Luberon Goult Hike
What if you went on a surprising trip to the Tian? In less than ten kilometres, it is possible to go back several centuries along the dry stone walls that whisper their history to hikers. Starting from Goult, an unobtrusive little town which embodies the charm of Provence, we suggest that you go to find bories, shelters under rock, chapels and ruins that tell of the Vaucluse of yesteryear and finish with the Conservatoire des Terrasses, an open-air museum recognised as a Geosite of the Luberon Geopark.
Duration:
3 hours
Type:
Hiking
1- To Each his Own Goult
Prologue in what is known as the Luberon’s Hidden Village
In the shadow of the neighbouring well-known names, Bonnieux and Gordes, Goult could almost pass for shy. However, the village has charm to spare and stories to tell. Behind beautifully restored facades, Goult remembers that it was the stronghold of the Lords of the Agoults. A historical heritage enshrined in the very name of the municipality and in the thick walls of its castle. You have to walk through its narrow streets to the Place de la Madeleine, where you can sample a panoramic view of the distant Ventoux. Then we bow under beautiful stone arches, the last witnesses of an ancient defensive system of the time when Goult boasted more of being a fortress than a peaceful Provencal village. We end with its mill which itself can tell of centuries of life on this oppidum erected above the Calavon.
The Mill of Goult
It hosted training in positional astronomy for half a century, provided by a branch of the National Geographical Institute. Bought by the municipality in 1990, it was then restored in 1999 to its original condition.
2 – The Hidden Treasures of Le Mange Tian
Le Sanctuaire de Lumières
The miraculous healing of a resident of Goult in 1661 initiated the creation of the Sanctuaire des Lumières, dedicated to Mary. We still meet the descendants of the order of the first Oblate Missionaries of Saint Mary Immaculate created by Eugène de Mazenod in 1837.
A Loop from Goult, via Le Sanctuaire de Lumières
Hidden under the foliage of the undergrowth, walls, bories and abandoned ruins remind the hiker that, until recently, Goult’s story was written in stone. There is no shortage of discoveries for the attentive and curious walker hiking on the circuit of Le Mange Tian hill. All tell of the same fate: the abandonment of agricultural practices that led to the almost total erasure of the buildings by the forest. This hike turns the walker into an archeologist. The highlight comes beyond a recess, at the end of a procession of stone stairs. The small Saint-Michel chapel is there, insignificant before the sovereign rock that dominates it. An echo of the Sanctuaire de Lumières, just below, which reminds us that religion has also shaped the local territory.
3 – The Conservatoire des Terrasses de Goult
Journey to the Land of Dry Stone
Dry stone is a lifestyle art, ancestral know-how and a certified heritage. It made it possible to shape the face of Provence. The Conservatoire des Terrasses de Goult serves as a proud showcase of this history. A short one-way circuit, a kind of hike within the hike, invites you to this journey by going up to Goult from Lumières. It cannot be done without taking in this walk. As you walk through the south-facing five-hectare natural amphitheatre, over a route marked and punctuated with information, you thus find out about the architectural world of dry stone. An essential memorial site, beautifully laid out, where you will be surprised to find more than what you had initially come to look for.
A Geopark Site of the Luberon
The fruit of seven years of research and development work carried out by APARE, the regional association for the restoration of dry stone heritage, the site is part of the Luberon Geoparc, itself a member of the seven French Geoparks belonging to the network of 195 UNESCO-certified globally.
An unexpected and nostalgic journey through time, coupled with a walk without too much difficulty. The site of the Saint-Michel chapel makes an impact and visiting the Conservatoire des Terrasses is essential. An ideal loop in addition to a day spent in Goult.
David Genestal
Carnets de Rando
Hiking in Practice
To download:
– GPX Track
In detail:
– Distance: 9 km
– Elevation gain: 365 m
– Duration: 3 hours
– Difficulty: easy
By public transport:
From Avignon station take line 915 bus towards Apt / Stop: Lumière.
From Isle sur la Sorgue station, take line 914 bus/ Stop: Lumières – à Goult
Access by car: From Avignon, Apt or Pertuis, by the D900 to Goult