The Petarelle valley, the ridge and the Rocher gorge

A walk that begins with a refreshing stroll along the Aiguebrun, then climbs up to the ridge of the massif via the Vallon de Petarelle. The descent follows a path that passes through the Rocher Gorge. The scenery is splendid and soothing.

Throughout this walk, you’ll come across numerous remains from a time when this massif was a place of life and sustenance. Best undertaken in spring or autumn.

According to other walkers, it may be better to park in the car park in the village of Sivergues; from there, follow the signposted GRP® route north-eastwards to reach the waypoint (1) via a paved slanting street that descends towards l’Aiguebrun. On the return journey, it is then possible to avoid the short stretch of road and head directly back to Sivergues via the Castelas Equestrian Lodge; you need to turn off after the waypoint (8).

Finally, I have been informed that there are three aggressive dogs between waypoints (3) and (4).

Details

6709170
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.91 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,670 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,667 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,173 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,522 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at the sharp bend on the D114, just before you reach Sivergues, at an elevation of 534.

(S/E) Carefully follow the road to the right heading north, crossing a small bridge and, 20 metres further on, take the narrow path branching off to the left. Head downhill and cross a flat, marshy-looking area alongside a stream that is often dry. Walk past an impressive rock formation which probably once housed a troglodyte-style dwelling, then leave a lovely, wide path that climbs off to the left and continue on to reach the bed of the Aiguebrun, which you’ll reach quickly.

(1) Cross at a disused footbridge and follow, on the right, the path that runs closest to the stream (which is dry at this point); let the GRP® trail, marked in yellow and red, branch off to the left.
Cross to the left bank (i.e. head uphill to the right as you face the river). You’ll come across some old yellow markings and a signpost pointing to the right; do not follow it, but cross the small bridge over the Aiguebrun (thus returning to the right bank). A little further on, you’ll find some green markings.

(2) Then join the road and follow it carefully for 100 m; after passing the track leading towards Fenouillet, take a path on the right. Cross a field. Step over a dry riverbed and cross a second field.

(3) At the junction with a third field, take the path leading off to the right (there is a Green Cross painted on a tree); the path climbs gently and, a little further up, joins the GR®92, which leads to the hamlet of Fenouillet.

(4) Continue to the right on the GR®92, which passes not far from some buildings, then follow a balcony-like path at the Baume de Peyrot; it climbs steeply up a scree slope to the ridge, reaching a promontory overlooking the entire valley: the view is superb!
Note that one hiker mentioned the possibility of bypassing this scree slope to the left via an unmarked but easier route… to be checked!

(5) Continue the (less steep) ascent to the left (south-east), still on the GR®92, to reach, 900 m further on, a junction marked by the GL 320 sign.

(6) Here, leave the GR®92 and follow a forest track (signposted GL 320), still heading south-east, which descends slightly for 150 m before beginning to climb again.

(7) Please note: as this forest track begins to climb, take a path leading down to the right and follow this path, ignoring, on the left, three other paths in succession, one of which is not marked on the map.

(8) Reach the Rocher gorge, a superb natural enclave; cross it, then, after walking alongside a lavender field, return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,752 ft - Car park at the bend just before reaching Sivergues
  2. 1 : mi 0.69 - alt. 1,522 ft - The - Aigue Brun (rivière) - Afluent de la Durance
  3. 2 : mi 1.66 - alt. 1,670 ft - D114 junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.91 - alt. 1,713 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 2.43 - alt. 1,939 ft - GR92 junction
  6. 5 : mi 3.04 - alt. 1,932 ft - Fenouillet hamlet
  7. 6 : mi 4.06 - alt. 2,677 ft - Promontory
  8. 7 : mi 4.63 - alt. 3,173 ft - GR92 junction
  9. 8 : mi 4.73 - alt. 3,120 ft - Junction with the path leading back down
  10. 9 : mi 6.1 - alt. 2,073 ft - Défilé du Rocher
  11. S/E : mi 6.91 - alt. 1,749 ft - Car park at the bend just before reaching Sivergues

Worth a visit

You can visit many villages in the surrounding area, including the magnificent isolated village of Sivergues, Buoux, Bonnieux and Saignon.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 23 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
gypaetus
gypaetus

Thank you, Marc, for this very detailed post.
I’ll add this information to the walk description as soon as possible.
Kind regards

