Roussillon’s Sentier des Ocres
There is a small entry fee to get in (2.50€ for adults) and there are two looped walks, a shorter one at around 30 minutes and a longer one (which is an extended version of the shorter one) at around 50 minutes. We originally planned to do the 50 minute one but in July the heat was too unbearable so we only did the shorter one.
It was really hard to believe my eyes. The orange colour was so bright, accentuated by the fact that we were there in summer in the middle of a hot sunny day. All I could think about was the Australian outback which is also this bright red-orange colour. Later on I found out that Roussillon is also nicknamed Colorado Provençal. Out of curiosity I looked it up and the place which looks similar is the Garden of the Gods.
The trail is easy to walk (although there are steps) and it really felt like walking on another planet! In order to climb up this hill I accidentally touched the ochre and wow! My hands turned orange!
Am I on Mars? 😀
At the end of the shorter trail there is a rest area where you can sit and admire the view before heading back. If it wasn’t so hot I would’ve liked to do the longer trail… next time!
Roussillon is not only about the Sentier des Ocres so let’s visit the rest of the village, shall we?
All the houses in Roussillon are ochre-washed in all the beautiful shades of orange from yellows to reds, a striking reminder of the strong influence of the former ochre mining industry.
Isn’t this the cutest town hall ever?
Restaurant La Treille
We had lunch at Restaurant La Treille. On the menu were a huge selection of seasonal salads. Salads are the best thing to eat in the Provençal summer heat! and theirs were very tasty. We had a little chat to our friendly waiter too (who told us about his recent trip to Australia and how he nearly got hypothermia while camping because – like most people I’ve met in Europe – he didn’t realise that Australia has winter!) and I even got a photo with him, ha!
So’Glace Ice cream
After lunch we had a yummy lavender ice cream at this place which is located just below La Treille.
GO
- Roussillon is a beautiful hilltop village located on the Luberon massif, in the Vaucluse department and in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region. It is not to be confused with the Roussillon region near the Spanish border. It is classified as one of Les plus beaux villages de France (The most beautiful villages of France).
- It’s about an hours’ drive from Avignon, where the nearest TGV station is located. To get there you’ll really need to drive. Car hire is available in Avignon. Read this post for more information about that.
STAY
- As the town is so small you don’t need to stay overnight as everything can be seen during a day trip. If you’d like to stay overnight here are the top rated hotels in Roussillon on Tripadvisor.
SEE
If you want to learn about ochre mining and manufacture this is the place to be! The tourist office recommended me these following places:
The Sentier des Ocres (The Ochre Trail) as explained above.
- Web: http://otroussillon.pagesperso-orange.fr/sentier.html
- Address: Avenue de la Burlière, 84220 Roussillon
- Tel: 04 90 05 60 25
- Hours: Vary according to the time of year from 11am-3:30pm in winter to 9am-7:30pm in summer
- Entry fees: 2.50€ Adults, 1.50€ for groups of 15 or more, Children under 10 free.
In Rustrel (30 minutes’ drive away) there’s an actual place called Colorado Provençal if you want to continue seeing these amazing orange landscapes. Explore 3 hectacres of ochre mountains. The paths will lead you through former quarries and settling bassins, a reminder of the mining activities of the past. This place was mined until 1992 but is now a protected site.
- Web: http://www.colorado-provencal.com
- Address: Parking des Milles couleurs, D22, 84400 Rustrel
- Tel: 06 43 97 76 06 or 06 81 86 82 20
To really understand how ochre was mined and made into various products here are a few interesting places to visit. We didn’t have time to so but I would have loved to visit.
Usine d’ocre Mathieu (Matthew Ochre Factory)
Comprising of a bookshop with 3000 books, pigments of all origins, visits, workshops, training courses… Visit and touch the ochres in this unique site.
- Web: http://www.okhra.com
- Address: D104, 84220 Roussillon
- Tel: 04 90 05 66 69
And a little further afield…
Mines de Bruoux (Bruoux Mines)
Visit the old ochre mines following a 650 metre underground path. You’ll be taken back into the world of the miners who carved 40km of underground tunnels to extract the ochre-laden sand (12 minutes’ drive away). Reservations strongly recommended. Photographs and dogs forbidden inside.
