right-hand side and follow the Mur de la Peste, then the Piste des Indochinois to the Col de la Ligne. The remains of the sentry boxes allow you to imagine the sentries who stood guard day and night during that sad period.

(9) Take a break to read the information on the panels recounting the history of this Wall and the plague in Provence in 1720–1721.
Then, opposite, take the track suitable for vehicles that climbs uphill. At each junction^, follow the GRP® markings carefully^.

(10) At Combe de Boulet, ignore the^PR® which heads off to the left and continue straight on along the^GRP® until you reach a Y-junction.

(11) At the “Pointe de Lalade” sign, leave the^GRP® and follow the yellow-marked^PR® to the right towards Méthamis (4 km). You will reach another junction after the 610m mark.

(12) Leave the track that descends to the right and continue straight ahead, descending on the^PR® until you reach a crossroad.

(13) Cross it and continue straight ahead at first, then turn slightly left until you reach another road at Plafournier.

(14) Follow it to the left. Turn right at the T-junction, keep right at the three-way junction that follows and return to the junction passed at the start of the walk, at the sign for "Près de la Grand Font".

(1) Turn left and follow the route back in the opposite direction to return to the start (S/E).

There are no technical difficulties, the risk is low but the hike is long. IBP 84, effort 4 (fairly difficult). 1.5–2 litres of water are recommended, as well as good walking shoes. Part of the hike is in the shade, but there is significant sun exposure in summer. Bring a hat, sun cream and sunglasses. Do not undertake this hike in the rain or if there is a risk of a thunderstorm (passage through the Nesque valley surrounded by rocks).

Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Méthamis.
The Windmill without a sail, Saint Anne’s Chapel.