The Veroncle Gorges and its mills

A very beautiful and dynamic hike through the Véroncle Gorges and its four famous water mills. Climbing up these gorges, sometimes with the help of ladders or knotted ropes, is a real pleasure. The exit from the gorges leads to a sunny, stony plateau where you can take a well-deserved break. The return from Murs to Joucas via Notre-Dame du Salut will round off this original hike that you will certainly never forget.

Details

41517390
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 390 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 391 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 503 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 205 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park north of Joucas on Chemin du Château.

(S/E) Continue straight ahead on the small road, leaving Auvières on your right, and continue on the path that follows the road.

(1) Take the left-hand path at the fork.

(2) Descend to the left, heading south, and stay on the main path, keeping the same direction. You will come out onto a wider forest path. Follow it straight ahead until you reach a four-way junction.

(3) Turn right and follow the path to the crossroads at the entrance to Les Grailles.

(4) Turn right and head towards the gorges, passing Les Grailles. Go up the path.

(5) Turn right onto the path that descends steeply to the bottom of the gorges and climb back up.

(6) Turn right at the fork and continue to Moulin des Étangs.

(7) Stay on the path to the right of the mill. Join a track suitable for vehicles and follow it in the same direction to come out onto a small tarmac road called Chemin de Font de Ribeau. Follow it to the right towards Murs.

(8) Be careful, leave the road and take the path on the right through the grassy park and enter the woods. Stay on this narrow path and go up it on the left: you will see the beautiful village of Murs on your left. You will come out on Route d'Apt (D4).

(9) Continue straight ahead for about 200 metres, then leave the main road and turn left onto a small road leading downhill. You will rejoin the D4.

(10) Go up the main road for 50 metres on the right, then take the path on the left towards the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Salut.

(11) Then retrace your steps.

(10) Turn right onto the small road you were following before. At the crossroads, go straight ahead and continue down the marked path.

(12) Continue straight ahead, leaving Les Rourettes on your left. Join a tarmac road, cross it to continue opposite and you will reach a three-way junction.

(13) Turn right, then left in Auvières to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 271 m - Parking Chemin du Château
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 289 m - Forest road on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.21 - alt. 314 m - Turn left at the fork.
  4. 3 : km 2.32 - alt. 208 m - Crossroads, on the right
  5. 4 : km 2.77 - alt. 205 m - Les Grailles. La - Véroncle (rivière)
  6. 5 : km 3.15 - alt. 242 m - Descent into the gorges
  7. 6 : km 6.45 - alt. 402 m - Junction, on the right
  8. 7 : km 7.21 - alt. 419 m - The Moulin des Étangs
  9. 8 : km 8.5 - alt. 463 m - Leave the road and take the path on the right.
  10. 9 : km 8.92 - alt. 503 m - Route d'Apt
  11. 10 : km 9.42 - alt. 451 m - Crossroads. Return trip to the chapel.
  12. 11 : km 9.6 - alt. 444 m - Notre-Dame du Salut (Murs)
  13. 12 : km 11.09 - alt. 316 m - At the crossroads, go straight ahead.
  14. 13 : km 12.03 - alt. 283 m - Three-way junction, to the right
  15. S/E : km 12.24 - alt. 270 m - Parking Chemin du Château

Notes

Although the hike is rated 49 on the IBP scale, the climb up the gorges is challenging. Allow for 800 metres per hour. There are some difficult sections with ladders and knotted ropes.
Wear sturdy footwear.
Avoid hiking in rainy weather. Follow the marked trail carefully.

Worth a visit

Notre-Dame du Salut Chapel.
It is worth noting that the gorges served as a hideout for the French Forces of the Interior in 1944.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Randorphine
Randorphine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, quite technical, some sections are borderline dangerous... rockfalls along the route...
Not to be attempted in the rain!
Only for experienced hikers...
Otherwise, the route is well marked and totally awesome!!

To be done again!

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your very kind feedback.

Machine-translated

Sandrine elodyl
Sandrine elodyl

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 24 November in wet conditions following rain the previous night, resulting in a very slippery trail
In the gorges, parts of the route were difficult because the terrain was very steep and there were very few handholds for climbing on the rocks.
The sections with ropes and ladders were very good.
However, it was a real treat because the location was very nice.
I recommend this hike for people with experience in difficult hiking
I think the "difficult" rating should not be taken lightly.
It was a pleasure to do it

Machine-translated

Machine suisse
Machine suisse

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Visorando enabled me to avoid getting lost on a poorly marked route.

Machine-translated

Philippe vandelle
Philippe vandelle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is rightly classified as difficult. The water-filled potholes force you to climb steep slopes and tackle climbing-style passages. The chimney passage at the end of the gorge is rock and roll, but what a joy it is to have made it through!

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your kind feedback.

Machine-translated

LeonardC
LeonardC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike offering a wide variety of landscapes. The route is well marked and equipped (ropes, ladders, steps, etc.). The most "technical" sections are in the gorges due to the slippery rocks. However, this does not prevent adventurers of all ages from accessing the route.

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

I'm talking about the most impressive point 7
Then we continue along the path
Have you seen the pastel-coloured cave on your right?

Machine-translated

Bondomi
Bondomi

It was after the Jean de Marre mill that we started to encounter difficulties. I think we made the descent using the technical passage you mention. A few metres using a cable, two small steel steps in the rock, then another cable. And then we came to a small dirt track. We also saw the mill by the ponds, so all three that are marked on the map. However, other descriptions mention a chimney to cross, which we did not see.

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

What a shame. You definitely missed the last mill and the descent with a more technical final section. You'll have to do it again.
Best regards

Machine-translated

Bondomi
Bondomi

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The walk is superb, technical in the section crossing the gorges. We were a small group of seniors (aged 65-75) and we did it without any problems.
The description is fairly brief, but the signage is impeccable, starting in Joucas and then at the exit of the gorges, where it is very clear. Unfortunately, in the gorges and especially at the end, it becomes very unpredictable and we turned back several times, particularly at the end where we took a very steep climb up the rock face that brought us back to the top of the gorges, no doubt on the right route.
Do not attempt this hike without the GPX track, or you risk doubling the duration of the walk.
Nevertheless, we were very happy with our day.

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Many thanks for your feedback.

Machine-translated

bragrix
bragrix

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting hike completed on 25/03/2024 in 4½ hours alone without meeting anyone. A real pleasure.

Machine-translated

schentuleit
schentuleit

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike combining nature and heritage (four old water mills), with a few tricky sections but nothing too complicated for fit walkers. I completed the circular in three hours.

Machine-translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your kind feedback.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.