Tour of Tallard Castle via Saint-Abdon Hill

de fr

This family walk crosses the hill of Saint-Abdon, on the northern edge of which Tallard Castle was built, following the ridge. Please note that some sections run alongside the cliff.
It offers magnificent views over the Durance valley, the Montagne de Céüse and the Pic de Bure. The return route takes you across the plain, on the Durance side, past orchards, vineyards and allotments.

Details

n°34179992
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.59 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 430 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 456 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,411 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,926 ft
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Photos

Tallard Castle
Castle on the Durance side
Gateway to the Durance
Tallard Castle as seen from the Durance

Description of the walk

Head to Tallard town centre and park in the castle car park on Avenue de Provence.
You can reach the centre of Tallard by coach (Zou lines) or by the Gap urban area bus, which is free and open to all.

(S/E) Head towards the castle and its grounds, known as La Garenne. Go through the entrance gate (or large gate), leave the Tourist Office on your left, and take the main path through the grounds (signposted).

(1) Ignore the path on the left leading up to the castle, and after about a hundred metres, leave the main park path and take a track that climbs left up Saint-Abdon Hill. Follow the path as it continues along the ridge, alternating between woodland and the ridge edge, to the summit of Saint-Abdon, marked by a small platform (IGN marker).
Caution: there are a few sections close to the cliff edge, so please take care.

(2) Continue south-westwards and descend along the ridge until you reach a flat section. Do not take the track coming from the right (not shown on the IGN map) and pass by a hut. From this point, the route alternates between flat sections and descents, with cultivated fields on the right-hand side of the hill. Go almost all the way to the end to find a path leading down to the left towards the Durance plain.

(3) Continue leftwards along a hairpin bend to finish descending the switchbacks to the foot of the hill. You will then reach the small road to Tresbaudon which runs alongside the Durance.

(4) Follow it to the left towards Tallard (north-east) for over a kilometre and a half. Pass farmlands (orchards, vineyards of the Domaine de Tresbaudon) on one side and the Durance on the other, which you’ll have to make out as it’s hidden behind the foliage of the trees. Reach the allotments in Tallard.

(5) Leave the road and take the track along the embankment (running parallel to the right) to the water sports centre, then join Rue du Barry, near the bridge over the Durance.

(6) Turn left towards the medieval village. At the three-way junction, leave the main road on your right and continue straight on towards the Porte de la Durance. Enter Tallard via the Porte de la Durance in the Tallard ramparts. Wander at your leisure through the narrow streets to return to the castle car park:/A.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,982 ft - Tallard Castle car park - Château de Tallard
  2. 1 : mi 0.1 - alt. 2,014 ft - Parc de la Garenne (Tallard Castle) - Château de Tallard
  3. 2 : mi 0.63 - alt. 2,411 ft - Summit of - Saint-Abdon
  4. 3 : mi 1.46 - alt. 2,008 ft - Descent towards Tresbaudon - La Durance
  5. 4 : mi 1.64 - alt. 1,942 ft - Route de Tresbaudon
  6. 5 : mi 2.7 - alt. 1,936 ft - Tallard allotment gardens
  7. 6 : mi 3.21 - alt. 1,952 ft - Tallard water sports centre - La Durance
  8. S/E : mi 3.59 - alt. 1,982 ft - Tallard Castle car park - Château de Tallard

Notes

Fountains and shops in Tallard town centre.
(6) Leisure centre: Durance Canoë offers canoe hire to explore the lower Durance.
Keep a close eye on children as the hilltop path runs alongside ridges, one side of which is steep.

Worth a visit

(S/E) Tallard means ‘highlands’ due to its original location on the hillside, now known as the ‘old town’. Historically, the Porte de la Durance provided villagers with access to the river.
Make the most of your visit to the old town centre to see Saint-Grégoire Church and its remarkable entrance.

(1) Château de Tallard (605 m above sea level): an initial watchtower was built in the 10th century on the site of the present-day château. Then, in the 14th century, a small castle was constructed, which quickly grew into an imposing fortress. The Château de Tallard has been a listed historic monument since 1969.
Take a stroll around the castle esplanade and its orientation table.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
monique jacqueton
monique jacqueton

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It really is a lovely walk; it’s quite impressive reaching the top of St Abdon’s Hill – the view is magnificent. The return journey across the plain gives you the chance to see the castle from the back and learn about the local heritage!
Well worth doing again and again!

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User 19815900

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great little circuit with magnificent views.
However, the second half is entirely on roads (with little traffic)

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Maxime18300
Maxime18300

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A really lovely walk where most of the difficulty is in the first third. The setting is truly pleasant. There is indeed an airfield below, with planes taking off every five minutes on the day we were there.
With children, the youngest of whom is 5 years old, it took us 2 hours and 45 minutes, not including breaks. Make sure you don’t set off too late if you’re in a similar situation.

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karine808
karine808

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We visited the castle, which I’d recommend doing first (with an audio guide). We then enjoyed a lovely walk along the ridge with stunning views. There were no particular noise issues. The return route along the Durance riverbank offers a view of the castle from the other side. It’s an easy and very pleasant walk. Just be careful if you’re going with children: there’s a section that’s easy to navigate but runs close to the cliff. I’d recommend it.

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Breolaise
Breolaise

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk starts off in a lovely, shady wood – perfect for the warm weather – and is well signposted. There are beautiful views on both sides of the path, though these are somewhat spoiled by the noise and frequency of the planes. The return journey follows a small road through vegetable gardens.
You should allow for an extra 1.5 km on top of the advertised route.

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