The Vaucluse Mountains - La Nauque

A hike with numerous balcony paths and beautiful views. In particular, the balcony path through Combe de Capellan overlooks the gorges.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.39 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 502 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 501 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 576 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 253 m

Photos

Description of the walk

La Nauque. Car park in front of the farm, at the foot of the pumping station with electricity pole.

(S/E) Take the path opposite, on the other side of the road, then continue along the path on the left towards the farm. You will come to a crossroads.

(1) Do not go down towards the farm, but take the path on the right going uphill. Further on, turn left onto the track and follow it for 100 m.

(2) Leave the track and turn right onto the unmarked path (marked with a cross). At the crossroads, continue straight ahead for a return trip to the viewpoint overlooking the village.
Back on the path, turn right onto this path which runs along the cliff, at the edge of the road, until you reach a fork in the road. Continue left along the road for 100 m.

(3) At the right-hand bend in this road, turn left into the first valley (marked with a cross). (Alternative route possible - see practical information).

(4) At the top of the valley, turn left onto the track and follow it for about one kilometre until you reach a fork.

(5) Take the track on the right to reach the viewpoint.

(6) Do not go straight down, but turn around to find the track.

(5) Turn right onto this track, then go around via Ribastié.

(7) At the bend, take the path on the right towards Fontaine de Rupt. Continue until you reach a junction of two tracks.

(8) Then turn completely left onto the track until you reach a fork.

(9) Turn left onto the track and continue until you reach the Mont Serein Sud signpost.

(10) Leave the track and take the small path on the right towards Camp Long. Walk along the gorges on a superb balcony path in the Combe de Capellan until you reach a cross track. Turn left to reach a T-junction at the houses.

(11) Take the path on the left (GR®), then continue through the combe in the undergrowth.

(12) Keep to the far left (GR®) and take the old road that climbs up to the Nauque farm.

(13) At the farm, leave the road via a small path on the left which leads back to the starting point.

(1) Head straight ahead and, after 100 m, turn right again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 372 m - Pumping station. Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 383 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 0.58 - alt. 431 m - Fork in the road. Return to the viewpoint.
  4. 3 : km 1.25 - alt. 424 m - Combe, on the left
  5. 4 : km 2.27 - alt. 576 m - Track on the left
  6. 5 : km 3.3 - alt. 530 m - Fork in the road. Return to the viewpoint.
  7. 6 : km 3.46 - alt. 541 m - Viewpoint over the Rhône valley
  8. 7 : km 4.1 - alt. 481 m - Balcony path, on the right
  9. 8 : km 5.9 - alt. 540 m - Track through the woods, on the left
  10. 9 : km 6.28 - alt. 536 m - Track, on the left
  11. 10 : km 6.46 - alt. 540 m - Small path on the right. Combe de Capellan
  12. 11 : km 8.88 - alt. 328 m - GR, left at the houses
  13. 12 : km 11.28 - alt. 253 m - Old road, on the left. GR
  14. 13 : km 12.01 - alt. 373 m - La Nauque Farm
  15. S/E : km 12.39 - alt. 372 m - Pumping station. Car park

Notes

At (3) You can extend the route by two kilometres by continuing straight ahead to pass through Combe Mayaud, Mur de la Peste and descend via Carroufra.

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

4.4 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
rck
rck

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on a beautiful cold but sunny day. View of Mont Ventoux, which was covered in snow. Very rocky path, steep and rocky descent into the gorges. Pretty balcony section. Not to be attempted after heavy rain. To finish the hike, there is a beautiful climb up a tarmac path that passes by the farm. Watch out for the dogs that guard the flocks of sheep at the farm.

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Olivier-L
Olivier-L

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Wow! I loved it, and so did my dogs! The scenery is varied and magnificent. The elevation gain (600 m over just under 14 km according to my watch) is well distributed throughout the route, so you never get bored.
It's a shame that a bad slip damaged my drone, which refused to take off again, so I couldn't film the spectacular Capellan valley.
A video of this hike can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/rISjWVb8CZM
Thank you for sharing this route. We will probably return to this area, which is so beautiful.

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Marie Meulle
Marie Meulle

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike with beautiful views.
No major difficulties, accessible to experienced walkers.
Very beautiful views of Mont Ventoux, which was covered in snow that day.

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cachoute
cachoute

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, especially in the second part when you walk along the gorges. This is also the most challenging part: a very rocky descent between 10 and 11, which is also very wet and therefore very slippery. You need to be very careful. Then, the path between 11 and 12 is fairly flat and a little monotonous, but it allows you to regain your strength to tackle the fairly steep climb at the end of the route. As you can see, this is a very varied route in terms of both scenery and difficulty. Not really recommended for people who are not very fit or for children! Nevertheless, it is a hike with magnificent scenery in the gorges! Superb! Thank you!

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dmike
dmike

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Beautiful views on this hike
No worries about walking along the balcony path from the viewpoint.
However, between WP 10 and WP 11, the descent from the Capellan valley is very steep at the beginning, so you will need to use your hands.
For this reason, I do not recommend it for children.

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Emmanuel26
Emmanuel26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A superb hike offering a beautiful variety of trails and landscapes. The panoramic views are stunning, as are the descents between the cliffs. The final climb is indeed quite steep, but we enjoyed it because we still had enough energy left. We took less time than indicated because we only took very short breaks to admire the scenery. I highly recommend it.

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JFN84
JFN84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
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, with the difficulty level as expected. The end is a bit tough for those who are not very fit.

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fetou2
fetou2

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb, very varied hike. Beautiful scenery and magnificent views. Just a few spots that may be a little dizzying for those who are sensitive to heights (near cliffs): avoid taking children.
It's a shame there are no photos. The author of the hike can contact me, as I took a few.

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cabonine
cabonine

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route. The walk is very beautiful. It follows balcony paths for quite a long way. It is quite wooded. It takes you through woods, heaths, cliffs and impressive gorges in the hills south of Venasque.
As the route is not fully signposted, it is easy to lose your way and have to retrace your steps. I had to use my GPS to follow it properly.
The paths are stony and the descent (-15%) from the Capellan valley can be challenging for someone who is not very fit. The final climb (>+15%) is also quite "strenuous", although the path is wide and partially tarmac.

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hervevisorando
hervevisorando

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for this beautiful hike. However, the description could be significantly improved.
The route mainly follows marked trails – yellow or red and white – (it would be useful to mention this) as well as
the signposts and use the directions provided by the signposts to continue the route.
Thanks again.
Hervé

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goelandsud
goelandsud
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike with, as promised in the description, very pretty balcony trails and beautiful views, particularly of Mont Ventoux. Many trails through the cool undergrowth.
I hadn't looked at the elevation chart before setting off, because the last kilometre, with a 15% incline at the very end of the route, would have made me want to do it the other way round. Next time...
Thank you to the author for this magnificent hike.

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