Les Taillades with its varied landscapes and viewpoints

Start : Park in the car park in front of the post office or in the large car park on the other side of the road.

(S/E) Facing the Auberge des Carrières, head left down Chemin du Luberon street. Stay on this road, passing first the old cemetery and then the Chapelle Saint-Gens. At the next junction, turn right (South-East) up the Chemin de Sainte-Guimelle towards the new cemetery. Stay on the tarmac road to its end. When it becomes a dirt road, turn left and then immediately left again. Staying on the main path, drop down to the Chemin de Boulon and follow this dirt road to the right. You quickly come to a rough parking area.

(1) Carry on the Chemin de Boulon with the Petit Luberon on your right. A little further on, enter the Natura 2000 site (protected area) on your right. Cross the picnic area and then at the barrier take the path left. You then come to the Source du Boulon (a spring which may be flowing or dry depending on the time of year, with a wall built along the base of the cliff).

(2) Go past the spring and follow the steep path to the right, following the yellow waymark. This path, known as the "Sentier des Rochers de Baude", follows the rock wall as far as the top of the cliff. Follow the yellow waymarking closely.
You then reach the saddle (the “Brèche de Castelas”). Before continuing to the other side, take a moment to enjoy the remarkable view. Go down on the further slope, still following the yellow-marked path.

(3) At the signpost "Le Castelas”, head right (East) towards "Les Taillades", "Gorge de Badarel". Follow the "Sentier de Badarel" (yellow waymarks) down into the Badarel Gorge.
You will soon find yourself in a very narrow gully, a short section of which is fitted with handrails and rungs set into the rockface.
After the equipped section, take care, since the path is covered in scree.
Continue straight down the main path until you reach the Pied Caud fire access track at the signpost "Gorge de Badarel".

(4) Turn left towards Vidauque. Stay on the track for about 150 m, then take the path on the right, heading in the same direction, but in the shade. Stay on this path until you come to a marker stone on the right, indicating the boundary of the local district boundary. Carry straight on and join the Pied Caud track, which describes a double bend.

(5) In the second bend, take the path which heads off to the right. At the four-cairn junction, carry straight on. Just after the junction, note a yellow cycle route sign in a juniper bush. Follow the main path till you return to the fire access track. Turn right and immediately left (yellow waymarks) to approach the sunken cistern N°78.

(6) Ignore the dirt roads to the right and left and carry straight ahead on the main track. At the next junction, keep left. You will come across a huge dead pine tree on the ground. Skirt round it and then leave a ruined building on your left. Drop down to reach the canal at a bridge.

(7) Do not cross the bridge but head right along the canal until the end of the dirt road. Go past the barrier preventing vehicular access and then cross the canal at the first opportunity by a bridge. Then turn right to follow the other bank of the canal. Cross a road and continue along the bank.

(8) On reaching the Route de Mourre Poussin, turn right to the roundabout, then carry straight on along the Avenue du Moulin. Take a quick look at St Peter’s Mill and its splendid waterwheel.

(9) Just before the mill, take the stone bridge to the right on the Chemin du Pérusier and follow this road up to the upper village (straight ahead until the Avenue du Château). At the junction, turn left along the Avenue du Château to return to the car park.

Do not return to your vehicle as yet, but continue straight ahead on the road which leads past the Auberge des Carrières towards the church and the castle. Stay on the road.

Pass to the right of the tower built on a rocky outcrop, up a cul-de-sac which gives access to the old buildings of the village and to superb viewpoints. Go as far as the gate at the end of the street and enter a small shady garden on the right. After visiting the garden and enjoying the view over the old quarries, return to the tower.

(10) After the tower, turn right along the Rue des Carrières. Ignore the dead end on your right and continue on the main street. At the halt sign, turn left and return to the car park in front of the post office. (S/E).

Start : Car park in front of the post office or in the large car park on the other side of the road (Avenue du Château).

Parking : Park in the car park in front of the post office or in the large car park on the other side of the road.

Terrain :
Warning : In the first and second sections of the walk, the paths are very steep and in places pass along sheer drops. Good footwear is essential. This walk is not advised with young children. The ladder in the Gorge de Badarel may be difficult to negotiate with a dog.
This walk benefits from shade provided first by the cliffs, then in the gorge and finally on the forest paths. Only the part in the built-up area is exposed to the sun.

- Rochers de Baude and Badarel Gorge.
- Carpentras Canal and St Peter’s Mill.
- Les Taillades https://www.luberoncoeurdeprovence.com/d...