Old Mérindol

In April 1545, nearly 3,000 Waldensians from Provence, who had converted to Protestantism, were hunted down and almost all exterminated on the orders of the Parliament of Aix-en-Provence. Mérindol was the first village targeted by this crusade against 24 villages in the Luberon, which were pillaged and burned. A memorial to the Waldensians of Provence has been erected on the site of the former fortified castle of Mérindol.
If, like us, you don't immediately see any connection between Mérindol and Pic de la Mirandole, perhaps a little philosophical and purely personal reflection will help you make the connection... or not!

𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐮 𝐑𝐞́𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧 Due to rockfalls, access to the Régalon Gorges is prohibited until further notice as a safety measure. An assessment will be carried out shortly to evaluate the situation.
𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐝e 𝐑𝐞́𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧

Details

78019658
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 457 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 449 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 336 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 111 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park, follow the small access road and, shortly afterwards, at the corner, turn left onto the path that climbs and rejoins the GR® about 200 m further on. Follow the GR® to the place called Sadaillan. Please note that the GR® route has been modified compared to the IGN base map.

(1) At Sadaillan, turn right towards Mérindol while following the GR®.

(2) Turn right onto Chemin des Roches, then immediately right after the chapel, take the paved slanting street that climbs towards Vieux Mérindol. Visit the ruins of the old fortress and find the path down the north side. It joins Chemin des Roches, then Route de la Fond de l'Orme.

(3) Turn left, then 200 m further on, take the path that descends to the right. Continue through the heath until you reach some fenced properties, then turn left until you reach a small road. Follow it for 100 m, keeping the road on your right.

(4) Take the path on the right and follow it past the crops and greenhouses. After the campsite, turn left onto a forest track, then take a path that climbs to the right until you reach a track. Follow this track to the right until you reach the Régalon car park.

(5) Turn right, cross the picnic area, and follow either path/trail north to the entrance to the Gorges du Régalon.

(6) A little physical exercise later, without danger or particular difficulty except for a bit of rock climbing at the bottom of the gorges (no ropes, no ladders, just a little elbow grease). The route reaches a fork.

(7) Turn right and continue through the gorge until the end.

(8) At the exit of the gorge, continue to the right, through a little more forest before reaching a superb cleared area that the route follows to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 249 m - Fond de l'Orme car park
  2. 1 : km 1.28 - alt. 269 m - Sadaillan
  3. 2 : km 3.48 - alt. 232 m - Memorial fork - Mémorial Vaudois
  4. 3 : km 4.32 - alt. 179 m - Fond de l'Orme forest road
  5. 4 : km 6.18 - alt. 145 m - Path. Passage near the - Canal de Carpentras
  6. 5 : km 8.61 - alt. 115 m - Régalon Gorge car park - Gorges du Régalon
  7. 6 : km 9.48 - alt. 142 m - Entrance to the gorges on the downstream side
  8. 7 : km 10.61 - alt. 213 m - Fork
  9. 8 : km 11.49 - alt. 269 m - Exit from the gorges on the upstream side.
  10. S/E : km 13.93 - alt. 248 m - Fond de l'Orme car park

Notes

Car parks and picnic areas at Fond de l'Orme and at the entrance to the Gorges du Régalon on the downstream side.

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

2.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
1 / 5
Ease of following the route
2 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
bm.mar13
bm.mar13

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The Régalon Gorges are closed due to rockfalls, so it is impossible to complete the route!
The description is far too vague; please provide RELIABLE landmarks.

Machine-translated

User 20783281
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Well signposted up to a certain point , then no more markings. It's a real shame, it's always the same, disappointing.
We managed, but I'm not sure we did the whole route. Very pretty scenery.

Machine-translated

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