Roussillon (Vaucluse) walks

Circuit around Lioux returning through the Madeleine cliffs, with fine views of the Vaucluse ranges.

An easy walk between two magnificent villages in the Monts de Vaucluse, Joucas and Murs.

A very, very beautiful circular hike (technical in places) through wild gorges with varied and pleasant paths that alternate between woodland, a hamlet, pools in the Véroncle riverbed and mills in picturesque gorges. At the request of some hikers, I have classified this hike as ‘difficult’ Allow 5 hours for this hike, not 3 hours 45 minutes as indicated.Do not attempt this with a dog, nor in or after rainy weather, nor in excessively hot weather. Read the reviews.

A very beautiful and dynamic hike through the Véroncle Gorges and its four famous water mills. Climbing up these gorges, sometimes with the help of ladders or knotted ropes, is a real pleasure. The exit from the gorges leads to a sunny, stony plateau where you can take a well-deserved break. The return from Murs to Joucas via Notre-Dame du Salut will round off this original hike that you will certainly never forget.

This circular route allows you to discover many picturesque landscapes such as the Falaise de la Madeleine in Lioux and the Combe de la Sigalière, as well as the Col de la Ligne, offering a view of Mont Ventoux. The route consists mainly of small, isolated and very quiet roads winding between scrubland and forests.

A peaceful, easy walk. Climb up to the plateau planted with fruit trees, then descend through very narrow gorges, less than a metre wide in places.

Walk up Vaumale valley along a beautiful trail equipped with climbing aids and then come back down the wilder and less rocky Lioux valley.

Discover the Combe de Lioux, which is narrow in places, with its natural caves, as you walk in the cool shade. Leave the valley to cross the cedar forest and reach the Château de Saint-Lambert, a former sanatorium that has been abandoned and vandalised. After a descent, you will reach the Falaise de la Madeleine, a remarkable site with an impressive view of the village of Lioux and a 360° panorama.

The route leads up the Véroncle canyon then down the south-facing slopes of the Monts de Vaucluse.

Discover Murs, its castle and its surroundings.

The walk starts near Gordes (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France) and passes through the Véroncle gorge to Murs and its castle. A very pleasant, energetic walk in the ravine of the Véroncle gorges, discovering the remains of old mills from different periods along the way. There are a few ladders and ropes, and an old sluice shaft that cannot be avoided.

Be prepared to visit the caves on all fours or even crawling, but it's worth the detour. A little dusty clay, a few harmless bats, but a magnificent sight once inside. So avoid wearing a suit and opt for less easily soiled clothing. The rest of the walk will offer you generous sunshine and all along the trail you can see the Combe Denca and the Luberon in the distance and even Sainte-Beaume. The hike takes you along small paths lined with holm oaks, thyme and rosemary.

If you want a challenging circular with handrails, cables, etc. On the programme: descent of the Gorges de La Véroncle with some of its ruined mills and ascent of the Combe de Vaumale.

Lovely hike without much difficulty. After climbing uphill for just under a kilometre, just enough time to reach an altitude of 700 m, where the the panoramic view of Lubéron with its lowlands and further below the valley behind Murs, opens up to you. Just for your enjoyment, this view will last for more than 4 km. The majority of the circular hike is through forest paths.

Starting from Saint-Pantaléon-de-Gordes – where you mustn’t forget to visit the little Romanesque church with its rock-cut necropolis – this is an easy, short circular walk that winds through the woodland and between the traditional Provençal dry-stone walls. Numerous drystone shelters line the route, some accessible, others on private property. Walkers can also discover the remains of an old ‘jas’ and, well hidden in an oak grove, the longest drystone shelter in Provence, still in perfect condition.A private path is made available for the respectful use of walkers and cyclists, with motorised vehicles strictly prohibited.The app’s GPS is strongly recommended for this route.

A very beautiful hike starting from Lumière Goult car park under the cliff at Lumière.

Circular route north of Gordes with a viewpoint overlooking Sénanque Abbey.

A very pleasant short hike on good paths, surrounded by abundant and varied vegetation, including a cedar forest. Extensive view of the Calavon valley with the Luberon as a backdrop.

