A short circular heritage loop around the hamlets, starting from Les Ribes

Park in the hamlet of Les Ribes, in the car park situated right next to the D40 (Route des Orres).

Signposting: black ‘Lou pastre’ silhouette on a yellow and blue background, then yellow markings or directional signs in the hamlets.

(S/E) Take the wooden footbridge over the torrent. Turn left onto the wide forest track that runs alongside the Torrent des Vachères (Route du Grand Vallon). Stay on the track marked “Lou pastre” and ignore any side paths.

(1) After about 500 m, head down the path on the left, which soon reaches the river. Take the Ribettes footbridge to cross the river (information board on the “martelières”). Climb back up on the other side, follow the signposted path and ignore the adjacent paths. After a few hairpin bends, you’ll come out onto a small road. Turn left towards the hamlet of Château.

(2) At the fork in the road, there are two options:
- Take the right-hand fork to reach the castle ruins quickly, then turn back (route not shown on the map).
- Take the left-hand branch to continue along the main route. In the hamlet, note the chapel and its charming garden on your right. Continue along the small road.

(3) Cross a metal bridge spanning a huge ravine, at the bottom of which a stream flows. Continue along the road towards Bas Forest and enter the hamlet.

(4) Turn left onto a narrow path that descends steeply (don’t miss the signpost). Cross a road, continue down the slope and note the Chapelle Saint-Joseph on your left. At the hamlet’s fountain, carry on along the Costa Pommières path. The descent is gentle at first, then becomes steep for about a hundred metres. At the hamlet of Les Ribes, carry straight on and ignore the side streets on the left. You’ll come out onto Impasse Saint-Florent; follow it to the left. After a hairpin bend to the right, you’ll reach the car park (S/E).