- Web: http://www.minesdebruoux.fr
- Address: 1434 route de Croagnes, 84400 Gargas
- Tel: 04 90 06 22 59
Musée de l’aventure industrielle (Industrial adventure museum)
This museum presents the main industrial activities of Apt, namely ochre for pigments, clay for ceramics and fruit cultivation for candied fruits. There are workshops and presentations (20 minutes’ drive away).
- Web: http://www.apt.fr/Le-Musee-de-l-Aventure.html
- Address: 14 place du Postel, 84400 Apt
- Tel: 04 90 74 95 30
Musée de Géologie (Geology museum)
Situated in a UNESCO heritage-listed geopark, the Luberon national park, the Musée de Géologie invites you to discover the history of the geology of the region, the landscapes, rocks and a huge collection of fossils. It’s set in the beautiful vaulted cellars of the “Maison du Parc”.
- Web: http://www.parcduluberon.fr/geopark/
- Address: 60 place Jean-Jaurès, 84404 Apt
- Tel: 04 90 04 42 00
Website with links to several of these above sites and many photos: http://www.provenceguide.com/sites-naturels/ocres-39-1.html
EAT
- We had lunch at Restaurant La Treille which I recommend (see above). Although it’s a small village there are lots of good restaurants to choose from.
- Address: Rue du Four, 84220 Roussillon
- Tel: 04 90 05 64 47
- Closed Sundays
- Lavender ice cream! Most if not all of the ice cream shops in town will sell it. We went to So’Glace.
- Address: 9 Place de L’Abbé Avon, 84220 Roussillon
- Tel: 06 79 52 26 92
SHOP
- If you’re an artist, why not pick up some amazing pigments for your next masterpiece! You can buy their ochre pigments online too.
- There are also the usual Provençal souvenirs and gifts such as lavender sachets, soaps and products and fabrics with Provençal prints.
TRAVEL TIPS
- Our GPS had trouble finding the town (as it seems there are a few Roussillon‘s in France). Typing in one of the nearby towns or streets (depending on where you are coming from) should work.
- Roussillon is very very small with limited parking. It’s better to park outside the town and get there as early as you can. If you have a vehicle larger than a standard size car you’re obligated to park outside.
- Bring coins for the parking meters.
- As it’s so small you don’t really need a map at all. There are only a few streets. Just walk around and have fun! We only spent a few hours here but you could take your time and spend a whole day here. The roads are quite narrow and steep though.
- If you plan on visiting the Sentier des Ocres don’t wear white, especially white shoes. They’ll never be white again! Don’t wear black shoes either for that matter. Brown is the best bet, or old shoes, or thongs (flip flops) tevas, crocs, or waterproof shoes which can be washed afterwards. Do not attempt to go barefoot as the ground is extremely hot during summer.
- Do not touch the ochre if you don’t want to look like you have a bad fake tan 😀
- If you do get yourself all orangey there is a small fountain to wash up in right outside the entrance to the park. The water is potable so it’s handy for filling up your water bottle too.
- The Sentier des ocres is a protected site so please treat the environment with care and do not leave any rubbish behind. You are not allowed to bring in food, bikes, or drones. Prams must be left at the entry. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
- There isn’t much shade anywhere so if you go in summer bring/wear a hat. Also, bring water with you.
PHOTO TIPS
- Towards the start of the Ochre Trail you can look back towards the town and see the buildings perched on top of the hill. Around here you can find the best viewpoints to capture the spectacular little village with its orange buildings or the beautiful orangey red landscapes.
- Be careful you don’t get the red dust inside your camera (which could be easy to do if you accidentally touch the ochre). It is extremely fine, much finer than sand. It’s more like a soft powder.
- Sunset time would be the best time to take photos and to see the soft orange light against the orange landscape but check the Sentier‘s closing hours.
Tell me: Would you like to visit Roussillon? Let me know in the comments below. 🙂
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