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Park in the large car park in front of the tourist office, behind the cemetery.
Please note: there is a weekly market on Tuesday mornings.
(S/E) Exit the car park between the library and the post office. Cross Boulevard Raspail (D21) and then head opposite onto Chemin du Pasquier (marked in yellow and red bythe GRP®) until you reach the next fork.
(1) Continue left towards Notre-Dame d'Aubune. Reach the bridge over the Carpentras Canal. Leave theGRP® to take this bridge, then turn right to continue along the canal on the other bank.
Pass a second bridge leading to private property and turn right at the third bridge to rejoin the tarmac road.
(2) Follow it to the right until you reach Notre-Dame d'Aubune. Don't miss the spring just below Notre-Dame. The underground passage can be visited on Thursday mornings (free tour offered by the Académie de Beaumes-de-Venise). Then climb up to the information panels at the Verger Conservatoire.
(3) From there, follow the signs to climb up to the terraces, which have been redeveloped by the conservatory's participatory workshops. Here you will find the vegetable garden, the apiary, the book hut, the rain water reservoir carved into rock, and the quarrymen's forge.
(4) Turn around and return to the canal bridge.
(2) Turn right and continue along the canal to the next bridge. Cross it, follow the tarmac path to the right and then continue left on a stony path.
(5) At the fork, go up to the right on a very rutted path along a vineyard. This path then turns right between the vines (yellow markings) to join a small tarmac road further up. Follow it and at the bridge, turn right until you reach the fork.
(6) Leave the tarmac road and continue right on Chemin d'Embrosi, following the GRP® markings. There are beautiful views of the Dentelles de Montmirail throughout the route.
Just after the 202 metre mark, look for a steep path on the right and follow it to a gap in the rocks at the top.
(7) Just before this gap, take the path on the right marked with a cross, as a landslide has made it impossible to use the entire path. Walk to the Grottes d'Ambrosi and back. The path runs along the cliff. First, notice the old cavities, some of which have collapsed. Further on, take a moment to explore two beautiful caves, which appear to be regularly visited. Turn back.
(7) On your return, pass through the breach and descend opposite, following theGRP® markings through an oak forest until you reach a viewpoint in front of the Rocher du Diable. Enjoy the magnificent panorama stretching as far as the Alpilles, with Notre-Dame d'Aubune directly below the rock.*
Then climb back up to the gap without crossing it and continue on the path to the right that passes in front of a rock. Continue between the oak trees. Look out for an unfinished drystone shelter on a cleared area below the path. Reach it and descend a series of small stone steps that lead to the remains of the Oppidum des Courens necropolis: a hut built into a stone wall, a sarcophagus and a staircase. Above this staircase are tombs carved into the rock.
Then follow the path between the oak trees on the plateau to reach the Saint-Hilaire Chapel.
(8) Information panels provide details about the magnificent restoration of the building. The gardens are worth seeing when the irises are in bloom. Superb panorama.
Continue eastwards to Castellas de Durban (the medieval site restoration project can be visited on Monday mornings).
(9) Go down to the left in front of the site gate, then keep left to join the tarmac road. Turn right onto this road. Beautiful view to the summit of Mont Ventoux. Leave the tarmac road and take the path that climbs to the right into the woods (yellow markings). Further on, descend into the woods below the vineyards. Caution: tricky, very rugged passage. View of the old village of Beaumes-de-Venise.
When you reach a wide cross-path, cross it and continue on the path below.
Caution: the path becomes increasingly steep. Go around a fallen tree and descend to the tarmac road. Turn right. The view opens up onto Mont Ventoux on the left and the ruins of the castle overlooking Beaumes de Venise on the right.
At the EDF pole, turn right onto the path that climbs up and passes to the left of the rampart before descending towards the village.
Do not go down the stairs leading to a fortified gate, but climb the three steps on the right to continue along Rue du Château. Two terraces offer a beautiful view.
(10) Take the time to observe the traces of ancient troglodytic dwellings built into the caves. Descend via the Théâtre de Verdure, Grande Rue and Place de la Liberté with its fountain.
Leave the old village through the fortified gate leading to the church, go down under the fountain with mascarons (18th century) to reach the market square (S/E).
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