Hikes in Le Beaucet

Itinéraire remarquable qui propose une randonnée à travers l’histoire, la géologie et les superbes paysages environnants.

Explore the western part of the Vaucluse Mountains, discover the perched villages and the natural and built heritage that make it a little gem.

Tucked away from the main roads, in a picturesque valley surrounded by lavender fields, lies Sénanque Abbey. Cistercian monks founded this place of tranquility as early as 1148. The entire abbey captivates with its unadorned simplicity and has since become a landmark of Provence.> From the parking lot in Gordes01, we follow the road for about 100 meters toward the town’s outskirts. We take the first opportunity to turn right and walk uphill along a narrow alley to a road, which we follow to the right again. After about 200 m, the white-and-red markings lead us down a dead-end road toward “Les Dilais.” At the “La Rougière”02 signpost, we continue straight ahead toward Sénanque. On an old mule trail between high stone walls, we make our way uphill to “Côte de Sénancole”03, located along a country road. A glance back offers a stunning view of the Luberon and the Alpilles. We stay next to the road for a short stretch. Then a rocky path leads us downhill to the left, and at the next fork, we head toward the Sénanque Abbey04. After visiting the ancient ruins, we continue our walk from the L’Abbaye parking lot toward “La Pouraque.” We take the path next to the large parking lot. Shortly after the entrance to the monastery, we take a shortcut across the country road and cross the roadway again. In the forest, we turn right onto a trail just before a barrier. We cross a rocky ledge and enter a side valley. At the top, we keep to the right onto a trail and walk through dense stands of boxwood, Aleppo pines, and holm oaks. The trail forks, and we take the left fork. We follow a wide forest road uphill for a short distance before turning right onto a rocky trail. Straight ahead, past an intersection and a small cottage, we reach the “Croix de Pouracon”05 signpost, located at the “Mur de la Peste.” We leave the GR trail onto a wide forest road marked in yellow and red, heading right toward “La Pouraque.” As we walk through the cedars, we catch repeated glimpses of the barren Mont Ventoux. At the “Croix du Jas d’Esprit”06 trail junction, we continue along the high-altitude trail through typical garrigue vegetation toward “Pouraque Ouest.” True lavender, thyme, and rosemary cover the ground beneath the oak trees, filling the air with the scent of the South. At the next signposts, we keep going straight ahead on the wide forest trail, past the firewater cistern 125. Along our path, we can spot remnants of the plague wall from time to time. At “La Haute Pouraque”07 stands a small hunting lodge, the Pavillon de la Chasse. An ideal spot for a break. Refreshed, we now follow the yellow markings toward “Trois Termes”08, on the D177 road. We cross the road to the right and take a trail to the left toward Gordes. The trail leads us downhill past a large oak tree, and after a curve, we enter a beautiful ravine. In front of a gate, we turn right and hike along a field of lavender. We cross a stream bed and then head uphill, following the yellow markings on the rocks. At an information sign, we can learn about the biodiversity of the flora and fauna of the “Haut Vallon de la Sénancole.” We come to a wider path and turn right. We walk straight past a large cairn and, shortly afterward, take a trail to the left. Along a plateau and beneath beautiful Aleppo pines, we continue to follow the yellow markings. On our left, we spot a beautiful borie (stone hut), which makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. The path descends to “Fontanille”09, where we reach a road; here, we keep to the right, continuing toward Gordes. After about 300 m, the yellow-and-red markings lead us straight ahead between stone walls onto a gravel path. The path soon turns into a trail as it descends, and we reach Gordes10 along the cemetery wall. Before we turn right at the roundabout in front of the château to head back to the parking lot01, we take plenty of time to explore this uniquely beautiful little town and treat ourselves to a meal at one of the cozy restaurants.

The fortified village of Vénasque sits above the Nesque River on a rocky outcrop that drops steeply on three sides, while the picturesque village of Beaucet is nestled among the rocks. The two villages are connected by old mule trails.> From the parking lot, we walk to the center of Vénasque01 with its small square, where a fountain splashes. Passing the “Auberge la Fontaine,” we continue straight ahead toward the Église (church) at the end of the street. There, we walk a few meters to the right and then turn left onto a gravel path. At a crossroads, we come to a roadblock (normally, the trail continues straight ahead for 500 m to the D247) and take the detour to the right down an old mule trail to a road intersection. We follow the D247 to the left until the original trail from the hilltop meets the road. Turning left, the yellow-and-red trail markers lead us to the edge of a rock face. We climb up to the hilltop via a path and reach the “Les Ponts”02 signpost. We head toward “Le Beaucet,” a direction we maintain at the following signposts as well. At “Lou Clapas du Jouvenal,” we turn right and hike along an old mule trail beneath the shade of holm oaks. At first, the trail leads us along the ridge; then it descends gently through a green valley. The trail forks, and we take the right fork uphill. At “Jouvenas”03, we cross a small road and continue along a trail. Through a dip in the terrain, we reach a gravel road and turn left. After another small road, we pass “Les 7 Soleils” and continue straight ahead on a rocky path. From there, we can enjoy a fantastic view of the village of Le Beaucet04. After passing under a culvert, we turn left and descend steeply, passing a few houses. Passing a fountain, we follow the road to a World War I memorial, where we keep to the left. From the cemetery entrance, we continue uphill to the signpost “Le Barri,” which indicates our destination, “Vénasque 4.1 km.” From there, we follow the yellow markings along a small road until we reach a fork. We turn sharply to the left and, after about 100 m, at a large walnut tree, take a path to the right. We follow the yellow markers along a rocky path, continuing steadily uphill. At “La Pelade”05, we cross a road, and shortly after “Capelane,” we take a shortcut off the paved road onto a trail. The trail forks, and we continue on the rocky path to the right. Between vineyards, we keep to the right again on a dirt road, which we later turn left onto. We arrive at “Jouvenal”06, where a trail leads steeply downhill through a narrow gorge to a road, which we leave diagonally to the left. Passing a few ruins, we walk through tall woods before hiking steeply uphill on a winding trail. We follow a small road to “Espuys”07. Turning left, we reach our starting point01 again after a short distance.