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

The seventh stage brings this week-long hike through the enchanting Luberon region to a close. The route leads to the village of Gordes, perched on a rocky outcrop, where the dry-stone buildings, winding paved slanting streets and its proud, imposing castle reveal all the charm of these Provençal villages that have weathered centuries of conflict. It then heads to the magnificent Sénanque Abbey, peacefully nestled in a valley; its simple Romanesque architecture, built of grey limestone, is set off by the contrast of a vast field of lavender. Through the woods of the Vaucluse Plateau, he visits the charming little village of Saumane-de-Vaucluse, perched on a rocky outcrop and protected by its fortified castle, now converted into a bastion. He then descends to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to admire the mighty resurgence of the Sorgue de Velleron, before returning to the car park where he started.

A beautiful, easy hike that takes you to some of the most beautiful sites in the Luberon, including the villages of Gordes and Les Bories and Sénanque Abbey.

This sixth stage crosses the wooded slope of Perréal Hill before reaching the village of Gargas and winding through the farmland of the Urbane Valley, then climbing up to the pretty village of Roussillon, where you can allow an hour to visit the old ochre quarry, with its magnificently coloured landscapes of cliffs and fairy chimneys. The route returns to the cultivated fields and enters the narrow Gorges de la Véroncle – a little gem waiting to be discovered – before heading up the Ravin de Vézaule to reach Camping des Sources.

A hike on little-known tracks in the districts of Lacoste, Goult and Ménerbes. An overview of nearly ten centuries of history, comprising the chapel, the old abbey and the castle.

Loop around Gordes and its dry stone dwellings, through the valley of Sénancole and its unique Sénanque Abbey.

A long and beautiful excursion over easy but varied countryside, with some steeper sections on the descent but on an excellent path.

Bonnieux stands on the northern slope of the Petit Luberon, facing the village of Lacoste. The village is situated on the northern side of the Combe de Lourmarin, which was – and still is – the only road crossing the Luberon. This hilltop village boasts an exceptional panorama stretching from the Petit Luberon to Mont Ventoux, via the Monts du Vaucluse. The village, dominated by its old church flanked by centuries-old cedar trees, offers visitors a wide variety of natural and historical sites. As you wander through its steep, winding alleyways, remarkable mansions, the remains of ramparts, fountains and wash houses come into view.The Tourist Office has set up a heritage route featuring fifteen information panels that trace the history of the village. The route suggested here does not follow it exactly, and the GPS signal was disrupted by the village’s unique layout.

The Gordes Maquis Trail is a suggested walking route between Gordes and Sénanque, commemorating the local activities of the Secret Army during the Second World War… all set against an exceptional natural backdrop. A few information boards are dotted along the route. As well as its historical significance and natural beauty, a brief stroll through the narrow streets and sights of Gordes, together with the magnificent setting of Sénanque Abbey, make this a must-do walk.The term ‘revisited’ in the title simply means that the route is not exactly the one suggested by local organisations, as it is here in the opposite direction – starting from Sénanque rather than Gordes – and does not follow the suggested route exactly. The detour via Les Dilais offers a splendid view of the Gorges de la Sénancole.

Anyone travelling along the D900 between Avignon and Apt will certainly have noticed the cave dwellings to the north of the road, near the village of Les Beaumettes. This walk offers the chance to stop off and explore them. This is by no means an exhaustive or organised list, but here is a brief overview of the sights: the pretty little town hall square, the climb up to the cave castle, heaths, forests, ruins, wells, rain water reservoirs carved into rock, the botanical trail, drystone shelters, Provençal farmhouses, dry-stone walls, lavender fields, etc.

A beautiful walk, mainly through the woods (so shaded), with some lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Part of the walk is not signposted, so I recommend following your GPS, especially when taking the small path that leads to the farm, and then for the section between leaving theGR® and rejoining the wide track after the lavender field.

A very pleasant loop in a varied and, in places, wild landscape, offering beautiful views of Sénanque Abbey and Mont Ventoux.

Starting from the Trois Termes car park, situated at the first road junction north of Sénanque Abbey, this circular walk takes you through the heath on the Vaucluse plateau. The route runs alongside a historic section of the famous Plague Wall on two occasions. Wide, easy paths, occasionally rocky trails, and just 350 metres of tarmac.

A four-day circular route that takes you up to the highest point of the Grand Luberon massif and along its ridges, offering superb panoramic views. You pass through numerous villages and hamlets, each boasting a rich heritage. Halfway through, you can add a loop to extend this route to five stages.

