The troglodyte village of Barry

A family-friendly trail that explores the troglodyte village of Barry, one of the finest and largest in France.

Technical sheet

147303
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 80 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 80 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 282 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 197 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The cathedral cellars of Mas Théo via Saint-Restitut (follow signs for “Caves Cathédrales”). You can park at the viewpoint at the entrance of the site.

‘’No markings but some marker posts at strategic intersections ''

(S) From the car park, go beneath the site entrance portico and follow the paved road framed by large blocks of stone and cypress trees leading to the entrance of the cellars.

(1) Take the path to the right of explanatory panels that enters the forest. The balcony section offers views of the Rhone Valley and its factories on occasion...
At the marked crossing B5, pass by the path on the left and continue straight. Soon after, a new crossroads of many small paths occurs, (take a right to access the ruins of the castle), continue straight on the main trail.
The journey continues with a sunken road that slopes gently to the marker B2.
Pass by the path on the left and continue straight to reach the first ruins of the village of Barry.

Note: take a moment to leave the path here and explore the different cave dwellings. Take care near to the cliffs because the site is not secure and do head back to the main path every time.

Lower down at marker B1, a small round trip to the right (a small sign) provides access to the orientation table. Back on the main trail, continue down to the rocks to reach the viewpoint below.

(2) Head left in a turn and drive along a long building up a cross. Pass by a path to the right and continue straight through the slightly more recent ruins.
100 m further down a path from the right joins the trail, continue across to the fountain/washhouse, then even further to reach the chapel.
Continue for several metres, go past the ruins and cross a fence to return to the asphalt road. Make a right turn and find a left path up into the oaks.

(3) Turn left and climb the trail that passes between new ruins, a little hidden by vegetation. 150 m above the trail leading to the plateau at marker B4 there are views of the western part of the village.
Turn left on the fairly flat path. At times you will notice gullying in the rock caused by carts that once carried stones from the quarries. Reach the B3 tag.

(4) 100 m further on, it turns right and comes to a fork. Continue on the path passing by a trail that leads downhill, and quickly arrive at the next fork (with a marker with no number). Turn right. After a short uphill section and a ledge, the trail arrives at the B10 crossroads.

(5) Turn left, locate an old water tank to your left, and then continue on the right hand a truffle field. Arrive further on at the junction B9. Turn left, pass by an esplanade where the path then veers right and leads to marker B8.
Take the wide path to the right that leads to the marker B7 on the D218.
Veer left onto the road to reach the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 277 m - Car park of the Caves Cathédrales du Mas Théo
  2. 1 : km 0.14 - alt. 275 m - To the right of the explanatory panels - Caves Cathédrales de Saint-Restitut
  3. 2 : km 1.59 - alt. 223 m - Turning left to make a bend
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 198 m - Turn left and climb the path
  5. 4 : km 2.44 - alt. 238 m - Turn right at marker B3
  6. 5 : km 3.28 - alt. 265 m - Turn left at marker B10
  7. S/E : km 4.33 - alt. 277 m - Car park of the Caves Cathédrales du Mas Théo

Practical information

The cave dwellings can provide shelter to hikers.

In the nearby area

Troglodyte village of Barry
A remarkable collection of the remains from a time frame spanning from Celto-Ligurian to the Romans until the nineteenth century.
The troglodyte village in one of the finest and largest in France
The medieval village on the rocky outcrop is defended by the eleventh and twelfth century castle
The protohistoric oppidum that historians believe to be the location of the city of Aéria, the principal Tricastini city

The Cathedral Cellars
In 2012, Le Mas Theo moved into the cathedral cellars. This unique site, dug into the chalky rock of Saint Restitut, providing the ideal conditions, both humidity and temperature, suited for the production and storage of wines. The spirit of the place is in total harmony with the biodynamic approach to its production.
Open all year: open daily except Sundays from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 19:00. In July and August, opens on Sundays and holidays from 14:30 to 18:30. Annual holiday from 6 to 20 January

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 101 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.1 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
fredovyf
fredovyf

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

There are a few forbidden passages due to restoration work on the Troglodyte habitat and also complicated orientation at point 3: it's hard to find the passage that catches up with the path that was overgrown at the start!

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assencath
assencath
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

This was a very nice trail with no difficulties, and it gave us some very interesting views of the Rhône valley and the troglodyte village on a sunny November day. The route is well signposted. We didn't have a GPS!

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MarieSylvie
MarieSylvie

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very pleasant walk through the troglodyte village, beautiful views, varied paths. However, it was impossible to follow the suggested route without the GPS. The weather was very fine and we really enjoyed it.

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LN23
LN23

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A superb walk to the troglodyte village of Barry. But from there, after passing the chapel, it wasn't easy to find the right path straight away (there was a tarmac section before a barrier, so there may have been changes since the initial description). By cross-checking the information with a sign on the spot, we were able to go back up and finally find the path. The problem was that this steep section, although not very long, was far from being in the "easy" category!
The walk was a wonderful discovery, with the troglodyte village and superb panoramas over the Rhône valley and from the Ardèche to the Ventoux.
Please check in advance if access to the site is forbidden to pedestrians.

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Pasfab
Pasfab

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk. The troglodyte village is still under construction, so the route has to be altered slightly after passing through the village. However, the diversions is not long and the track allows you to return quickly to the basic route.

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AUTRAN Martine
AUTRAN Martine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The route is magnificent, taking us back to the Middle Ages. We enjoyed the view, the caves, the houses being restored and the cart tracks left on the ground. On the other hand, the route is very busy, with lots of paths to the right and left. An association has put up markers with signs proposing several routes in blue, yellow, green and red, all of which overlap and you end up mixing them up.

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Corail
Corail
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The site is currently being restored, and the path to reach the point is no longer suitable. After the village, as soon as you go through the gate and get back onto the tarmac road, there is a path on the left that leads up into the oak forest. Go up 4 terraces and turn right.

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elise.pasquier@sfr
elise.pasquier@sfr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Nice walk and the village of Le Barry is superb but the path is difficult to follow. There are several contradictory marks or no marks at all, especially at point 3.

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Patrick Knepper
Patrick Knepper

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Hello
The information sheet was quite detailed and precise, and with the information on the route our trip went very well.

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jojotrappeur
jojotrappeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent walk, and a wonderful discovery of the troglodyte village of Barry!

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Schuby
Schuby

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Be as u course with shaded areas

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Cécile B
Cécile B

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

This very surprising village was a superb discovery!
Unfortunately the site is currently being restored by the town council, but it will be redone once the work is finished. It's an exceptional site!

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pierre lartigue
pierre lartigue

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk with beautiful views and a partly restored troglodyte village

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Les Bibi
Les Bibi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

beautiful course for a great sunny day, not too difficult to recommend for the family

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m.canderlé
m.canderlé

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Very poorly explained, the explanations do not correspond to the tags on plzce!

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