Lioux - The Madeleine cliff

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

Technical sheet

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

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 351 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 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

Practical information

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

In the nearby area

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

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 101 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
lacris64
lacris64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

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

Automatically translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your feedback

Automatically translated

Sampierro
Sampierro

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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...

Automatically translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for this very encouraging feedback
Sincerely

Automatically translated

Kattymini
Kattymini

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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

Automatically translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your pleasant feedback

Automatically translated

Aymeric
Aymeric

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : 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.

Automatically translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Many thanks for your feedback

Automatically translated

christine-devreux
christine-devreux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : 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.

Automatically translated

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.

Automatically translated

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.

Automatically translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

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

Automatically translated

lagardais
lagardais

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

there are still errors in the denivele.autrement rendo superbe

Automatically translated

Jacky Anx
Jacky Anx

Thank you for your feedback
Sincerely

Automatically translated

Leman François
Leman François

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Brilliant, what happiness on this course, and plenty to see. thank you, thank you

Automatically translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.