The millstones at Colonzelle

Family walk along the Lez. Different crops, including lavender, oak trees and vineyards, contrast with the cliffs. Pass through the quarry carved into the sandstone where thousands of millstones were carved for the mills.

Details

27789990
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.77 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 83 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 91 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 178 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 145 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the church square in the centre of Colonzelle. If there are no spaces available, there is another car park right next door, opposite the town hall.

(S/E) Go to the roundabout and take the road opposite, towards the fitness trail and tennis courts. At the tennis courts, take the dirt track that continues on and go straight ahead along the Lez.

(1) Make a short detour to the left to admire the base of the cliffs, then return to the path and continue along the route until you reach the millstone quarry a little further on.

(2) Be careful at this crossroads: do not go straight ahead (private property) but turn left onto the path that goes uphill. Continue straight ahead (yellow markings).

(3) Take the path on the left, then turn right at the next crossroads. Ignore the path on the left (private property) and continue straight ahead until the next junction. Turn left and keep to the right at the three-way junction to join the D231.

(4) Follow the departmental road with caution and cross the village of Margerie. Pass the Grande Rue on your left and continue to the next junction.

(5) Turn left: there are hiking signs indicating the way. In the bend, keep to the left and continue to follow the yellow markings.

(6) At the crossroads, turn right and cross the Bois du Pâtis, keeping in the same direction. Pass the path on the right that leads to the D231 and continue for a few dozen metres.

(7) Turn left onto the fitness trail and follow it to the cemetery. At the cemetery, leave the fitness trail, which continues to the left, and go straight ahead until you reach the D231 again. Follow the road to the left with caution, turn right at the roundabout to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 171 m - Church car park
  2. 1 : km 1.48 - alt. 154 m - Cliff
  3. 2 : km 1.95 - alt. 152 m - Private property junction, on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.57 - alt. 165 m - Crossroads, on the left
  5. 4 : km 3.68 - alt. 145 m - D231
  6. 5 : km 4.05 - alt. 154 m - Crossroads, on the left
  7. 6 : km 4.49 - alt. 166 m - Bois du Pâtis, on the right
  8. 7 : km 5.92 - alt. 173 m - Fitness trail on the left
  9. S/E : km 6.77 - alt. 170 m - Church car park

Notes

There is a fitness trail that is shorter than the hike, as well as a city stadium.

Worth a visit

Nearby is the Château de Grignan.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Guiylaine
Guiylaine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very enjoyable hike because it is very varied.
The written description without an IGN map is not sufficient, as mountain bikers have created numerous tracks that have become trails.
An IGN map is therefore highly recommended!

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User 27237686

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There weren't many people because it was hot

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cmouesca
cmouesca

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike that wasn't too crowded that day. The route is sufficiently shaded and offers beautiful views.
A wonderful discovery of the cliff (an old millstone quarry) for climbing.

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papou26200
papou26200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There are a few people near the fitness trail area, but otherwise it's a lovely walk with the interesting quarry millstones to discover. Generally well shaded, it's possible to walk here in summer with the option of going down to the river (slightly steep slope). In summer, I think it's better to park near the fitness trail/tennis courts as there isn't much shade in the village car parks. Thank you for the walk.

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menichetti
menichetti

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk that is not too busy.
Well-marked route that is easy to follow.
Suitable for all ages.

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mancusoagnes
mancusoagnes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

faite avec un groupe de 19 randonneurs apres quelques jours de pluie donc par endroit un peu glissant , .Joli circuit dejà fait il y a ...quelques années ! quelques passages chaotiques sans difficulté insurmontable meme avec des randonneurs moins aguerris de meme que les grimpettes !. tres jolis points de vue dégagés en crete. on peut facilement raccourcir ou rallonger cette balade car plein de petits sentiers à tenter .

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Zoule
Zoule

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A good run for a Sunday afternoon

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Frann_loi_d_ombre
Frann_loi_d_ombre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little hike. Much of it is in the shade of trees, which was very pleasant as it was still quite warm for an October day.

There are a few sections where you have to scramble a bit... Nothing insurmountable, but be careful if you are elderly or have physical limitations.

Thank you for sharing.

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patrick.hélène
patrick.hélène

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, easy because it is mostly flat, but with a few sections where you have to scramble a bit.
Quite shaded and a pleasant section near the river, which was welcome given the heat we experienced.
We would gladly do it again.

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Xav26D
Xav26D

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk. Many paths are not shown on the map. If you are not using GPS tracking (which is very useful for this type of route), I recommend using both maps: OpenStreetMap and IGN, as they complement each other.
Be careful at point 2: there are no signs on site, so do not take the path (even though it is well marked) that leads to a house visible in the distance.
The cumulative elevation gain calculation is incorrect; it indicates 26 metres, but it is at least 70 metres.

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Calinebour
Calinebour

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike, not much road walking, well marked... Much appreciated... Beautiful view at the edge of the woods...

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Sandrine.B
Sandrine.B

Hello, I'm sorry to hear that, and I don't really understand, because there aren't many paths and everything was clearly marked, especially the places where it would have been easy to get lost.

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Spetel
Spetel

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The directions provided were insufficient. For each section with markings, it should be indicated to follow the yellow markings to Margerie (for example). There were numerous trail junctions where it was not indicated which one to follow. This was the first time I felt lost, but fortunately the trail was busy and we were able to get information from other hikers.

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