The ridges of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt

A long and beautiful excursion over easy but varied countryside, with some steeper sections on the descent but on an excellent path.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.65 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 733 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 741 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,054 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 388 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Choose your starting point depending on parking availability and the season. The route is described from a car park at the end of Rue de l'Oratoire, but this is a very small square with only 4 or 5 spaces. Park here or walk to this point from the car park.

(S/E) Pass under a porch and take Rue du Théâtre for a few metres, then follow a path that climbs to the right towards the castle.

(1) You will arrive just below the castle and join thePR® trail which heads north (well-marked, almost horizontal path). Follow this path which runs along a wide ridge covered with boxwood and oak trees.

(2) At an altitude of 740 metres, you will reach a small road. Ignore the branch that goes off to the right (towards Les Cavagnols) and the branch on the left (which goes towards Les Longuets) and continue straight ahead in a northerly direction, following the wooded ridge (ignore the paths on either side).

(3) At an altitude of around 880 metres, you will come to a group of clearly visible cisterns. Do not continue along the small road, but take a path (the start of which is not very clear) that branches off to the right and heads sharply south for a few metres. Find a good, clearly marked path that branches off to the left towards the north (you will join a path that comes from the right from Les Roumanes). Follow this good path northwards.

(4) At 945 metres, you will come to a fork. Stay on the path that goes uphill and not the one that branches off to the left. Follow this path, guided by its clearly visible route. At an altitude of around 1,000 metres, go around a deforested area on the right and then at the top. The path that follows will quickly take you to a junction where you will join a path coming from the left.

(5) Take this path to the right. You will arrive at the summit ridge and head right (due east) to reach, after a few metres, the summit of Cluyer marked by a cairn (1054m).

(6) Retrace your steps, then veer to the right until you find a very good path.

(7) There are several possible routes. It is best to take the "directissime Nord" (okay, the name is a bit of an exaggeration!). This well-marked, slightly stony path joins a road at an altitude of 971m and the PR®.

(8) Turn right towards the north-east. Keep going in this direction until you reach another path and turn right at a right angle (towards the east). You will come to a fork.

(9) Take the left fork (the other option is also possible). Signs indicate that you are on private land but allow pedestrians to use the path. At an altitude of 977m, join theGR®9and follow it to the right to reach the Travignon track.

(10) Take this track southwards for about 350m.

(11) When theGR® heads south-west, follow another well-marked path that continues south and climbs towards the Travignon small pass (it is also possible to continue following theGR® to Travignon). You will come to a beautiful cistern, then descend a hundred metres or so in a series of hairpin bends.

(12) At Travignon, at an altitude of around 930 metres, find the trace of a good path that branches off to the left towards the north-east. Take this path and walk through a beautiful area that is sometimes a little exposed (but you should always be on a very good path). Cross horizontally towards the north-east, then north, then north-east again. Descend a little at the end and reach the bottom of the Combe de Freissinière.

(13) Head due south on the path that follows the bottom of the valley as closely as possible (it sometimes deviates by only a few metres to avoid escarpments).

(14) At around 680m, do not follow the branch of the path that goes off to the left, but take the track on the right that gradually moves away from the bottom of the valley, overlooking it on its right bank. Follow the path that turns right towards the north-west at the end and reaches the Combe de Travignon, where you join theGR®9.

(15) Do not descend to the left, but take the path to the right for 3 or 4 metres. Look for the path that leaves from the right bank of the Combe de Travignon towards a beautiful cliff with a cave (Rocher de la Cadière). Follow this path, which passes under the cliff almost horizontally towards the south-west, and join the Lays track.

(16) Continue left on this small tarmac road, which you follow to Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt and arrive at the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 397 m - Parking at the end of Rue de l'Oratoire.
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 433 m - Junction with the PR
  3. 2 : km 2.68 - alt. 740 m - Small road near Les Gavagnols
  4. 3 : km 4.14 - alt. 896 m - The cisterns, path on the right
  5. 4 : km 4.66 - alt. 944 m - Fork in the forest
  6. 5 : km 5.25 - alt. 1,028 m - Last crossroads below the summit
  7. 6 : km 5.55 - alt. 1,054 m - Summit of Le Cluyer
  8. 7 : km 5.7 - alt. 1,050 m - Start of the "directissime Nord..."
  9. 8 : km 6.47 - alt. 972 m - Junction with the PR
  10. 9 : km 7.57 - alt. 993 m - Fork in the road, left
  11. 10 : km 8.63 - alt. 976 m - Arrival on the Travignon track
  12. 11 : km 9.01 - alt. 957 m - Departure towards the small pass of Travignon
  13. 12 : km 10.86 - alt. 926 m - Travignon
  14. 13 : km 11.85 - alt. 848 m - Combe de Freissinière
  15. 14 : km 13.88 - alt. 668 m - Turn right as you leave the bottom of the valley.
  16. 15 : km 14.99 - alt. 576 m - Junction with the GR9
  17. 16 : km 15.81 - alt. 591 m - Piste des Lays
  18. S/E : km 18.65 - alt. 396 m - Parking at the end of Rue de l'Oratoire.

Notes

No equipment is necessary other than good shoes and perhaps walking sticks. You are constantly on good paths. The only difficulty is the length.

Worth a visit

Numerous ayguiers (old fountains) and a few boundary stones.

