Malaucène - The 3 combes

A beautiful circuit which, starting from the Malaucène paper mill, takes you up to the Chapelle de Piaud and then on to the combes of Grand Barbeirol, Brame Fam and Comentige. Finally, you reach a disused gypsum quarry, the spring and Notre Dame du Groseau.

Details

13107
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.40 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 509 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 503 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 763 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 378 m

Photos

Description of the walk

To find the starting point, head towards Mont Ventoux from the village of Malaucène, then take Chemin des Aréniès towards Les Aréniès.

(S/E) From the (disused) paper mill in Malaucène, head south and look for theGR®®91markers. Pass between the buildings and climb up to the departmental road.

(1) Cross it and climb through heath and pine forest to the Chapelle de Piaud. There are benches in front of the chapel where you can rest after this beautiful climb.

(2) After the chapel, still following theGR®®91, turn right, cross the road (D974) and descend, slightly to the left, into the ravine (the descent is a little uneven as it is covered in stones, so take care with your ankles and knees).

(3) At the bottom of the ravine, turn left and follow the yellow-markedPR®® trail, which will take you to Combe du Grand Barbeirol. Follow it until you reach a fork with a track.

(4) Go left, then at the crossroads in Combe de Brame Fam, turn right and climb up to the road.

(5) Cross it and take the path downhill towards Comentige. Continue along thePR®® until you reach theGR®®4.

(6) Follow it to the left, then descend the Combe de Comentige and arrive at a fork at the corner of a field.

(7) Continue along the path on the left at the edge of the woods (GR®4) and go straight on to the Source du Groseau, then join the road.

(8) Follow it to the right towards the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Grozeau and reach it.

(9) Continue along the road for a little while longer, then turn left onto Chemin des Aréniès and you will come to the disused paper mill (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 381 m - Disused paper mill in Malaucène
  2. 1 : km 0.56 - alt. 457 m - Road
  3. 2 : km 1.79 - alt. 699 m - Chapelle de piaud
  4. 3 : km 2.42 - alt. 614 m - Bottom of the ravine
  5. 4 : km 3.17 - alt. 686 m - Fork
  6. 5 : km 4.11 - alt. 761 m - Road
  7. 6 : km 4.99 - alt. 734 m - Crossroads with the GR4
  8. 7 : km 7.34 - alt. 417 m - Fork at the corner of a field
  9. 8 : km 8.65 - alt. 399 m - Source du Groseau
  10. 9 : km 9.07 - alt. 387 m - Chapelle Notre-Dame du Groseau
  11. S/E : km 9.4 - alt. 381 m - Disused paper mill in Malaucène

Notes

Rest area (at thesecondGR®®91- D974 junction) with beautiful views of Combe Obscur and Rocher du Gros Pata.
Bar and restaurant at Source du Groseau.
Please note that this hike can be very slippery if the ground is wet.

 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 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your feedback. I have just revised the description and layout.

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visosousou
visosousou

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a pleasant hike, with quite a bit of elevation gain right from the start. It's uphill...
You absolutely must download the route as the hike is not detailed enough on paper
otherwise, it's a pleasant trail, but take care on the descent into the valley
Best done with good footwear

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Nathalie.vera
Nathalie.vera

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

very beautiful hike, the beginning is quite steep, but it's worth it.
however, the description and route map are rather vague, so take care.

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saint victor
saint victor

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, varied trails but not many viewpoints. Thank you for this route

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ROYER Isabelle
ROYER Isabelle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk

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deduport
deduport

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Mention the elements of the Way of the Cross.

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AqualiJu
AqualiJu

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike, mainly on trails. Few viewpoints but the paths are pleasant.

Do it in the suggested direction!
Park at the Groseau spring car park (as there isn't really anywhere to park at the start) --> this doesn't lengthen the route and means you can skip the stretch of road at the start of the hike.
The descent to the Combe Obscure (after (1)) is steep

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cyrilledegraveson
cyrilledegraveson

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

done in trail mode at the end of November, with snow sprinkled across the route, it had a magical feel to it.
A very pleasant outing

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francou84
francou84
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

not enough views, a bit too many forests

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gegeline
gegeline

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

disappointing compared to the Combes de Curnier and Malleval

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Doc03
Doc03

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Very poorly classified route, moderate to difficult, caution advised for groups with respiratory or muscular difficulties as this route is not easy.
Route often runs through uninteresting woodland.

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chrisbleue
chrisbleue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant hike with beautiful views at the start of the walk. Just after leaving the paper mill, take the unmarked path on the right-hand side of the site and go straight ahead at the first crossroads. The rest of the route is obvious and well marked

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2529084110
2529084110

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

For me, I would classify this hike as quite difficult, particularly the descent from Combe Comtige, which is parish specific to Brittany and parish specific to Brittany.
Date: 12/01/19

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ssreajl
ssreajl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very good route that starts off quite steeply with a huge climb. Fairly sheltered from the wind, but cold in places, so bring a light jacket in case of frost. But a complete change of scenery. Watch out for your dogs on several road crossings (we didn't see anyone on Wednesday) and especially on the last section, but I read above that you have to follow the large tree
The start was ambiguous and we found it using the GPS and the map; it's the path visible on the site of the old paper mill.

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vuagnoux
vuagnoux

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did a combination of "Malaucène-les 3 combes" and "La Combe obscure", which takes you from Bédoin (Le Pastory campsite or Ste Madeleine chapel) to Malaucène via the Piaud chapel at the highest point, taking a steep 200m climb after No. 1 to get back up to the road, crossing over and reaching the chapel.
Go in the morning, eat in Malaucène, return in the afternoon...
I'm not the creator, but it's a nice route, medium difficulty, about 18km.

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