Le Pavillon

A visit to a small peak overlooking Lake Sainte-Croix and the Valensole plateau.

Details

77848
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 455 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 464 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,621 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,200 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park below the chapel in the hamlet of Les Louches; to get there, follow the road signs for Les Chauvets (D17).

(S/E) Take the wide track westwards. Turn north at the next bend to reach the Ravin de Male Fond.

(1). Continue along the track, passing the Ravin d’Aco d’Anhéu and then reaching the Ravin des Abris.

(2). Stay on the track and, after two hairpin bends, you will reach another bend.

(3) Continue the climb to the right, reaching the Col des Abbes (Col des Abbesses on the sign).

(4) Leave the track and take the wide path on the left, which quickly narrows. After a wide circular bend to the right, you’ll reach another track.

(5) Turn left, follow the track and then the cairns to reach the summit of Le Pavillon.

(6) Descend via the same route until the path meets the hairpin bend on the track after the Col des Abbes.

(3) Continue left along the track to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,250 m - Car park at the - Chapelle Saint-Pierre (La Palud-sur-Verdon)
  2. 1 : km 0.79 - alt. 1,212 m - Male Fond Ravine
  3. 2 : km 1.63 - alt. 1,204 m - Ravin des Abris
  4. 3 : km 2.59 - alt. 1,269 m - Crossroads with hairpin bend
  5. 4 : km 3.82 - alt. 1,284 m - Col des Abbes or Abbesses
  6. 5 : km 6.15 - alt. 1,526 m - Trail junction
  7. 6 : km 6.84 - alt. 1,621 m - Le Pavillon
  8. S/E : km 14.15 - alt. 1,250 m - Car park at the - Chapelle Saint-Pierre (La Palud-sur-Verdon)

Notes

There is no water on this route, so make sure you bring plenty as it gets very hot. The summit is a mountain pasture and there is no shelter or shade.
From the summit of Pavillon, the view is spectacular: Lake Sainte-Croix, the Valensole plateau, and Manosque. The mountains to the north-east (Chiran, the Grand and Petit Moure, and the Moure de Chanier) offer further hiking options.

Worth a visit

Lake Sainte-Croix.
The Gorges du Verdon.
Moustiers Sainte-Marie.
Castellane.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
doudou04180
doudou04180

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views of the lake and the Valensole plateau
A steady climb
No difficulty

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jean.lamy
jean.lamy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A stunning view from the top of the Pavillon over Lake Saint Croix and the lavender fields of the Valensole plateau.

As for the route, we didn’t do the circular route and went a bit further (where the road isn’t tarmac).

Thank you for this route!

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yves.drapp
yves.drapp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A walk offering a lovely 360-degree view from the Pavillon (1,600 metres above sea level) and taking you through a beautiful forest.
It took us about 4½ hours, including a short break at the summit.

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83daniel
83daniel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely hike in sweltering heat. However, we were unable to take the recommended route as it was advised against due to the presence of herds guarded by mountain dogs. As a result, we extended our hike.

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francoul
francoul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

You can take a shortcut starting from the Col des Ayes, or you can camp there, which in no way detracts from the appeal of the walk, including vulture-watching at the top of the pavilion.

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