The Arfuyen Ridges

Starting from Sainte-Madeleine Abbey at Barroux, this is quite a wild route offering many views over Mont Ventoux, the Dentelles de Montmirail and the surrounding plains.

Technical sheet

231106
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.09 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 576 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 578 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 642 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 289 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start at Sainte-Madeleine Abbey situated about two kilometres north of Barroux. Park in one of the many spaces at the Abbey.

(S/E) With your back to the abbey, go down the access road until you reach the crossroads with Chemin des Rabassières.

"Waymarking in Yellow-Red"

(1) Take the path opposite which goes through the Holm oaks. It is quickly joined by a much wider path coming from the right, and then goes alongside the Saint-Louis Institute. The path goes down between the grape vines and meets the Bois Long waymarker.

"Waymarking Yellow-Red + Yellow"

(2) Turn left onto the tarmacked path in the direction of Issards. Ignore the path on the right and go through the hamlet of Bois Long - the path will change from dirt to tarmac.
Ignore the path on the left which goes along the houses and the one on the right which goes back to the vines, instead continue straight on.
50m further on, head to the right along the cherry trees and olive groves. When the path starts going up, it becomes tarmacked and then dirt again when the slope evens out. Continue on between the orchards, going past the entrance to the Domaine des Usclades a bit further on on the left, until you reach a crossroads.

(3) Head slightly to the left, following the main path. At the end of a vineyard (with a sign for Mairie du Barroux), ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead on a path.
Ignore the path immediately on the left and go past a ruin. Ignore another track on the left after the ruin (not shown on the map). The path climbs again and bends to the right before meeting a crossroads (stone wall).
Follow the path to the left along the wall until you reach the waymarker for Issards.

"Waymarking Yellow-Red + Yellow + Blue + Red-White"

(4) Continue along it to the left in the direction of 'la Chaîne'. Ignore the path immediately on the left (not shown on the map) and continue on the flat section along the stone walls. Ignore another path on the right marked with a cairn (not shown on the map) and continue on until you reach a wide path about 100m further on.
Follow this path to the right uphill which is soon joined by a path coming from the right. Keep climbing up towards the D90 at the Col de la Chaîne.

(5) Turn left and follow the road in the direction of Combe Fréu. 150m further on, leave the tarmac and take the path on the right which goes alongside the road for a bit, higher up.

"Waymarking Red-White + Blue"

Continue on for about 150m until you reach a fork on a small flat area.

"No more waymarking, but there are still some old Red and White marks"

(6) Ignore the path going downhill on the left and follow the path on the right marked with a Blue cross.
Continue into the forest, going past a small view point and then arriving at a small lookout marked with a large cairn. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Dentelles of Montmirail.
Ignore the path heading off behind the cairn (not shown on the map) and continue across the balcony on the well-marked path. Join up with a crossroads marked with a cairn at a small pass.

"No more waymarking, only cairns"

(7) Take the path on the right which climbs into the garrigue vegetation to the north-east and then eastwards. Be sure to locate the cairns as the wayfinding is via the rock formations.
You will reach a summit (which doesn't have a name), marked with a large cairn and with 360° views of the tops of the Vaucluse and the Drôme.
Continue on the only track which heads to the north and then north-east, following along the Arfuyen ridges. Look out for the cliffs!
Ignore two tracks which you quite quickly get to on the left, marked with a cairn, and instead continue ahead until you reach a T-junction in the boxwood trees.

(8) Ignore the path on the right and follow the path to the left instead. The descent back down is quick, but steep and slippery. You will reach a large clearing. The path is no longer visible, but you need to keep going in the same direction for about 20m (there is a hut on the right further below) until you reach a grass path.
Follow the path to the left and then, after a flat area (olive groves on the right-hand side), the path goes into the forest.
Ignore the path climbing to the left and instead continue going downhill via a few wide zigzags, staying on the main path. You will reach a crossroads just before a small ru (ref. point 392).

(9) Ignore the track on the left (not shown on the map) and instead veer to the right, cross over the small trickle of water and head to the left 20m further on. A little further on, leave the footpath and bear left up a steep track. Follow it for about 300m until you reach a footpath.

"Waymarking Yellow-Red + Blue"

(10) Turn left and follow the path which climbs into the forest to begin with, and then goes through a more open area as it veers to the west. Follow the track below the ridges for about 400m, then at a fork take the main track to the left which will lead you to a crossroads. Continue about 10m to the right until you reach a signpost for La Pousterle ('Pas du Loup' on the IGN map).

"Waymarking Yellow + Blue"

(11) Follow the direction of Combe Fréu, by retracing your steps 10m back to the previous crossroads. Take a relatively flat path opposite you to reach the signpost for Combe Fréu. Turn right towards Suzette to reach the signpost for Le Partifiage.

"Yellow Waymarker"

(12) Turn left in the direction of Suze. Stay on the main path, ignore a path to the right shortly afterwards, and continue gently around the Cirque de Saint-Amand. You will arrive at a crossroads of paths, turn right onto the path going downhill and then, 150m further on, leave it and take the path going downhill to the right towards the D90.
Cross the road and join the Chemin du Dégoutaud opposite further down.

(13) Follow this tarmacked path going downhill to the right, with the hamlet of Suzette and the Dentelles of Montmirail in your line of sight. Go past the access road to Dégoutaud on your right and continue on downhill.
After several zigzags, the path arrives at cistern No 230 and leaves the tarmac behind. Turn right onto the path, ignoring the following path off to the right, and stay on the main path. At the hut, the path becomes tarmacked again. Continue for about 400m, go around a small bend, ignore the path on the left and follow the sharp bend to the right.

