Gorges de Véroncle

The walk starts near Gordes (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France) and passes through the Véroncle gorge to Murs and its castle.
A very pleasant, energetic walk in the ravine of the Véroncle gorges, discovering the remains of old mills from different periods along the way.
There are a few ladders and ropes, and an old sluice shaft that cannot be avoided.

Technical sheet

26577
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 297 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 11 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 502 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 206 m

Photos

Description of the walk

From the starting point by the road, head north towards the mouth of the valley and then to the gorges following a winding track. (1) After a slight rise, bear right as soon as possible to walk along the riverbed. Follow the riverbed to a section equipped with a ladder and follow on.
From this point on, follow the waymarks (blue dots). You'll reach the first site of a mill's ruins very quickly, then continue through the bottom of the gorge. The route is very easy, since following the riverbed, you can't get it wrong. The walk continues past a succession of cauldrons, cairns and mills.
(2) After a fairly large sinkhole filled with water, the walk seems to come to an end at the remains of the last mill. Look carefully to the left, along the wall. The old penstock shaft is still there with a length of rope to help you crawl through and reach the top of the mill. The path continues past some dammed-up ponds and to a secondary road. The pretty village of Murs comes into view and is the finishing point of the walk.
The sequence of features in the gorge:
- moulin des Grailles
- moulin Cabrier
- moulin Jean de Mare
- moulin du Puits de Cata
- moulin de la Charlesse
- moulin du Dévissé
- moulin des Étangs
- barrages des Étangs

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 207 m - Les Grailles - Véroncle (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.34 - alt. 221 m - After a slight climb, turn right
  3. 2 : km 3.85 - alt. 414 m - Crawl to the left of the mill
  4. E : km 5.83 - alt. 501 m - Village of Murs - Château de Murs

Practical information

N.B. There is a risk of getting wet feet in places.
No equipment needed.
The sluice shaft may obstruct some hikers.

In the nearby area

Gordes Village, which is listed as one of the most beautiful sites in France (close to the starting point) and Murs at the finishing point, with its castle and old centre, are worth a visit.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 57 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Gil06
Gil06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice hike, technical on the first part. You need to be nimble to climb the two ladders and a few knotted toes. It's essential to go up the gorge as it can be really tricky at some points on the way down.
The first part takes time and so you can avoid the top of the loop, which is of no interest. There's also no point in going downhill to the east, the straightest descent is fine. We set off from the southernmost point. It's good but there aren't many parking spaces. Difficult in season.

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jhijo
jhijo

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The difficulty of this route is that frequent landslides change the configuration of the terrain and the paths, which have to be adapted according to the moment to follow the Véroncle. Some areas are equipped with ropes or metal bars for safe passage.
This is a picturesque and pleasant route in good weather. To be avoided in wet weather.

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Ange Heureux
Ange Heureux

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It can be a demanding walk, but overall we enjoyed it. The start is in the riverbed, and sometimes the GR takes you up to higher ground (with a cable), sometimes for nothing, like the first few metres on the right, and sometimes you have to follow it... so we went to see and turned back !
We were a little worried about the descent of the high passage on the right (we're not professional climbers and sometimes suffer from vertigo), but it went off without a hitch and we were just glad to have got past the obstacle.
No more worries at point 2 with the mill chimney: the mill has been converted into a house, and there's now a well-signposted path to the right of the mill.
The last kilometre to Murs is indeed a bit tough in the sun on the tarmac road, but we were consoled by a good meal at Le Crillon!
On the way back down, we turned right at the moulin du milieu (Geocaching loop), but it's a long way up and a lot higher: you arrive above the valley with some great views from above. But we weren't able to make the most of it, as the heavy rain from the thunderstorm fell on us on the last few kilometres back down to Les Grailles...

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pcoursimault@gmail
pcoursimault@gmail

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk.
It took us 3 hours 45 minutes to get to Murs.
1h20 on the way back.
At one point, we didn't see the fork.
We took our dog with us. It was a mistake because he doesn't climb ladders!
I'll be back as the site is magnificent.

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yves.drapp
yves.drapp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

We did this walk in both directions (around 4 hours 30 minutes). There were a few technical sections in the gorges, but overall it was a very pretty route. The ruins of flour mills along the way are interesting and tell us about the economic life of this region in the 19th century. The village of Murs can be visited (castle and church).

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Namaspamus
Namaspamus

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb, varied route, with technical sections but without overdoing it. At the first mill (Cabrier), go and look at the arch at the bottom then return to the mill, the path passes on the left. Otherwise well signposted.
Very parish specific to Brittany
One way to Murs in 2:40

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natach
natach

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Done at the beginning of July in the heat, so very few people, if anyone.
Done without water ... With, that must be impracticable even very dangerous.
On the other hand, it was a very beautiful wild gorge.
We set off from Murs to reach Les Grailles and then headed back to Joucas to find a path (not well signposted either) that took us back to our starting point.
The signs leave something to be desired. It is strongly recommended that you are well equipped with an app.
Your app is very detailed between the IGN map and the description.

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Randoboy
Randoboy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

1st part very cool, fun, with ladders, ropes, caves!... 2nd part (to go to Mur) more sober, a bit complicated to find your way around sometimes for me. But a nice surprise at the end!
I recommend 👍

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mp2
mp2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice and original walk through the gorge

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zoomrando
zoomrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Quite a bit of ascent, but the view of the meanders is superb. Very little traffic in March.

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mjass
mjass

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Some tricky ascents / decents which requires some upper body strength. We’ll worth the time spent. The gorge is lovely and has historic interest.

titou902001
titou902001

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Superb hike with our daughters aged 8 and 11: they loved the technical sections and so did we! By downloading the route and looking carefully for the yellow and red marks, we saw everything except the passage through the chimney.
I can confirm that you need to be equipped and do the route in dry weather, as there are a lot of passages over rocks.

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catherine21500
catherine21500

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice route through the gorges. It's quite difficult because there are a lot of stony sections where I had to get down on all fours. It's advisable to have a map as there are several options along the way.

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Vertacomi
Vertacomi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

On holiday in Joucas, a family hike (10 people) from 8 months old! (on daddy's back in the baby carrier, I assure you!!!) to 63 years old. The signposting must have been redone recently (the paint is still shining!) and there may be some small differences between the original route and the new signposting, but on the other hand, there were no problems finding your way around.
It's a great walk, very fun with its equipped sections, windmills and superb scenery. The impression of a wilderness area was heightened by the fact that we didn't meet anyone, despite the fact that we were on holiday at the end of July.
Being used to the mountains (as we live in the Alps), we understand that some sections may pose a few difficulties for less experienced hikers, but this hike is definitely worth it!

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MERLINMICHEL
MERLINMICHEL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent gorges. No water, rock or stones slippery in places. Without being really difficult, this hike requires vigilance and should be avoided in case of heavy rain. We recommend

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