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Parking on Chemin de la Ripelle near a mini-market and a pharmacy.
(S/E) Head east along the path that runs alongside the Ripelle (more precisely the Argériès stream), which is almost always dry. Continue along the Vieux Chemin de Ripelle below the road. At the left-hand bend, ignore the street on the left and shortly afterwards you will come to a metal footbridge over the stream. Cross the bridge and climb the wide steps. From there, follow the turquoise signs. Pass between the Château de la Ripelle on your left and an olive grove on your right to reach the path that leads to the castle on the left.
Before the castle gate (owned by the Conseil Général), take the hairpin bend to the right. Then, after 100 m, take the path on the left. Pass an interesting threshing floor and the path heads east.
(1) Turn left, then straight ahead, following the blue markings (sometimes faded) to reach the Source de la Ripelle. Leave the blue T markings on your left, which lead directly to La Tourravelle.
(2) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, following the 1 blue dot trail to the Source de la Ripelle.
On the left, a variant marked with two blue dots (OSM map) leads to the prehistoric rock shelter and flint workshop. Allow 1 hour for the round trip.
Continue 100 m north-east, following the blue trail marked with one dot: a wooded, shaded area around the spring, where you can see the gallery carved into the rock. The spring is still active and supplies the castle, where the ruins of an aqueduct can still be seen. Continue along the steeply ascending path to the "Grotte" (cave).
(3) Known as the "Grotte" on the map, this opening shelters the karstic cave of La Vieille Valette or La Ripelle. Be careful of the hole inside (20 m deep at the edge and a tunnel down to 100 m with a chimney further on). Then continue along the path.
(4) After the high-voltage power lines, in the scree, follow the blue markings and turn towards V V (Vieille Valette) to reach the summit.
Ruins of Vieille Valette (or Tourris), a Gallo-Roman oppidum, then a castle village. It was abandoned in the 15th century. Take a stroll around. You will find ruins of the ramparts, dwellings, an oven and even a chapel. See Practical Information.
(5) Turn right and return if you wish to visit a 12-metre-long cave called Trou de Gaspard (de Besse) by following the two blue dots. Then return to the main path and continue (OSM map), following the single blue dot until you reach the ruins of the Tourris glassworks and the Route de Tourris.
(6) Cross the road to go around the ruins on the right. Be careful during the week as there is constant traffic from the quarry. Just before the building called Le Goudron, turn left. This cuts across the Route de Tourris again. Cross the road and continue for a few metres until you reach the start of a wide path marked in blue heading north-west, which passes under a high-voltage power line. The path gradually turns west and passes by the Grottes de Sable.
(7) To visit the caves, you will need a torch and caution. See Practical Information. Return to the path heading west and follow the blue markings. Pass under three sets of high-voltage power lines. The wide path you are on becomes a trail. At the next fork, take the path on the left that goes uphill, leaving the one on the right that goes downhill.
(8) Turn left and leave the route on the map on your right, then follow the blue trail markers.
(9) Fork to descend:
- either follow the blue markings, then take the beautiful little paved mountain road with no cars at the Tourravelle buildings,
- or descend via the path marked in red (the "Géradd'ollioules" variant).
Both options lead to the "La Grenette" housing estate. Continue left on Route du Barrage (D848). You will then see Chemin de la Ripelle on your left and the car park where you started (S/E).
Visorando member
Difficult 
