Valensole plateau on the Asse side

The Valensole plateau enjoys exceptional light and unique colours that shine particularly brightly in summer: fields of lavender, clary sage, wheat, olive trees and sunflowers against a backdrop of blue mountains attract many photographers.
Moderator's note: route modified on 21/06/2023 at points 4 to 6 to avoid Monroc, which is private property and off-limits despite the^PR® sign.

Details

n°3446978

Creation:
21 Jun 2020

Last update:
20 Oct 2023

Last review:
24 Nov 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 11.97 km
Average duration: 3h 50
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 144 m
Descent: - 145 m
Highest point: 616 m
Lowest point: 523 m

Country: France
District: Valensole (04210)
Start/End: N 43.838328° / E 5.988087°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3342ET
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Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park near the Valensole Post Office.

(S/E) Follow Rue du 19 Mars 1962, go up into the village and join the junction with Route de Digne.

(1) Leave Route de Digne on your right and take Route d'Oraison opposite. Continue until you reach the Croupatassière sign.

(2) Turn left onto the D15 road, which is marked with a yellow^{PR® sign}. Cross the Plaines du Chemin d'Oraison and you will find a crossroads in the middle of the fields.

(3) Leave the road and continue straight ahead along the path. Further on, you will come to the D15 at a crossroads with several directions.

(4) Continue straight ahead on the road. Do not follow the^PR® on the right, which leads to the private property of Monroc, where access is prohibited. After 600 metres, pass the first path on the left. Then, 100 metres further on, take a path on the left that leads into the forest.

(5) After 600 metres, pass a path on the left and continue on the right until you reach the road. Cross the road and you will come to the Ravin de la Combe crossroads, marked by a sign.

(6) Continue straight ahead along the edge of the woods. At the end of the woods, turn right and follow a large circular loop. Continue along the path between the fields until you reach a crossroads at Champ Clos.

(7) Turn left towards Mas Saint-Andrieux. Pass in front of this farmhouse and continue straight ahead. Ignore all turnings on the right or left. Pass close to Pierre Blanche before reaching another crossroads.

(8) Turn right onto the wide track separating and bordering the fields. At the next crossroads, continue straight ahead, still following the yellow^PR® markings. Continue to the right and you will reach the Croupatassière crossroads, which you passed on the way there.

(2) Retrace your steps to return to the Route de Digne crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto Cours Saint-Louis, entering the western district of Valensole with its typical houses with pebble facades and large arched barn doors. Keep left and turn left onto Rue Curet, then Rue Grande and Rue E Dol, which leads to Boulevard Frédéric Mistral.

(9) Pass in front of the Chapelle du Tholonet and continue along Boulevard Frédéric Mistral to the Post Office car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 553 m - Parking near the post office.
1 : km 0.61 - alt. 586 m - Crossroads of the circular. Route de Digne
2 : km 1.16 - alt. 596 m - Crossroads of the circular. La Croupatassière marker
3 : km 2.19 - alt. 596 m - Crossroads
4 : km 2.82 - alt. 598 m - Crossroads D15
5 : km 3.55 - alt. 580 m - Turn left at the fork in the road.
6 : km 4.76 - alt. 535 m - Ravin de la Combe marker
7 : km 7.15 - alt. 611 m - Carrefour Champ Clos
8 : km 8.87 - alt. 600 m - Crossroads after Pierre Blanche
9 : km 11.69 - alt. 544 m - Chapelle du Tholonet (Valensole)
S/E : km 11.97 - alt. 552 m - Parking near the post office.

Notes

Walking shoes are not essential. There are no difficult sections.
- In summer, it can get very hot on the plateau, so it is advisable to set off early in the morning with plenty of water, a hat and sun cream. Apart from the section through the forest, there is little shade.
- There are many beehives in the fields, so do not get too close to them.
- Remember that the plateau is beautiful not only during the flowering season, but all year round.

Worth a visit

In the village, you can find lavender essence, of course, but also delicious lavender honey. If you like rum babas, visit the bakery after Rue Grande.
At the entrance to the plateau coming from Manosque, during flowering season, before sunset, many Chinese newlyweds come to have their photos taken in the lavender field, dressed in long gowns and all the trimmings. A lively atmosphere and crowds are guaranteed. Traffic jams too.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5

Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5

Route interest
4.1 / 5

La Barunle

24 Nov 2025 at 11:03 3600

A route to take during the lavender season.

