Acknowledgement
We want to acknowledge. Mr Gérard Delange from the hikers group Les Baladins Vauclusiens who has permitted us to publish the present hike.
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A hike in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
It's a nice route which goes through the landscape of La Vallée Close (the Closed Valley). You will walk on a limestone land along the ridgeline, so that you will enjoy an overview of this part of the Vaucluse Mountains. Take time to visit the ruins of the old castle situated at the beginning. For the most courageous, a very steep path leads to a cave called: Aven de Valescure. This original route is proposed by the walkers "les Baladins Vauclusiens".
1- From the column place, cross the bridge over the river Sorgue and go toward the ruined castle. Walk round it.
2- Continue on the track which goes southward. About 500 m further, you will see a "borie" (dry stone hut) on your left.
3- Take the narrow footpath which goes over the borie. Go up towards a rocky spur, called Pas du Cervier. The path passes at its base. Walk along the cliff on your left (follow yellow arrows). Continue straight on nearly 300 m. You reach then the ridgeline of Pas du Cervier.
4- The path on the ridge is marked by cairns ( small heaps of stones). Continue up to reach the summit.
5- Continue on the ridgeline towards the north, on approximately 500 m. The ridge slightly oblique towards East, before rising again. At the top, you can see the telecom tower of Mourre de la Belle Etoile. A path goes to this tower. This path divides in two before the tower. Find the fork, and take the path to the East.
6- Continue to the intersection with a large track.
7- Turn to the left, and 30 meters away, leave the right track and go straight ahead. For the next intersections, continue straight ahead.
8- Turn to left on the wide path ( GR91). In the hairpin bend, take the narrow footpath, just before the watchtower road.
9- Walk along the ridge up to find a cairn. Take the narrow footpath on the left, and go down in a small valley. Reach and cross a little brook (running dry most of the time). Turn to the right after bushes and continue 100 m. You are reaching the edge of the cliff. Go to the left and continue on the cliff path (it is marked out). Once in the valley, zigzag down the scree (you will see first a small cave on the right, and then a hollow rock: the Grande Arche). Continue to go down in the valley of Valescure. A steep path on the left leads to Aven de Valescure.
10- At the end of the valley, turn to the left. At the intersection after a right angle bend to the right, turn to the left. Continue up to a wide track.
11- Turn to the left. The path is asphalt after a house.
12- At the crossing, go straight towards Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Come back to the column place by the street "chemin de la Grangette".
Information
General points
- Geographic situation. District : Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
(department Vaucluse, canton L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue)
Road map with
 - Starting point : Place de la Colonne in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. A car park is nearby (chemin du Prieuré).
- The length of the stroll is estimated at 11 Km and the walk duration is about 5 h .
- The stroll is not marked out or only partially
- Stroll form : loop
- Stroll relief : mountainous (alt. mini = 100 m ; alt. maxi = 670 m)
- Maintenance : wild (possible extension of undergrowth or deadwood, difficult course)
- Exposure : varied (both covered and uncovered areas)
Special conditions-
This is a difficult hike, because you have to walk off-trail and near precipices (so don't go with children). You are advised to bring a map and a compass (or a GPS), or to go with a guide.
- Because of the low thorny bushes of the scrubland, it is advised to wear long pants.
Events and information
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Danger.
The off-trail sections are areas for boar hunting. So you should be very careful during the hunting season.
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Danger.
Don't go if the weather is thundery, because walking on ridges increases the risk of lightning strike and ravines can become torrents.
Noteworthy places
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Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. The village was built on the first flat terrain at the exit of the biggest source of France. This source is a resurgence which is the starting point of the river Sorgue. The karstic network collects waters of Monts de Vaucluse, Montagne de la Lure and Mont Ventoux. Vaucluse, i.e. the name of both city and department, comes from the geographical position of the city: Vallis Clausa in Latin, which means "closed valley". The city has two remarkable monuments: Petrarch's Column and the church Saint-Véran.
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Colonne de Pétrarque. The Italian poet Petrarch (1304-1374 ) lived in exile in Avignon during a part of its life. To honor his memory, a column was built in the center of the village on the 500th anniversary of his birth,.
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Eglise Saint-Véran. This Romanesque church presents a Provencal style. It was built in the XIth century on the ruins of a pagan temple. Saint Véran's grave is in the crypt. This saint, who lived during the VIth century, was buried in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, but his relics were later transferred in the cathedral of Cavaillon.
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