Javon Mill and the Baumes des Eymians and Roustan

Along the rocky ridges of the Gorges du Marignon, discover two magnificent caves and breathtaking views of the Luberon.

Details

831745
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.90 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 606 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 608 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 750 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 396 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the D943 at the Gran Marignon signpost.
(S/E) From the starting point, head towards Château de Javon (yellow sign at the intersection) for 1 km (green marker)

(1) Turn right at the first intersection and stay on this path until you reach a crossroads marked by a cairn.

(2) Follow the red markings to the left. You will reach another three-way junction.

(3) At the three-way junction (marked by three red dots and a cairn), turn slightly left and continue straight ahead towards the north. You will reach another crossroads.

(4) Go straight ahead to the Moulin de Javon.

(5) Pass behind the mill to the viewpoint overlooking the Grand Marignon ravine.

(6) Return to the previous route, walk alongside the mill to return to the previous crossroads.

(4) Continue on the left, following the ridge of the Ravin du Grand Marignon and the Baume des Eymians, marked with red dots. Enjoy several viewpoints along the trail.

(7) Ignore the stone steps on your right and take the descent on your left to make a round trip to the Baume des Eymians, marked with a red triangle, then follow the bottom of the cliff for a unique location and panorama. Then take the stone steps opposite and follow the ridge of the Gréou ravine.
Be careful on the slightly technical section until you pass the intersection on the way there: three red dots and a cairn.

(3) Continue on the left to reach the first crossroads.

(2) Continue opposite towards Baume Roustan (another beautiful cave)

(8) At Baume Roustan, descend towards Ravin du Grand Marignon until you reach the cairn. Ignore the first path on the right and take the second one that leads to the hamlet of Vévouil. Cross the hamlet and stay on the paved road until you reach the crossroads with the cistern.

(9) Take the second path on the left and go through the field. After the bend, take the first path that climbs to the right. After 100m, turn off at the old wash house and follow the green sign. Return to the path and continue left until the next intersection.

(10) Take the climb on the left(caution: steep incline).

(11) Turn right and follow the field until the next three-way junction. Turn right for about ten metres and then right again to follow the cliff overlooking the valley, which offers beautiful views of the route.

(12) Descend to the right towards Vévouil to rejoin the intersection of this loop.

(10) Pass the wash house again until you reach the paved road (Piste de Vévouil).

(9) Take the path on the left to rejoin the D943 and return to the car park via the bridge overlooking the Marignon Gorges (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 430 m - Parking on the D943 at the Grand Marignon signpost
  2. 1 : km 0.91 - alt. 568 m - At the first intersection, turn right
  3. 2 : km 1.71 - alt. 575 m - Cairn, on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.89 - alt. 606 m - At the three-way junction, turn left
  5. 4 : km 3.05 - alt. 738 m - Fork in the road at Moulin de Javon
  6. 5 : km 3.26 - alt. 741 m - Javon Mill
  7. 6 : km 3.42 - alt. 749 m - Belvedere
  8. 7 : km 4.48 - alt. 662 m - Ignore the stone steps on the right
  9. 8 : km 5.25 - alt. 513 m - Return trip to Baume Roustan
  10. 9 : km 6.69 - alt. 542 m - Second path on the left
  11. 10 : km 7.09 - alt. 605 m - Crossroads of the second loop
  12. 11 : km 7.43 - alt. 668 m - Turn right along the field
  13. 12 : km 8.6 - alt. 647 m - Turn right towards Vévouil
  14. S/E : km 11.9 - alt. 430 m - Parking on the D943 at the Grand Marignon signpost

Notes

Moderator update on 14/07/2020: Please note that some reviews of this hike indicate that a GPS device may be useful

(5) Moulin de Javon => Shelter in case of bad weather.
(7) Baume des Eymians => Shelter in case of bad weather, ideal for picnics.
(8) Baume Roustan => Shelter in case of bad weather, ideal for taking a break.
Several sections are technical or steep, so good walking shoes are essential.
Not recommended for children under 10 years old.

Worth a visit

(5) Moulin de Javon.
(7) Baume des Eymians.
(8) Baume Roustan.
Old wash house.
Stone bridge overlooking the gorges.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
bruken
bruken

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

More details in the description would have been welcome. In fact, you had to leave the trail markers that go off to the right and continue on the main path to get to the javon mill. We did the hike in beautiful weather. We only came across one other group. Beautiful hike with superb views of the ridges. The Baumes des EYMIANS and Baume Roustan are remarkable.
At the Baume Roustan, we continued to follow the red markings (dots and triangles) that led to the other caves on the left, but decided to turn back at the rope because we were continuing to climb without being sure of finding a way down.

