Old Vernègues and the Grand Puech plateau

In Alleins, use the car park at the junction of Avenue Sadi-Carnot and Traverse des Écoliers.

(S/E) Cross Avenue Sadi Carnot at the pedestrian crossing to follow Traverse des Écoliers and turn right at the end. Walk alongside the Font Couverte building and start climbing, following the red and white markings of the GR®6 to reach a fork in the road.

(1) Turn right, staying on the GR®.

(2) Take a short detour to the left to see an old tomb, then retrace your steps and continue straight ahead. You will soon come to a crossroads; continue straight ahead, following the GR®.

(3) At the start of the left-hand bend, turn right to climb up towards Vieux Vernègues through the forest.

(4) Leave the GR® and take the track on the right to climb up to the plateau and head towards the old mill, which serves as an orientation table.

(5) Continue to the left of the old mill to cross the Grand Puech plateau and reach the viewpoint over Alleins and the Luberon massif.

(6) Leave the viewpoint and turn right. Follow the path, which then descends to the left, winding its way downhill.

(7) Continue straight ahead downhill: this is a tricky junction as the path is not necessarily obvious at this point. Follow the path straight down the slope towards the village. Cross Avenue Sadi Carnot at the calvary and head straight ahead to return directly to the car park (S/E).

(4) Alternative: you can turn left to visit a small crêperie (Le Repaire) which has a very pleasant shaded terrace where you can enjoy a crêpe, an ice cream or simply a refreshing drink. You can then turn left at the foot of the castle to wander among the ruins of the old village destroyed by the 1909 earthquake and rejoin the route described in (4).