The Ribiers circuit

From Laragne-Montéglin (11 km away), take the D942 then the D948 southwards to Ribiers.
Park at the entrance to the village or on Place de la Fontaine.

(S/E) From the Route de Laragne, take Rue des Granges and walk through the village’s narrow streets.

(1) Turn left onto the Route de Mison (D522) and cross the Canal de Sisteron on the tarmac road.

(2) At the Fork in the road, continue along this road, following the Torrent de Clarescombes, until you reach the bridge over the Buëch.

(3) Turn right onto a path that follows the banks of the Buëch along the shaded embankment. Follow the yellow markings and cross over the Torrent de Notre-Dame de Faysses.

(4) At the junction, continue left, heading south, until you reach the hamlet of Le Grand Pré Gris (a building visible on the right).

(5) Just after crossing it for the first time, take the path on the right which follows the Barbelle torrent to the Route de Sisteron.

(6) Cross the D948 carefully to the right, and rejoin the path 20 m further on to continue alongside the Torrent de Barbelle. Cross the Canal de Sisteron.

(7) Follow the path to the left, then walk along the farmland bordering the leisure centre until you come out onto a road.

(8) Turn left onto the Chemin de Notre-Dame des Faysses, then walk alongside the cemetery until you reach the corner.

(9) Turn left onto the Route de la Combe. Continue straight on along this road, passing through the hamlets of La Combe and Chaudon.

(10) At the junction, cross the Route de la Montagne and carry on straight ahead along the Route de la Flogère (^GRP®).

(11) At the bend, leave the^GRP® and the road to take a path on the right leading to the hamlet of Le Rata. Continue straight on along the Chemin du Rata, which runs alongside the Torrent de Clarescombes and reaches the village of Ribiers via the drovers' road.
Cross the Route de Laragne to reach the Place de la Fontaine (S/E).

Fountain and bar in the centre of Ribiers (Place de la Fontaine).

Several shaded benches on the Buëch embankment.

The route passes through numerous orchards.

On the circular route, signs for “Les Autarets, Notre Dame des Faysses” provide useful landmarks.

Shorter alternative: you can reach the village centre from the point (9) via the Route de Préparadis or, a little further on, via the Route de la Prairie (distance 6.5 km, total time 2 hours).

Ribiers takes its name from the fact that it is situated ‘by the river’.
The dyke, built in the 13th century, helped to protect the village and facilitate its development. The path along it is very pleasant and fairly well shaded (with several benches along the way).

Fountain in the village square:
Dating from the 16th century, it was built without the lord’s permission. To avoid having it demolished, the villagers arranged for the fountain’s overflow to be channelled into the castle courtyard, to water the lord’s meadows.
Until the 1930s, this fountain was accompanied by a washhouse, of which only the fountain post attached to the basin remains. Recognisable by her Phrygian cap, the statue of Marianne crowns the column and bears witness to the loyalty of the inhabitants of Ribiers to republican values.
The water from this fountain is drinkable and flows abundantly all year round.

Parish Church of the Assumption
Formerly a priory, this church was rebuilt in the aftermath of the Wars of Religion, featuring a Romanesque porch and a side door in its bell tower.