Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt

Underground water tanks in Travignon

 

Route

Difficulty

Difficult

Duration

8h

Distance

19km

Positive elevation gain

878 meters

Negative elevation gain

877 meters

Altitude

Min. 359 meters

Max. 1048 meters

  • circuit
  • variante
  • liaison

Departure / Arrival

Saint Saturnin les Apt information point / Saint Saturnin les Apt information point

Parking

On the village Square, Avenue Jean Geoffroy

profil altimétrique

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Favorite

Tourist service in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt :

Starting at the hilltop village of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, a great trip on the Sentier des Aiguiers, the top of Mount Cluyer and the ruins of Travignon.
Find out more
Back turned to the ''Information Point", next to the post office and pharmacy, go left then right onto the Rue Victor Hugo on 50m. Begin to the left on the Rue de la Combe and take a quick left under the puppet. Climb the cobblestone to the mill. Go up the path to the right on the edge of the plateau. Then take a right, cross the dam, pass through the castrum and turn left into the castle. Bypass the chapel on the left.
1 - At the crossroads, go straight across. Continue to the right and climb to the Chemin des Gavaniols. Continue straight. Leave several roads to your left and right leading to houses. Pass a sloping ledge and reach the Aiguiers Bessons.
2 - Rise to the right onto the path. At the 1st (new alternative route) then 2nd crossing, continue on the path in front. Leave a track going to the right and reach the rocky ledge. Climb the East ridge (markings barely visible), reach a small covered aiguier (Provençal underground water tank) and continue right to the Mount Cluyer dome. Pass the viewpoint and reach the summit plateau (milestone).
3 - Descend the trail due north, continue on the path under the pines and come out on La Liguière track. Follow the track for 150m and at the Y-like crossroad, continue left on the Chemin de la cassette (private pathway!). Bypass the farm to the right (gate) and reach the track below. Turn right (GR®) and after the aiguiers of Gayeoux, turn right. Go down 400m and leave a path to the left.
4 - Take a sharp left (milestone). Climb the small mountain pass of Travignon and switch to the aiguiers upstream the hamlet. Descend to the right on the rocky path, then turn left. Go through the ruins of Travignon, take a sharp right at the exit of the hamlet and immediately a left to go down the winding paths of the old mule track.
5 - Take a sharp left and immediately right (GR®). Hurtle down the trail which is very craggy down below. Continue at the valley bottom. Skip the narrow pass of the Rocher de la Cadière. At the crossroads "Puits du Geay", go straight. Pass the narrow gully of the Portes de Castor and go straight.
6 - look to the right for the 1st orchard along the track. Turn right, go up 100m along the field and climb the trail to the Bois du Defens. At the path, go across, descend and coming out of the scrubland, turn right. Go up the Rue de Fontaine de Guby to the right. Reach the Chemin de Romanet then the Cours de la Liberté to the left to go back to the village center.

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recommended parking

On the village Square, Avenue Jean Geoffroy

To note


  • There is a rocky and stony area approaching the dôme du Cluyer (2) and (3), and on the path that descends into the Travignon valley (4) and (5).

  • The ruins of Travignon have not been made safe and some properties are private. Please respect the peace and quiet of the area.

  • The path is shared with mountain-biking circuits.

If you want to report a problem on your hike (marking, maintenance, danger...), let us know on Suricate: sentinels.sportsdenature.fr
Access to the massifs
Respect the regulations preserving protected natural areas – find out about restrictions to accessing the massifs during fire risk periods, from 15 June to 15 September.
Before heading out, check the website

In brief

  • This is a long walk that is not too difficult technically but has good elevation.
  • Discovery of the beautiful hilltop village of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt.
  • The route takes you via the Les Aiguiers path, ruins of farms of yesteryear that were used as “cisterns” dug into the limestone rock and filled with rainwater via a trickling system.
  • Discovery of the Dôme du Cluyer, and the abandoned hamlet of Travignon, with its bories (dry stone huts) and aiguiers (cisterns).
  • Passes via the large wild valleys of the south side of the Monts-de-Vaucluse.

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