Oppedette walks

This fifth stage takes you on a journey of discovery through the splendid Gorges d’Oppedette and, once past the Chapelle Saint Ferréol, visits the remarkable medieval village of Viens with its maze of narrow streets marked by the passage of centuries, before crossing the gleaming ochre landscapes of the Colorado de Rustrel, notable for its canyon-like scenery and fairy chimneys reminiscent of John Ford’s Westerns. The route reaches the hilltop village of Villars before continuing on to Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt.

Discover the villages of Oppedette and Vachères, the Saut du Moine waterfall, and sweeping panoramic views of the Luberon, the Alps...

A beautiful loop around the Calavon Gorges from the village of Oppedette.

Wild and difficult to access gorges, between 150 and 200m deep, very narrow in places, only a few metres wide. The descent of the Karstic Cave is very well equipped but tricky to navigate.

A walk in the Luberon that includes a visit to the beautiful village of Viens, some of its hamlets and chapels. Views of the ochre cliffs of Rustrel and Gignac, beautiful trails and forest passages. Geological curiosities (slab with footprints).

A short, easy 2-hour walk starting from Viens in the Luberon. Beautiful views of the Luberon geological reserve.

This short circular route, starting from the medieval village of Simiane-la-Rotonde, will take you through pretty holm oak forests and along lavender fields. You will pass by old dry stone sheepfolds (or jas) and the ruins of three mills. At the end of the hike, you can visit the Rotonde and lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old village. As a bonus, you will have beautiful, unobstructed views of the Albion plateau, the Lure Mountain and even the Alps.

From the pretty hilltop village of Simiane-la-Rotonde, a route through coppiced woodland with lovely views to the east, south beyond the Grand Luberon, and north on the return journey from the summit of the Espéron.

An easy walk through woods and countryside, valleys and ridges, allowing you to discover the variety and beauty of the Luberon’s landscapes.

The hike begins with a visit to the Colorado Provençal Belvédères trail (pedestrian rate), a listed site managed by the Colorado de Rustrel Association, and continues with a tour of the Colorado via the ridges (GR®) to discover views of other ochre quarries. The hike reveals all the nuances of ochre colours in these former open-air quarries.Please note! The Mille Couleurs car park is reserved exclusively for visitors to the two marked trails managed by the Colorado de Rustrel Association for a limited period of approximately 3 hours. If you wish to hike the Tour du Colorado via the ridges, you must park in the village and pay the pedestrian entrance fee for the Belvédères trail.

The hike reveals all the nuances of ochre colours in these former open-air quarries. Paid parking, giving access to the trails to all occupants of the vehicle. There is a pedestrian rate, if you do not use the car park, which allows you to obtain the leaflet with the map, the history of the site and the code for the mobile discovery app. Please note that the Milles Couleurs car park (paid) is only accessible to visitors to the two marked trails managed by the Colorado Association of Rustrel.

Start the walk with a visit to the unmissable Colorado Provençal, then take a stroll through the hills in the triangle formed by the villages of Rustrel, Gignac and Caseneuve to admire the lavender fields and enjoy a beautiful view of the imposing Château de Caseneuve and the Grand Lubéron.This walk is a less tarmac-heavy alternative to the ‘Visit and Tour of the Colorado Provençal via the Ridges’ (official route)Best done early in the morning, in summer and in fine weather to make the most of the colours of the ochre cliffs and the lavender.

La Grand Montagne overlooks Rustrel from a height of around 650 m. The army built several tunnels there, which are now used as the Bas Bruit Underground Laboratory. This walk takes you on a grand tour of these hidden treasures, offering stunning views of the Luberon mountain range, the Apt plain, its vineyards, lavender and olive groves, and, of course, the many ochre quarries stretching from Gignac to Roussillon.

A beautiful walk in the hills above Rustrel offering magnificent views of the Colorado Provençal.

An easy hike from Céreste to the Priory of Carluc, along farmland, lavender fields and oak woods.

A short, easy walk in the hills above the village, passing a rock shelter used in the Neolithic period and a spring halfway along the route. At the end of the route, you can see the domes of the observatory.

Route around the village of Montjustin. Magnificent views of the Grand Lubéron and the Encrême valley.

The final stage of this route is long and varied. The first section takes place on the plain at the foot of the Luberon ridges, which were traversed in the opposite direction during the second stage. We then gain altitude, climbing successively to the villages of Glorivette, Castellet-en-Lubéron and Auribeau, the latter two boasting a rich heritage. We then descend all the way, passing through the beautiful village of Saignon along the way.

A lovely, pleasant circular walk at the end of June as the lavender is in bloom and the temperature doesn’t get too high due to the altitude. Only the end of the walk is a little steeper in the Vallon des Jardins, up to Les Esfourniaux. The beauty of the vegetation (rowan, plum, dogwood, etc.) will quickly make you forget the effort involved.

A short but invigorating walk. From Villémus, a charming village in the Luberon region of Manosque, you will climb up to a ridge which you will follow before descending back down to the village. Magnificent landscapes and views of all the mountain ranges in the region, the Forcalquier plain, and the Durance and Encrême valleys.

Whilst Montfuron and Villemus are already featured on Visorando, here is a longer circular route that incorporates a different version of the signposted route as you leave Villemus, and a detour via the ruins of the old plaster mill.Don’t be surprised if you see a large dog wandering along the paths around Villemus. He’s peaceful and harmless. He’s (most likely) the one from Café Restaurant Les Tilleuls.

A walk between two small hilltop villages in the Luberon: Montfuron, with its castle and windmill, and Villemus, with its 12th-century chapel and paved slanting streets.