Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire walks

A beautiful short family hike in the Luberon Regional Nature Park. The commune of Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire is located between the Lure mountain and the Luberon massif. Lovers of old stones, Provençal nature and astronomy will be charmed by this route.

A hike between wild hills and a village full of character. Wash houses and fountains. A Neolithic rock shelter.

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.

If you enjoy walking in the forest, this hike is for you. You will encounter several species of pine trees, oaks and other service trees. Much of this hike is in the shade, so you can enjoy this circular route in summer when the sun starts to heat up.

Discover the Via Domitia, the drystone shelters, the Roman bridge, the Roman ford at Reculon, the hamlet of Les Craux, the village of Lincel and return via the astronomical observatory.

If you like Bories, you'll see them in the distance at the start, then up close, and you can even go inside some of them. On your way back, before you get to the village, you'll walk up a superb calade (cobbled) street, and there's a little detour to see the Château de Mane.

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.

This is a hike that can be done with children. On the way there, you will have beautiful views of pretty villages such as Lincel and Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire. On the way back, the views of the snow-capped Alps are superb. The beautiful village of Saint-Martin-les-Eaux is also worth seeing, with its church and nativity scenes in December and January. Enjoy your walk! Moderator's warning on 06/02/2021: Please note There are maintenanceissues on the trails at the start of the route. See reviews.

In a single walk on the heights of Manosque, you can see Mont Ventoux, the Lure mountain, the Southern Alps, the Valensole plateau, Sainte-Baume and Sainte-Victoire; with superb panoramic views, a reasonable elevation gain, accessible to all, half in the sun, half in the shade. Please note: the start of the route has been altered to avoid crossing pig pens that have appeared in recent months. As the route is not signposted, we recommend following it using GPS and the Visorando app.

A pleasant walk through the woodland of the Pélicier Forest (behind Manosque). You can take a break at several spots thanks to the wooden benches. The forest is criss-crossed by many paths and tracks, making it easy to shorten the route if needed.

A superb short hike with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Numerous signs of red foxes.

This is a family hike that can be done with children. On your left, you will have a permanent view of the Luberon, with Mont Ventoux as the focal point. Then you will see the Montagne de Lure. On the way back from the circular, you can also admire the peaks of the Alps.

Located north of Focalquier, the Mourres rocks are a geological curiosity. The area is full of enormous mushroom-shaped rocks several metres high. The word Mourre means 'snout' in Provençal.

An easy hike with little elevation gain but great variety: pine forests, holm oak woods, panoramic views of Mont Ventoux, the Montagne de Lure and then the Durance Valley. Ruins, the Montaigu dovecote and modern art at the finish.

A short walk best done on a summer evening, not at all strenuous, doable in sandals, but with incredible charm. After passing through a forest of pine and oak trees with views of the Durance valley and the eastern Luberon, you will come to a path where you will get a good idea of what a perfect landscape looks like.

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.

The small village of Limans is known for its six dovecotes.

A walk offering views of the town of Manosque from a high vantage point. The first part of the ascent follows a wide track intended for the fire brigade. The second part of the ascent follows a narrow path. The descent is easy along a path. The rest of the walk takes you through quiet, narrow streets.

A loop which poses no problems so can be undertaken with children to discover a dovecote which is still in a good state.

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

A circular route north of Manosque passing through Bori du Pain de Sucre, Mont des Espels, Cols de la Mort d'Imbert and Cols de Pétavigne.

Les Balcons de Manosque is the title of a series of walks organised by the Manosque Heritage Committee (CPM) that allow you to discover the town’s heritage beyond its walls. This route takes us along the Luberon ridge and then descends through the "Ravin des Couquières". Amidst a magnificent landscape dominated by woodland, you will discover a troglodyte dwelling, the remains of a clay quarry, the "source des maquisards", a water mine and the mysterious Blue Cave.

A peaceful, easy walk with a unique view of Manosque. A path worth discovering!

"Les Balcons de Manosque" is the title of a series of walks organised by the Manosque Heritage Committee (CPM) that allow you to discover the town’s heritage “beyond the walls”. In an enchanting setting, you will admire a bori shaped like a sugar loaf. The second part of the route follows the path that runs alongside the Chemin de l’eau de Gaude, which once carried water from the spring of the same name to the outskirts of Manosque, a distance of over 3 km.

"Les Balcons de Manosque" is the title of a series of walks organised by the Manosque Heritage Committee (CPM) that allow visitors to discover the town’s heritage “beyond the walls”. This first route broadly follows the Thomassine watercourse, one of the springs that once supplied Manosque. The route includes the remains of an aqueduct, a sulphurous spring, a 15th-century bridge, animal footprints dating back 30 million years, an asphalt mine and a water mine.

This circular route starts by climbing up one side of the Margaridètes and then descends along the Fontamauri Ravine.

The Tour du Mont d'Or is the remains of an ancient watchtower. It is located on a hill surrounded by olive groves and can be seen from far away when you arrive in Manosque.

This easy circular walk is used by hikers from Manosque after a rainy day to avoid the mud. The destination is the Chapelle Toutes Aures chapel, nestled in a field of olive trees.

A peaceful walk around three pretty little hills overlooking the Durance valley. Go via the western side, which is more agricultural, with vineyards and olive groves, and return via the eastern side, following the shaded irrigation canal.

A pleasant and varied walk, often shaded, starting from Pierrevert.

The third stage is the shortest of this route. After a very pleasant walk along a track at the foot of wooded hills, we take a narrow path that allows us to cross from the southern to the northern side of the massif. We then climb up to the pretty village of Montjustin, before descending via a ridge offering superb views.

A hike with two circular loops, combining pleasant forest trails with a stroll through the narrow streets of La Bastide-des-Jourdans to discover its rich heritage: ancient gate, fountain column, church, old castle, tower,...

This fourth stage begins with a route halfway up the wooded slope of the Vallat de Pissaire before entering the Ravin du Gancet and then crossing the Aiguebelle valley to reach the hilltop village of Montjustin. The route follows the ridge of the hill separating this valley from that of the Encrême and descends to reach Céreste, situated at their confluence. It crosses the remarkable Pont de la Baou before revealing, nestled in the woods, the medieval Priory of Carluc. It climbs the side of the valley and swings over to that of the Grand Vallat, then ascends its sunny slope towards Sainte-Croix-à-Lauze, from where it reaches the top of the Cavalon valley before descending it to reach the village of Oppedette.