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Marc H Vincent
Marc H Vincent

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Whilst scouting the route for a group, I parked at Sivergues as the car park at the indicated starting point is too small for several cars. So, as others have mentioned, you reach point 1 via a paved slanting street (which has been battered by the weather). The rest of the route was, in my view, as described and offered some lovely discoveries, as I wasn’t familiar with this part of the Luberon. The descent between points 7 and 8 is a bit tedious but easy. At the scree slope, I tried the route on the left, which is certainly easier. But the elevation gain remains the same
At point 8, there are certainly things to discover around the rock. I spotted a perched troglodytic shelter in the large cliff face on the left. In this area, there’s an option to return to Sivergues via the Castelas lodge. Worth a go.
For the return to Sivergues, I avoided going all the way back down to point 1 by turning left onto a track marked for mountain bikes, which takes you back to the paved slanting street leading down quite high up.
The only downside is that, in 2026, the three aggressive dogs are still there. I came across them on the climb between points 3 and 4. They were coming from above and followed me all the way to the top, barking. They are large Beauceron-type dogs, and two of them were so threatening that they came within 50 cm of me, baring their teeth. You need to stay calm and keep talking to them.

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nomisimon
nomisimon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the walk through the valley is very pleasant. There’s a lovely view from the promontory. However, the descent through the woods isn’t particularly interesting.

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natduv84
natduv84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike with varied scenery and atmospheres
First you follow the Aigue Brun, then cross some fields before starting the climb
I had to use my hands on the scree slope, which fortunately isn’t very long
At the top, the view is splendid and the descent through a shaded valley is very pleasant and comfortable
Thanks to the author

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gypaetus
gypaetus

Hello Bouzizi
Thanks for the information.
Indeed, this is a possible alternative that may interest other hikers.
Best regards

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bouzizi9c
bouzizi9c

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

We set off from the entrance to Sivergnes, where there is a well-equipped car park with water, toilets and rubbish bins. There are even toilets
A path leads to the suggested route.

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moniquemz
moniquemz

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route, very steep slope to reach the top.

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gypaetus
gypaetus

Hello Fouquerebourg
Thank you very much for your detailed feedback, which I greatly appreciate and which will certainly be useful to other hikers who love walking in Provence.
Kind regards

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fouquerebourg
fouquerebourg
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's incredible, we've been hiking in the Provençal mountains for 45 years and apart from the section from the start to point 2, we'd never walked these magnificent trails and paths before. The description is perfect, except that after point 5, it might be useful to specify that the trail leads to a track that you need to take on the left until you reach the GL320 sign. We made a mistake at the end, but it was our fault: we stupidly followed a yellow arrow instead of crossing the beautiful old bridge. As a result, we ended up on the road 900 metres from our car... but this allowed us to see that at the start of the road marked "les Grottes" there were four or five parking spaces, which could be a good starting point for a walk if there are no spaces left at point 2, as the path down to the bridge is very beautiful. One comment about what was a very beautiful meadow 40 years ago, just after the start, and which is now overgrown with brambles and shrubs. One last comment: it would be nice if the Park restored the footbridge (which I have always known in this condition); when the Aiguebrun is full, as it was on Wednesday, you need to be sure-footed to cross it. I almost forgot: you absolutely must climb the scree slope (stabilised, 10 to 15 mins) – the reward is at the top, where you can enjoy a great picnic with a sensational view.
Denis

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CACHIA
CACHIA

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice little hike. Difficult route without the Visorando app...

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gypaetus
gypaetus

Hello Pepinet
Thank you for your feedback
Indeed, right now is a wonderful time of year to take this walk
it's not too hot yet, there aren't many people around, and you can visit the village of Sivergue at your leisure
Best regards

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pepinet
pepinet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route along the banks of the Aigue Brune at the start. The climb up the scree slope is difficult but short, and the route remains pleasant with lots of peatland daffodils at this time of year

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gypaetus
gypaetus

Hello Ceclol
Thank you for the information
Could you specify where this property is located on the route?

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Ceclol
Ceclol

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hello, lovely walk, just be careful as the route passes through private property where there are three large dogs, one of which is aggressive. We turned back and went via the gr
Ceclol

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gypaetus
gypaetus

Thank you for the post and well done for braving the freezing cold!
Best regards

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