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BOELE

28 Aug 2023 at 10:07 7200 • Edited: 28 Aug 2023 at 10:08 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a beautiful route with magnificent views of the Valensole plateau and a nice mix of hilly and flatter sections. However, I found the segments on tarmac a little too long... But overall, it was a wonderful experience that I enjoyed while Nordic walking.

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Géryf

12 Mar 2023 at 08:19 3600 • Edited: 12 Mar 2023 at 08:41 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Based on feedback from comments already posted, we parked at point 3 on the side of the road and then, when we reached point 8, we returned to point 3 via a wide track. This allowed us to avoid the tarmac section, but it also turned the hike into an easy 2-hour walk suitable for less experienced walkers. Beautiful unobstructed view. You cross fields of crops, mainly lavender, which must be magnificent in late June and early July (if it's not too hot, as you walk in full sun). There are no prohibition signs, but I think they appear during the tourist season because of inconsiderate tourists who pick lavender or trample it to take nice selfies...

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FGECAYA

10 Jul 2022 at 11:56 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the hike is not very pleasant as you have to walk about 4/5 km along roads without pavements and therefore on tarmac. At bridge 4/5, you must take the marked path on the left, even though there is a sign saying "private property, no trespassing". There are not many shaded areas, but you walk between fields of lavender and wheat.

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M_a_tt

20 Jun 2022 at 18:33 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk! Admittedly, there is a bit of road, but nothing too bad... Superb fields of lavender and wheat all along the route. No notable difficulties. Varied and colourful landscapes. Obviously best done during the flowering season, in cool weather, with good shoes, as some paths are a little stony. Note that several "Private property, no trespassing" signs have been placed between points 4 and 5. However, as the path is well marked (yellow markings + signs), I took it anyway without any problems, without meeting anyone or disturbing anyone's peace and quiet...

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lamulenoire

16 Jul 2021 at 22:09 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, especially when the lavender is in bloom. The beginning of the hike is uninteresting and can be a little dangerous. The D15 has no pavements or kerbs, and many cars drive fast. But what else can you do? I tried to avoid this section but couldn't find a way around it.
The rest of the hike is varied and very beautiful.

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jeannoel42410

04 Jul 2021 at 15:54 7200

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Very disappointed with this hike. Streets and roads, rocky paths in the forest (walking shoes not necessary???), few lavender fields. It's really long and boring.

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Micmac62

30 Jun 2021 at 07:07 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely route around Valensole, completed without a hitch. Beautiful colours under the June sun. Vast fields of flowers stretching as far as the eye can see, with the mountains on the horizon. Thanks to JLoup and Visorando.

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clubderandonnées

25 Jun 2021 at 15:18 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, shame the lavender wasn't in bloom yet, nice little village to visit. The route is well marked.
Thank you, Visorando!!!!!

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lalsaco

21 May 2021 at 08:25 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Exceptional views. Easy and very pleasant hike. Shady spots for picnics. A superb day!

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randopascalou2018

25 Feb 2021 at 17:23 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, an easy route that can be done with the family, a circular 12 km route, which will be redone in June when the lavender is in bloom!!!!::

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iwanskivol

30 Sep 2020 at 20:32 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Meh, not worth the detour.
The beginning is completely uninteresting.

You might want to start at point 3 and return to your starting point after point 8.

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LES DRAILLES 04

07 Sep 2020 at 09:17 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello, the car park at the start is at the bottom of the village, which allows you to visit the village, but there is another one a little higher up that could suffice. The hike would really go above the Asse, going around the "champs clos" farms, where the occupants greeted us without stopping us from passing. We climbed up through the fields to avoid taking the private road. It's an extra kilometre, but the view is fantastic, and we ended up back at Mas St Andrieux. Otherwise, it's a nice, easy hike for the start of the season.

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Campagne bessons

20 Jul 2020 at 13:57 7200

Not yet used

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pafra

20 Jul 2020 at 10:48 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great little hike, especially at this time of year (lavender season):
Visitor numbers are moderate.