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

4.9 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

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

Thank you for your comment. The duration indicated is calculated automatically by Visorando. Like you, I find it very overestimated...

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domiAlpes
domiAlpes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The hike is very beautiful and varied, with oak and pine forests, grassy plateaus, and trails overlooking the valleys. The climb is gradual. The duration was greatly overestimated for me, but of course it depends on how long you take to rest and whether you want to go fast or not. This route is very pleasant, thank you!

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jlf13
jlf13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a very interesting route due to its diverse landscapes and heritage.
At point 3: At the cisterns, it is a little difficult to find your way as the area has been cleared and the path is less clearly marked.
Between points 4 and 5, a small sign indicates the presence of a drystone shelter off the route (N43.98134° E5.40435°). This double drystone shelter is well preserved and worth a short detour. It appears as a small black square on the IGN map and is clearly visible on the satellite photo.
At point 6 at the top of Cluyer, visibility was reduced and did not allow us to enjoy the full view of the Luberon landscape.
On the descent from Cluyer, you can see Mont Ventoux.
After point 8, pass near the drystone shelter de la Cassette.
After point 10 to the north-east, there is a small drystone shelter with a picnic table worth seeing.
As Zixone says, I was less interested in the section between points 12 and 15 in the combe (even though there were no mosquitoes), and I would have preferred to take the GR 9.
Towards Romanet, there are many orchards in bloom at this time of year, which must benefit from the famous rain water reservoirs carved into rock scattered throughout this arid area.

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La Grave For Ever
La Grave For Ever

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting and slightly more athletic variation on the classic Tour des rain water reservoirs carved into rock. Perfect description. Many thanks!

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Papotam
Papotam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with a pleasant, shaded initial climb, without too many views but on passable trails without steps or steep slopes. Once at the top, the hardest part is over, with an elevation gain of almost 750 metres, and the chance to face Mont Ventoux on this beautiful sunny day.
The descent begins in the pine forest and takes us to a plateau bordered by hedges that remind me of our Normandy countryside (well, okay, holm oaks and olive trees here, I'm exaggerating), the paths are magnificent, and there are many drystone shelters that are worth taking a little detour from the trail to see. It's the ideal place for a picnic..
Then the walk continues, with another climb through the pine forest that hinders digestion but gets your legs moving again, followed by a more difficult path, slightly worn by mountain bikes. The long descent is hard on the calves, but the view of the valley makes you forget the pain...
Highly recommended!

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Zixone
Zixone
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike! The route is marked from start to finish (follow the green 5-10-14 trails). There are some beautiful views and the abandoned village of Travignon is a real highlight that is not to be missed.
The only downside is sections 13-14, which are unpleasant (in a hollow and full of insects that see us as their food source). It would probably be better to follow the GR between points 12 and 15. And to extend the route shortened by this change, follow the GR again at point 15 to go to the Puit des Castors. This adds 1.8 km to the route to St Saturnin. We didn't do it, but it was recommended to us afterwards.

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NOUVENE
NOUVENE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 12, 2021
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 beautiful discoveries... very informative too. Being from the region, we know the open rain water reservoirs carved into rock but not these ones. Not a single hiker on the route... The start was a little difficult to find but once on the route, the progress is well marked. Really a very beautiful hike to recommend with beautiful views. The Travignon rain water reservoir carved into rock complex is worth a detour.

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trotnatu
trotnatu

That's kind of you to say. I did this hike in the snow... I didn't even see Ventoux. I'll have to come back!!!

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alb_ator
alb_ator

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Finally, a hike that's worth the effort. The climb to the summit is steady and shaded in summer. And what a view, over Ventoux, Luberon and Alpilles. The detours are well worth the effort. Historically and culturally speaking, it was a real pleasure. Les Drystone Shelters, the rain water reservoirs carved into rock, and the little village of Travignon were a delight, even in the heat of the afternoon. The only downside was the tedious and monotonous descent after Travignon.
Having cycled around the large mountain above Rustrel, there is no doubt that this route is much better. Living about forty kilometres away, I was pleasantly surprised. The Luberon nearby is, in my opinion, too busy in summer.
Thank you to the person who posted this route.

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alb_ator
alb_ator

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Finally, a hike that's worth the effort. The climb to the summit is steady and shaded in summer. The detours are worth the effort. Historically and culturally speaking, it was a real pleasure. The drystone shelters, the rain water reservoirs carved into rock and the little village of Travignon were a delight, even in the heat of the afternoon. The only downside was the tedious and monotonous descent after Travignon.
Having walked around the large mountain above Rustrel, there is no doubt that this hike is much better. Living about forty kilometres away, I was pleasantly surprised. The Luberon is nearby, and there is a motorway.
Thank you to the person who posted this route.

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trotnatu
trotnatu

Thank you for your kind comment. You've even taught me about the beautiful view of Mont Ventoux. I did everything in fog and snow!
Best regards

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PIERRE MONNIER
PIERRE MONNIER
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful hike that starts in a pretty village. The ascents and descents are gentle slopes, without any difficulty.
The trails are magnificent. Numerous drystone shelters and wells built by our ancestors, as well as abandoned hamlets, give us an idea of what their hard life was like. Very beautiful panorama with a superb view of Mont Ventoux.
We highly recommend this beautiful hike.
PP and MM

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