(14) 100m further on, in the curve of a bend to the left, leave the tarmac and take a sharp left onto a stony path (rubble). This path climbs up, going past several orchards and then joins another path.
Turn left and then, ignoring the path immediately on your right, continue along the Chemin des Rabassières.
Go past the eponymous marker and continue straight ahead.

After 300m, ignore the paths on the right and then left until you reach the entrance into the abbey again.

(1) Head to the right and return to the car park (S/E)/

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 378 m - Car park - Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 360 m - Chemin des Rabassières
  3. 2 : km 0.58 - alt. 342 m - Beacon Bois Long
  4. 3 : km 1.41 - alt. 393 m - To the left
  5. 4 : km 1.98 - alt. 418 m - Les Issards beacon
  6. 5 : km 3.51 - alt. 471 m - Col de la Chaîne
  7. 6 : km 3.88 - alt. 505 m - Turn right, no more signs
  8. 7 : km 4.46 - alt. 553 m - Small pass, turn right
  9. 8 : km 6.27 - alt. 577 m - T-junction in the boxwoods, turn left
  10. 9 : km 7.84 - alt. 391 m - Crossing near a stream
  11. 10 : km 8.12 - alt. 450 m - Left on the path
  12. 11 : km 8.95 - alt. 581 m - La Pousterle (Pas du Loup)
  13. 12 : km 9.6 - alt. 584 m - Partifying
  14. 13 : km 11.49 - alt. 427 m - D90 - Chemin du Dégoutaud junction
  15. 14 : km 13.91 - alt. 298 m - Left at an acute angle
  16. S/E : km 15.09 - alt. 378 m - Car park - Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux

Practical information

There are tarmacked sections between (2) and (3) , and then (13) and (14).
There are no waymarkers between points (7) and (10). Use the cairns and the directions in the description to find your way.

In the nearby area

Saint-Madeleine Abbey in Barroux is a Benedictine abbey, situated in Barroux in the Vaucluse. Founded in 1978, the community of monks has been part of the Benedictine Confederation since October 2008.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 113 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Maindor
Maindor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

One of the most beautiful walks in the region.

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User 4313968

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice hike, quite hard from the start to the crest, but the view is magnificent once you reach the crest, then it's back down again, so be careful, it's quite technical, but I recommend this hike.

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peliber
peliber

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Nothing to say, everything perfect.

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rando53
rando53
• Last modified:

not yet done this tour. SIGHTSEEING

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frantz840
frantz840

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

As beautiful as ever, and easy to follow.
Lovely views all round: Ventoux, Dentelles, Suzette...
Between points 8 and 9, the route has been slightly modified to leave the bees alone: you have to follow a newly-created path in the undergrowth, marked with blue dots, which returns to the route a little further on.

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rochenadine1
rochenadine1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Walk on Tuesday 19 March, sunny but a little cloudy.
Magnificent. The view of the snow-covered Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail.
The Sainte Madeleine abbey is superb, and don't forget to make a diversion to see the
Aqueduc du Barroux.
To be repeated

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Fam_Dfr
Fam_Dfr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent hike with varied scenery. The track is really easy to follow

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Nicolas Hoc
Nicolas Hoc

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk along the ridges with beautiful views and interesting paths.
It's a pity that it passes so close to the very beautiful and characteristic Aqueduc du Barroux and that it is not signposted!
The only negative point, and not the least, is that the last quarter of the route is on a tarmac road...

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Nicolas Hoc
Nicolas Hoc

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk along the ridges with beautiful views and interesting paths.
It's a pity that it passes so close to the very beautiful and characteristic Barroux viaduct and that it is not signposted!
The only negative point, and not the least, is that the last quarter of the route is on a tarmac road...

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Patrick Le Baroudeur
Patrick Le Baroudeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

As always, a superb walk. Unfortunately, the autumn colours were absent on this Sunday 16 October. Very fine weather with some wind... on the ridges, but nothing impossible. It's always a pleasure to hike in this paradise, even if the final stretch on a tarmac road takes us back to real life. But the fruit trees make you forget the road. In the middle of the heat, you'll need to bring plenty of water, as there are no refreshment points. On the ridge, superb views of Le Crestet, Vaison and Malaucène....

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Caro 84
Caro 84

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk with great views. No particular difficulties. A lack of signposting in places, so you need to be careful.

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casillas
casillas
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely walk, views of the Dentelles de Montmirail and the village of Suzette, superb, well-marked route, at the point (6) we took the GR4 to shorten the walk, as there was a threat of thunderstorms on Mont Ventoux. After a snack stop at the Dégoutaud farm, a very pretty place (gîte and chambres d'hôtes) with chairs and a table and very friendly owners, it started to rain when we got to the car.

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Caro 84
Caro 84

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The description is quite satisfactory but the route on site is not very clear. We took a lot of paths marked with a cross, which is why it's useful to have a description of the walk.

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SUPERCARBURANT
SUPERCARBURANT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice, varied route, with no particular difficulties apart from a short, very steep descent, but if you remain careful and attentive it goes well.
Beautiful views.
Can be done as a family.
I recommend this lovely walk.
Uncle

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ggregg
ggregg

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A superb walk with beautiful views of Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail. Variation between undergrowth and heath, between paths and tracks. Alone in the world throughout the walk. I just passed a lady twice in the opposite direction who was doing another loop on the GR. Possibility of combining this hike with the adjacent loop. Moderately difficult hike, accessible. I'd recommend it. And if this lady (dressed in black with a pink watch) recognises herself, please contact me.

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