Lioux - The Madeleine cliff

Circuit around Lioux returning through the Madeleine cliffs, with fine views of the Vaucluse ranges.

Details

109699
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 351 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 345 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 578 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 247 m

Photos

Description of the walk

500 m before Lioux, take the uphill road to the right above the cemetery towards the car park at the Lioux windmill.

(S) From the car park, with your back to the direction sign, take the track opposite towards the Plan des Yves. This forks immediately. Follow the right-hand track waymarked in yellow down through the boxwood and holm oaks. Continue straight ahead at the first intersection. Ignore the next track to the right and continue downhill until you reach the Plan des Yves junction.

(1) Head left towards the Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine (ignoring the two leftmost tracks which lead back up the hill). This track runs level, through olive groves, vineyards and cherry orchards. Stay on the main track, which is well marked, ignoring all others until you reach the Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine.

(2) Continue on the other side, passing to the right of the chapel, towards the Croix de la Lave. After 50 m, leave the main track for a narrower track on the right, which runs level among pines and holm oak.
At the Saint Marc shrine, cross road D115 and continue on the other side on the track leading to the Croix de la Lave. Continue straight ahead on the main track ignoring all others. The track passes round a vineyard, dips into a valley and rises for a few metres to the Croix de la Lave junction.

(3) Bear left towards Font-Jouvale. The track passes alongside a vineyard, dominated by a dry-stone hut centre left, then enters the valley. When the track becomes narrower, leave the valley floor and follow the waymarks up a path on the left-hand side to road D115.

(4) When you reach the road, turn right for a few metres and cross over. Find the path rising to the left following the green waymarks for route No 12. The path climbs steeply, and, after a few hairpins, meets another path. Turn left and emerge on to a wider track 20 m further up. Continue to the left of this track, which climbs steadily to a cross, of which only the base remains.

(5) Ignore the track opposite and head right, following the green waymarks for route No 11. At a fork a few yards later, take the right-hand path and follow it as it bears west to follow the cliff edge. From this point on, follow the green waymarks which run close to the cliff, ignoring the other waymarks which appear from time to time.

(6) At an intersection on an esplanade, ignore the tracks to the left and the one that heads right, downhill towards the Verrerie and continue straight ahead. Keep following the same waymarks close to the cliff edge, enjoying the panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Over 2 km later, the waymarks lead down to the car park

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 344 m - Moulin de Lioux car park
  2. 1 : km 1.31 - alt. 247 m - Yves map
  3. 2 : km 3.56 - alt. 342 m - Sainte-Madeleine Chapel
  4. 3 : km 5.07 - alt. 315 m - Lava Cross
  5. 4 : km 7.76 - alt. 436 m - Leave the coomb - Turn left
  6. 5 : km 8.5 - alt. 544 m - The Cross
  7. 6 : km 10.26 - alt. 540 m - Crossroads towards la Verrerie
  8. S/E : km 12.9 - alt. 344 m - Moulin de Lioux car park

Notes

Be careful! The second part of the hike runs close to the cliff top.

Worth a visit

The Saint Madeleine chapel and its little hermitage, which are in excellent condition.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 104 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
SAUNIERMARTINE
SAUNIERMARTINE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Actually, a superb hike. Very good description; the only difficulty was finding the path at point 4. There was a Yellow Cross there, not the green number 12. We took it anyway and later came across a path coming in from the right. Perhaps that was the right one. But it doesn’t matter as we found the base of the cross further on. At point 3, the path sometimes follows the riverbed, which might be tricky after heavy rain.
The best bit is having a snack on the cliff. We found the hole again – brilliant.
I recommend this hike.

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Jean-Luc H
Jean-Luc H

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike, accurate description. However, avoid with children or dogs, as the edge of the cliff is close to the path. There is even a hole in the ground in one place leading to the void, which is not secured (marked "danger" in green paint).

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Titi le pecheur
Titi le pecheur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied scenery and stunning views.The route is marked with green signs all along the way. The first few kilometres are easy, then there is an elevation gain of about 200 metres, which works up an appetite for lunch at point 5 with a superb unobstructed view. Afterwards, you walk along the cliffs without any risk and then descend for the return trip. The hike is worth doing even when it is a little windy, thanks to the Luberon mountain range.
Great hike 😅

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lacris64
lacris64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very interesting circuit for discovering the region
with beautiful views of the Provencal countryside, without tarmac
thank you for the description

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your feedback

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Sampierro
Sampierro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very fine walk, with no particular difficulties. The climb is gradual and the scenery varied. The first part is agricultural, with pretty plots of vineyards and olive groves; then it's aerial as you walk along the top of the cliff, with beautiful views of the many fields of lavender that will be magnificent at the end of June when the flowers are in bloom!
And it's a hike without any tarmac, which is a real bonus...

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for this very encouraging feedback
Sincerely

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Kattymini
Kattymini

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk with no difficulties on Monday 11 11 24 . Beautiful vineyards, a small chapel, a drystone shelter... just one small, easily accessible steep slope and a magnificent view when you reach the cliff. To see the cliff, don't hesitate to walk along the path that runs along the edge of the cliff. It's safe except in strong winds and, of course, watch out for children. Note that there is a large hole in the cliff face that allows you to see the fields below, but this can be dangerous as it is only marked on the ground. Thank you for this lovely route

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your pleasant feedback

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Aymeric
Aymeric

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We discovered a magnificent landscape and a sublime location.

An easy hike with a short climb and, above all, an exceptional view of the cliffs.

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Many thanks for your feedback

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christine-devreux
christine-devreux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb route with different landscapes and atmospheres. The steep climb from the end of point 3 to point 5 was completely accessible and the paths very pleasant. And once you're at the top, you're rewarded with the view.

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Don't forget to press the "recalculate altitude" button at the end of the hike. This will give you more accurate results.

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lagardais
lagardais

bonjour, je n'ai pas en tete précisement, mais il me semble que l'appli m'a compté 100 m à 150m de plus en positif. cela n'en detève pas la qualité de la rando.
Thank you for a great outing.

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Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Hello
How many errors are there in the gradient?
Thank you for your feedback

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