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Start from one of the car parks in front of the Tourist Office.
(S/E) Head towards the town centre then keep right behind the post office to reach Rue Troque Pompée. Turn right to follow the tourist route leading to the cathedral. Walk past the Gallo-Roman site of La Villasse on Chemin du Couradou, turn left then right into Passage du Cloître.
(1) Take the pedestrian crossings on the left to reach the bridge over the Ouvèze (lovely view of the Roman bridge and the medieval town) and cross to the other side. Turn right at the roundabout. Stay on the pavement until the next junction. Turn right then left to continue along the small road running alongside the Ouvèze. At the end of the industrial estate, follow the D977 along a path through a grassy area until the next junction (Sainte-Catherine cemetery). Cross over towards the recycling centre.
(2) Follow the small road from the recycling centre, cross a ford and join a path on the right at the “Les Roussillons” signpost.
(3) Turn right onto this rather rutted track and continue, staying on the main path (red and white markings) and ignoring the side paths to the right and left.
(4) After two hairpin bends and a wide left-hand bend, you’ll reach the top of a hill just below a vineyard.
(5) Continue to the right. Caution: the slope becomes very steep and uneven. Take care. A rather tricky ford before climbing back up above the valley. Stay on the main path (marked in red and white) until you reach a cleared area, at the junction with a wide track.
(6) Turn right onto this forest track, then left at the D.M.20 sign. The track passes through a beautiful pine forest. There is a lovely view of Roaix from a hut overlooking an olive grove, then look out for Rasteau on its plateau and, further on towards Séguret, the Notre-Dame d’Aubusson Chapel atop its hill. You will reach a tarmac area (water tank 262).
(7) Continue left along the track. A panoramic view opens up over Mont Ventoux, Vaison-la-Romaine and its castle, stretching as far as the Dentelles de Montmirail. You’ll reach a junction where a wide path branches off to the right, running alongside a vineyard and a footpath.
(8) Turn right onto the small path that descends through broom, soon leading you between a dry stone wall and a vineyard. At the end of the wall, turn left and follow the path down until you reach a track. Turn left onto this track, which becomes grassy before ending as a path. Keep to the right through the vineyard, then head straight ahead. Further on, the path enters the undergrowth; it becomes increasingly stony and cluttered with branches. Walk down until you complete the circular loop around the Colline de Mars.
(4) Continue to the right until you return to the “Les Roussillons” signpost.
(3) Then turn left and follow the red and white markings again, turning right a little further down and crossing a ford over rocky slabs. Take the path that climbs steeply until you reach a wide track. Cross it and head down the path opposite (red and white markings). The path joins a small dry stream. Follow the stream for 150 m, then at the Fork in the road, turn left. Stay on the main path (steep climb) until you reach a junction with a vineyard at the top of the climb.
(9) Continue left then turn right to reach the tarmac road. Turn left onto the road and keep right until you reach Chemin du Grand Alizier, which descends into a residential area. Beautiful view of the medieval fortress.
(10) Head back up the Chemin du Rempart, then turn right to go round the medieval town and pass the remains of an aqueduct that carried water from the Groseau to Malaucène.
(11) At the “Frigoulière” signpost, turn left towards the medieval town and head down, skirting it on the right at the foot of the rock, towards the Roman bridge, via the Chemin de la Frégaulière. Impressive view of the rear of the castle. At the “Vaison Pont Romain” signpost, cross the road then follow it to the left on the pavement. View of the Roman bridge. You can reach the medieval town by heading up to the left via Rue du Pont Romain. Cross the bridge to return to the starting car park, following Grande Rue (shops) straight on until you reach the post office, then turn left towards the car park opposite the Tourist Office (S/E).
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