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catluc
catluc

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I should point out that the so-called delicate spot is not at all recommended for people who are afraid of heights and/or have poor balance.

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mremy
mremy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

excellent find

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lguyard
lguyard
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed using only the description, which is really not enough. More precise directions should be added for those without GPS, especially at points 2, 3 and 8.
Magnificent landscapes.

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moulin de lavon
moulin de lavon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A magnificent hike, especially the beautiful views on the way to the Javon mill and then the Baume des Eymians.
there are lots of red dots and back-and-forth sections, sometimes too many, and if you ask yourself too many questions, you end up getting lost... but with a trail map, it's perfect
i recommend it
isabelle
.

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maumarida
maumarida

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off as a pair. Without GPS, just with the description and a 1:25,000 map, and a lot of experience.
We checked the map frequently because the description wasn't enough. The red dots were clearly marked, but then they would suddenly disappear and reappear.
We had to make a few short detours to find the path.
The red triangles are also there, but at the fork we had to think carefully to take the right direction.
We didn't get lost, even though we were keeping an eye on the sun towards the end.
This is a very beautiful hike with magnificent views.
La Baume de Roustan isn't very interesting for us.
La Baume des Eymians and the way to get there are absolutely wonderful.
The weather was beautiful.
Thank you for introducing us to this beautiful hike.

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miraflor
miraflor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we did it today for the second time and went as far as Javon Castle, which is well worth seeing. However, we skipped the little loop after Vouveil. This hike is magnificent, the caves are so spectacular! We can't wait to do it again.

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michelrobion
michelrobion

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lack of signs for the fork in the road leading to the caves and no route marked to the caves.

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grandin
grandin ★

angel, there is construction on the site today... please try again tomorrow

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ange
ange

we can't post images on visorandonnée, which is a shame

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ange
ange

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

iGN map recommended, to be redone as there are several variations.
we saw the castle, the mill, the Baumes des Eymians and Roustan.
the Belvedere viewpoint remains to be seen.

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ange
ange

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very beautiful hike. I did the circuit differently. At the start, I went straight ahead to the castle, then towards the Javon mill. Be very careful. On the way back, I passed the same place and, 2 km before arriving, we turned left to see the two caves, then retraced our steps to get back to the car. We're going to do it again, but differently.i use the IGN map, which is very useful because without it I think I would have struggled.

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grandin
grandin ★

Thanks, lazzerini, for all the details. I've added a warning to the description to indicate that a GPS device greatly facilitates progress on this hike

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lazzerini
lazzerini

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that we cut short after the Roustan cave, taking the Grand Marignon ravine trail because the rest of the route didn't appeal to us, as we're allergic to asphalt.
The view of the mill, the two caves and from the Gréou ridge are enough in themselves.
The return to the (3) from the mill is more technical, but that's also what makes the hike so magnificent. I'm not comfortable with heights, but I didn't find this part particularly difficult.

Please note: there is very little parking space. There are two spaces at most and a third near the bridge.

It is important to note in the introductory paragraph that the route map is essential because without it, the description alone does not provide enough information to find your way.

For us, the description leaves something to be desired. We like to use both the route map AND the description so we don't have to keep looking at our screens, so visual descriptions are very helpful, which is unfortunately not the case here. Some words are poorly chosen, many of the trailheads are not marked on IGN or OSM maps, and the wording is sometimes unclear.
As mentioned above, at (7), you will need to take your steps carefully, but first make a return trip along the trail on your left and descend to the Baume d'Eymians (a passage that is not included in the recorded route).

There is a crossroads with a cairn BEFORE (2). IMPORTANT: the cairn at (2) has collapsed.

We didn't really see where we had passed (3) because it's not a very distinctive spot, and when we returned, my husband started walking along the same path we had taken on the way there. We were about to go around again!

At the Javon mill to go to the viewpoint... there are lots of paths behind the mill but no real explanation as to which one to take to get to the viewpoint.

The return to the (3) from the mill: when you come down from the ridges, turn right at the end of the Gréou rock and then follow the path on your right; do not continue along the rock to the end.

From the Baume de Roustan (8), follow the bright green dot.

There is a lot more to add to the description, but that would detract from the beauty of the walk.

Thanks to Camille 30300

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millim
millim

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with two stunning caves, particularly the ROUSTAN cave with its upper gallery.
Access to the caves is not very easy. I didn't see anyone else all day, apart from three wild boar piglets

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