This first stage is mainly uphill, leading to the foot of the western part of the Grand Luberon ridges. Halfway through, there is a descent to pass by the foot of the Rocher des Druides and the hamlet of Roscalière, followed by a climb back up. It is possible to avoid this detour and thus shorten the stage.

This walk, mainly under the oak trees of the Luberon, will allow you to discover the numerous stone walls that line the route, a sign of past occupation. You will see an old shell-shaped bridge, the Philippe tower (named after a utopian), a Gallic village, and of course the Grand Luberon with the Mourre Nègre, the Combe de Lourmarin, the Ventoux, the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, and the view of Bonnieux with its two churches.

A superb hike combining magnificent views across the whole region with unmissable sights. Challenging sections are followed by pleasant, shaded paths or those running along ridges. One of the most beautiful yet little-known hikes around Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt.

A lovely walk sheltered by the trees and cliffs of La Sénancole.

A pleasant little hike that has the advantage of starting practically in the centre of Apt, reaching the Saignon rock and returning along the hillside among fruit trees and lavender.

Starting from the centre of Apt, this is a very beautiful, easy circular, passing in front of Saignon and Rocsalière to reach the Claparèdes plateau before descending back to Apt via a beautiful paved slanting street.

This circuit on the upper slopes of the Luberon leads to the Forêt des Cèdres, then passes at the foot of the Roque des Bancs before descending through the Vallon de Cavède.

Starting from the Col de la Ligne, discover traces of Vaucluse history in all its forms, from the Wall of the Plague erected in 1721 to the forced arrival of Indochinese people before the Second World War, who gave their name to a forest road and a track.

This hike starts in the village of Buoux, in the heart of the Luberon massif, and takes you to the banks of the Aiguebrun, at the foot of Fort de Buoux (open to visitors), then through the woods to the impressive cliffs of Buoux, world-renowned for their climbing sites. Once at the foot of these impressive walls, you will walk around them and then along the top, enjoying some breathtaking views of the Vallon de l'Aiguebrun, before returning leisurely to the village.

A short loop from Buoux follows a balcony path above the Aigue Brun valley and returns along the stream.

A lovely little walk starting from the village of Ménerbes for a stroll through the surrounding countryside.

Discover rain water reservoirs carved into rock, which enabled rural life to continue in this waterless area.

This easy hike can be enjoyed in any season. The blue of the lavender gives way to the warm tones of autumn or the green colours of spring. Along the route, you will discover hidden drystone shelters or majestic structures built in the middle of fields. You will alternate between small paths in the undergrowth and paths through fields offering magnificent views of the Luberon mountain.

A very pretty hike offering beautiful views of the northern and southern Luberon, with a passage through a wild ravine.

A beautiful walk through the forests and heaths of the Luberon with many traces of rural activity (beautiful ruins of Lausemolan, cisterns, wells and rain water reservoirs carved into rock) but also the Wall of the Plague and beautiful views of Mont Ventoux.

A pleasant route along the Aigue Brun, a tributary of the Durance, which over the years has wound its way between the two Luberon mountains, the Grand to the east and the Petit to the west.

Circuit around the Aigue Brun to see the different aspects of this valley nestled at the foot of the Luberon.

A loop that takes you to the hamlet of Seguins along the ridges of the Grand Luberon through Sivergues and Chastelas.

This pleasant walk will allow you to discover the beautiful village of Sivergues and its surroundings while enjoying the coolness along the Aiguebrun and the magnificent site of the Buoux cliffs. It can be done in all seasons and is accessible to all.

A loop around the green valley of the Aigue Brun, a permanent stream in the Luberon, enclosed by imposing cliffs, passing through Sivergues and the Baume de l'Eau on the way back.

This is a beautiful, easy hike in the Luberon in a magnificent landscape where you can discover numerous rain water reservoirs carved into rock and drystone shelters.

A magnificent hike that takes you through history and mineral landscapes on the Vaucluse Plateau, with the special feature of climbing the Ribastié Watchtower with its 360° panorama of the southern Ventoux plain. Beautiful views of Ventoux and the villages of Venasque, then the ascent of Mont Serein.

This second stage is both long and superb! First, you climb the highest point of the Luberon, the Mourre Nègre, alternating between steep paths and gently sloping tracks. Then, you follow the ridges from west to east, always on open terrain with sweeping panoramic views. The (long) descent to Vitrolles is shaded.