For Their Health, Let’s Give the Gorges du Toulourenc a Breather!
Due to damage caused by the overcrowding of the site, especially in summer, we cannot recommend a visit to the Gorges du Toulourenc. We hope that this situation will only be temporary and we invite you to give this unique site a rest.
In Numbers
- 51,336 visitors in the summer of 2015 (828/day)
- 86,604 in the summer of 2018 (1392/day)
- 115,000 in 2019
The Gorges, Victims of Their Own Success
The overcrowding of the site – year after year – has ended up weighing heavily on this unique ecosystem. The influx of tourists has in fact led to significant pollution of the river and its surroundings, as well as degradation of the local flora and fauna. The waste left by visitors, human and canine droppings, sunscreen residues in the water, pebble dams trapping species, illegal car parks, anarchic parking making it impossible to access emergency services, the incessant din on the site are all nuisances that endanger the ecosystems of the river and its surroundings.
A Degraded Experience
How can we be happy and enjoy a place when our very presence contributes to its disappearance?
How can you enjoy the gorges when the paths along the almost dry river are crowded? Or when waterfalls and natural pools are overrun? And the peace of this natural environment has simply been broken? We therefore encourage visitors to consider alternative walks to less crowded sites. The Vaucluse is full of magnificent natural places which are less busy. You will find them throughout the territory to accommodate your practices and activities.
Less fragile, they offer an authentic experience. For example, the GR 91 which overlooks the Toulourenc from Veaux or Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux (a two-hour round trip), allows you to discover the valley without damaging it and enjoy a beautiful panorama.
What If You Took Advantage of This Instead
A Place We Can All Protect
– The Toulourenc Valley is recognised at European level as a Natura 2000 site, within the Mont-Ventoux Regional Nature Park. This network brings together natural sites to be protected for their spaces and habitats representing European biodiversity.
– Species of community interest, i.e. endangered, vulnerable or rare species such as the European beaver, the lesser horseshoe bat, the mercury agrion and the southern barbel live there.
– Aquatic fauna is particularly impacted by trampling, which degrades or even destroys living and reproductive environments. The many pebble dam constructions along the river, made by humans simply for fun, trap aquatic fauna and also limit the flow of water. As a result, the water rises in temperature, algae and pollution develop.
Risk of Sudden Rise in Water Levels
Even in Good Weather
In Provençal, Toulourenc means “all or nothing,” a significant name to describe this river which, while appearing to be a peaceful and refreshing watercourse, can become a formidable and destructive torrent in the space of a few seconds.
For example, on July 18, 2013, in the space of a few seconds, the speed multiplied by 22. Even if it doesn’t rain where you are, it can do so upstream, causing large flow variations.
To avoid danger, check the vigicrues(fr) website before leaving.
A decrease in visits to the Toulourenc gorges began in 2019 thanks to awareness-raising operations. These will be continued to preserve the site.