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Park in the Bacchus car park behind the post office.
Yellow and red markings onthe GR® de Pays Tour des Dentelles de Montmirail
(S/E) From the car park, walk back up towards the village. At the end of the street, turn left, cross the square, keeping to the right, and walk up the one-way street until you reach the calvary.
(1) At the cross, climb up opposite towards "Pas de l'Aigle" and "Col du Cayron" on theGR® de Pays (yellow and red markings). Continue on the Chemin de Font Sane and keep left at the fork. The tarmac road becomes a wide stony path. Continue following theGRP® markings, ignoring private paths and those marked with a yellow and red cross. Leave the Col du Cayron on your right. Shortly before reaching the road, you will see the "Trois Yeux" rocks on your right, which are a climbing site, and the Dentelles Sarrasines in the background.
(2) At the junction with the D229, turn right and then immediately left before the bridge towards "Pas de l'Aigle". Climb up a wide path between vineyards and pine trees, making sure to keep in the same direction.
(3) At the fork, follow theGRP® signs to the right, which climb into the pine forest. At the next fork, leave the track that climbs in a curve along the vineyards and continue straight ahead on a stony, rutted path (GRP®) that leads to the track a little higher up. Follow the track to the left and you will come to another fork, which is not shown on the IGN map.
(4) Continue left on the track or wide path. On the left, this path is soon bordered by a safety fence overlooking a ravine. Through gaps in the vegetation, you can see high rocks with the distinctive shape of the Dentelles. Pass an antenna further up. After a wide bend to the right, leave theGRP® markings and follow the ONF wooden posts. You are now at the Pas de l'Aigle.
ONF posts and intermittent yellow markings
(5) After the signpost, continue along the same path until you reach the first crossroads. Turn left at a right angle: be careful, there are several yellow markings. Descend to a new, very wide crossroads.
(6) Go down to the right to reach the ONF wooden signpost "Gigondas, Col Du Cayron". After a right-hand bend, you will see the Dentelles Sarrasines. Caution: steep descent on a stony path, slippery in wet conditions. At the end of the descent, continue straight ahead until you reach a recent earthworks site.
(7) The route has been modified from the IGN map. The track now describes a hairpin bend to the right and you will find yourself above the place where you arrived. Continue climbing; if you make a mistake, you will descend onto a private road blocked by a chain. Keep right at the no entry sign. You will soon have a panoramic view: on the left, the Rocher Saint-Christophe and the Lafare road below, and when you turn around, the western slope of Mont Ventoux.
Continue along the main track. A superb view of the Dentelles Sarrasines and terraced vineyards unfolds because the track you are following is now parallel to the Dentelles on your left. Just before you reach a barrier and a car park, you will see climbing routes on the rock faces on your right, and perhaps some climbers. Descend to the next junction. At the "Lafare Rocher École" signpost, continue straight ahead. From now on, the route will be very busy.
(8) At the Col du Cayron car park (signpost "belvédère 1200 m table d'orientation"), continue on the track that climbs to the left between a wooded area on the left and a vineyard on the right. Follow this track to a picnic area with tables.
(9) Climb the stairs on the right that lead to the Rocher du Midi viewpoint. Make a round trip on this steep but well-maintained climb. Be careful when accessing the viewpoint terrace, as the rocks are slippery. Superb panorama of the wine-growing villages of the Rhône valley and the Dentelles. Take the track you left and continue to the right until the next crossroads.
(9) Head south-west (right as you descend from the viewpoint). After about 150 m, take a sharp right turn towards Gigondas. Negotiate a second bend, this time to the left, after a DFCI barrier. The concrete descent is steep. Through the trees, you can see the old village of Gigondas and its castle.
(10) At the T-junction, continue right and then climb Rue du Château on the right until you reach some steps that climb steeply to the right. Follow the "archaeological and botanical trail" which takes you to the castle esplanade. Nice view of the church and ramparts.
(11) Go around the cemetery on the right and then head back down.
(12) Leave the church on your right and head to the square at the bottom of the village. Turn left, pass the town hall and return to the car park where you started (S/E).
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