A walk around Jabron

In Saint-Vincent-sur-Jabron, park in the square’s car park (except on market days).

(S/E) Take the^GR® trail (red and white markings) towards Aubard, turning right as you leave the car park. At the gendarmerie, leave the D946 and follow the road to Aubard on the right.

(1) Leave the road and take the path on the right, which crosses the Aubard road several times before rejoining it at a place called Le Claux. Continue straight on.

(2) Ignore the^GR® 946 which branches off to the right and continue along the road to the hamlet of Aubard. Pass the first house and continue to a crossroads where there is a tree that has been turned into a chainsaw sculpture.

(3) Turn left onto the^PR® towards Éourres / Vieux Curel. Head straight on (west) ignoring the paths on either side.

(4) Ignore the path on the right which climbs up to Éourres (beautiful view), and continue straight ahead on a good path sloping gently down towards Vieux Curel. You’ll reach the poignant ruins of the Mourières sheepfold.

(5) Continue along the path which crosses several springs; ignore a path branching off to the right. Cross a small valley and climb up opposite via a balcony path: take care at a section where the path has collapsed slightly. Reach the ridge.

(6) Begin the descent: magnificent views over the Jabron valley and the village of Lange. Don’t forget to close the cattle gates. Reach the junction with a track and turn left to reach the ruins of Vieux Curel.

(7) At the junction in front of the ruins, ignore the yellow^PR® markings which suggest turning right; instead, turn left onto a good path that passes in front of the Vieux Curel cemetery. Pass a barrier designed to prevent animals from crossing and follow the path down to the D946 road.

(8) Turn left and walk along the road with great care, keeping to the left-hand side. You will reach the junction with the D403.

(9) Cross the road and go over the bridge over the Jabron. At Les Patins, follow the D403 to the left to reach the junction with a transformer, where the route joins the^GRP® Tour de la Montagne de Lure.

(10) Follow the small tarmac road to the left (^GRP® red and yellow markings). Pass a cemetery and keep left onto a small road, which you must leave at the bend to join an old track opposite.

(11) At this point, pass a wayside shrine dedicated to Saint Sebastian and continue on to the church at Châteauneuf-Miravail. Carry on along the tarmac road until you reach the bend to the right.

(12) Leave the tarmac road and continue straight ahead, slightly to the left. Pass through the ruins of the hamlet of Les Chabauds and then those of L’Adret; the somewhat stony path crosses two ravines. Take care!

(13) At this crossroads, ignore the path on the right that goes downhill, and head up straight ahead and to the left towards the Château des Graves: beautiful ruins, but do not venture inside. Head down to the left along a lovely path that leads to a small cairn.

(14) Head straight on to go round (and not across) a field until you reach a fruit tree. Pass an old well. Continue along the^GRP® to a bridge over the Jabron, then head up to the left to Saint-Vincent-sur-Jabron. At the wash house, turn right to reach the car park (S/E).

Take plenty of water and wear good shoes: the paths are stony in places.
No water source along the way unless you ask the residents of Aubard.
A lovely fountain in Lange if you take a detour. Tap at the Châteauneuf Miravail cemetery, but it was closed when we passed through.
At the church in Châteauneuf Miravail, a covered terrace offers good shelter for walkers.
Do not attempt to enter the various ruins.

Nearby, via Valbelle, you can drive up to the summit of Lure via the Pas de la Graille (meaning ‘crow’ in Provençal!). At the Pas de la Graille, a path leads to the Cairn 2000 (well worth a visit).

After the summit of Lure – a magnificent viewpoint over the Écrins, the Estrop massif and even Sainte Victoire on a clear day – continue to the small ski resort and stop at the La Sauvagine refuge: the food there is good.
Other possible walks to the Pas de la Graille from Valbelle via the Saint-Pons cave chapel.