Provence: The best hiking trails for your holidays!
With the Alps in the northeast and the Mediterranean coast in the south, Provence is one of the most diverse regions in France and accordingly a dream destination for many hikers year-round. Explore the picturesque lakes in the heart of the region with your four-legged friend or refresh yourself after the hikes by swimming in the Mediterranean.
Table of contents
Provence - 8 special hiking trails
Lavender Path
The "Chemin des lavandes" leads through the blooming fields for which the region is so famous. Especially in midsummer, it attracts visitors who want to admire the purple splendor. The hike is considered easy and is therefore suitable for seniors or families with children. On the "Chemin des lavandes," you can enjoy the beauty of the landscape. A highlight of Sault is the annual Lavender Festival held in August. Here you can encounter lavender in all its facets: from soap to candied lavender blossoms, everything revolves around the fragrant herb.
Cedar Forest
The route through the heart of the cedar forest is entertaining and varied. Hikers need only a good hour for the 3.2 kilometers, but it's best to plan a little more time for the excursion so you can enjoy the view during breaks at various spots. Follow the yellow-marked trail and walk not only among the cedars but also into the woods of oak groves and box trees. On the way back, you hike through underbrush before leaving the forest and ascending. At the end, you look back at the cedar forest from a hilltop.
Sentier Martel and Couloir Samson
The Verdon Gorge is a popular hiking area and is located in the middle of the national park of the same name. The classic hiking route through the Gorges du Verdon leads over the Sentier Martel and then past the Couloir Samson to the Point Sublime. It is one of the most beautiful viewpoints over the gorge. The route is 14 km long and overcomes significant elevation differences. A highlight of the hike is the tunnels that follow shortly after the Couloir Samson. You should definitely bring a flashlight on this hike! The panoramas that open up to you from Point Sublime are enchanting.
Fairy path
The ochre rocks shimmer in intense shades from yellow to red. They are not just a tourist attraction: active quarrying is still carried out here. Around 20 different pigments for painters are extracted from the shimmering rocks. You can discover the Colorado of Provence on a hike. The Chemin de fées is 2.5 kilometers long and leads through the heart of the ochre quarries. The route starts at the "Mille Couleurs" ("thousand colors") parking lot in Rustrel and passes by bizarre rock formations. Be sure to choose sturdy and comfortable footwear for your hike.
Ochre Trail
Roussillon welcomes you with house facades in multifaceted shades of yellow and red. The colorful place is the starting point for a hike to the fascinating ocher rocks. The beautiful paint colors originate from there. You traverse the mountain and valley landscape on rocky paths and curry-yellow sand trails. At times, you climb well-developed wooden stairs and cross sturdy wooden bridges. In the gentle afternoon or evening sun, the colorful rocks seem to glow. Then is the best time for the hiking tour Le Sentier des Ocres. Along the route, there are several viewing platforms. These not only offer you an excellent view over the ocher quarries but are also perfect as photo stops.
Hike around the sources of the Huveaune
Plan for the 7.6 km hike around the sources of the Huveaune to take a good two hours. You walk through mostly untouched nature and only cover 141 meters in altitude, making the route easy to moderate. Along the way, the river promises a welcome refreshment. The highlight of the hike is the turning point at the Grotte de Castelette. Here, the Huveaune springs and forms numerous pools, which with their turquoise blue water even invite you to swim. The cave itself is open to visitors, but for a tour, you should book a guided tour on site.
Tour through the Véroncle Gorge
The hiking tour through the idyllic Véroncle Gorge is a little over 10 km long. You start your hike at the parking lot between Gordes and Joucas. The path is narrow and steep, partly leading over stairs and steep walls. You pass the ruins of former mills until you reach the actual gorge. Before the northern end of the gorge, the valley becomes somewhat wider. The return path takes you over a rocky hill and then further through the Bois d'Audibert. The tour through the Véroncle Gorge is classified as moderately difficult, but is well-suited for older children and fit seniors.
Caramy Gorges of Tourves
Several routes lead through the nature reserve, which is only a few kilometers from the Côte d'Azur, but the Caramy Gorges are considered a highlight. The popular circular route measures a total of 10.3 km and can be completed in three hours due to the 334 meters of elevation and the partially unpaved terrain. You start in Tourves, head south, and pass through evergreen forests. You quickly reach a stream that leads to smaller waterfalls, which you can easily bypass. In between, hikers enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from heights and pass the historic chapel of Saint-Probace, where you can take a break.