A loop hike from Ventabren to L'Aqueduc de Roquefavour

A loop hike starting from Ventabren Village, heading downhill and crossing Arc River to head up the hill on the other side reaching a stunning panoramic view over Mont Ventoux, Eguilles Village, the Aqueduc de Roquefavour Bridge, Sainte-Victoire Mountain and l'Etoile mountain range with the Pilon du Roi.

Technical sheet

212869
A Ventabren walk posted on 21/02/16 by RajSeb. Last update : 29/06/16
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.43 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 337 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 335 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 255 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 76 m
  • ⚐
    District: Ventabren (13122)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.534774° / E 5.29944°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3143ET

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Description

Park your car on the plateau at the top of Ventabren Village near the sports activities area.

(S/F) Starting in front of the information signs at the car park entrance, head straight crossing the whole esplanade. Head downhill on a path indicated on the right (south-west) reaching the first junction.

(1) Go left, then right 50 m further. Remain on the large path continuing downhill and reaching a tarmac road.
Head left down the tarmac road reaching the D65.

(2) Turn left onto "route de Roquefavour" (D65), head along the road (carefully) for roughly 250 m.

(3) Take the first path on the right, on the other side of the road with a bridge spanning over Arc River. At the other end of the bridge, head off to the left.

(4) Go under the railway bridge and start a climb up the large path on the left at the edge of a field. Take in the view over Aqueduc de Roquefavour Bridge and Sainte-Victoire Mountain. Take a left at the fork and ignore the path to the just after. Keep heading straight until the Domaine de Meynes buildings.

(5) Near the ruins to your left, turn right up towards the plateau (which turns into a concrete road) keeping to the right-hand side.

(6) Take in the view before continuing straight ahead and reaching the end of the path.

(7) At the junction, turn left onto a large path along the plateau.

(8) Once you reach "Canal de Marseille", head left along the canal and keeping it to the right-hand side.

(9) When the canal waters flow through the tunnel, carry on straight ahead in the same direction. Cross a track then head along the trail that joins up with the canal, running along it once again.

(10) At the next bridge over the canal, take a 180° turn left onto a path that you'll leave 150 m further to take a narrow trail heading downhill to the right.

(11) As soon as the trail reaches the path along Arc River, turn right towards "Aqueduc de Roquefavour" and admire its radiance through the trees.

(12) Pass under the "Aqueduc" and go through the gate (N.B. the gate may be closed but there are large holes to pass through, just push a bit).

(13) Once you get to the second (large) gate, head off to the left reaching the D65 near the bridge. Ignore the to the right just after the bridge heading along the D65 over roughly 400 m until you get to the D64.

(14) Turn right onto the D64, then, leave the road at the first hairpin turn taking the forest trail on the other side.
At the first junction, you can head straight uphill (going through a gate) towards "l'Ermitage Saint- Honorat". Keep to the left and start a long uphill hike towards Ventabren Village.

Turn right at the first junction and carry on until you reach a large trail. Head off to the left, keeping to this main trail and ignoring trailheads to the right and left, reaching the path you first started on, just before the sports activities area.

(1) Keep going straight, don't go right at the car park before the football ground, instead keep going opposite to reach the cemetery. Head alongside it to the left, across the promenade and reach "Château de la Reine Jeanne" ruins.

(15) Backtrack, head along the left-hand side of the cemetery and return to the car park along "Chemin du plateau"(S/F).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 242 m - Ventabren
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 248 m - Junction there and back
  3. 2 : km 2.09 - alt. 84 m - D65, take a left
  4. 3 : km 2.35 - alt. 82 m - Bridge over Arc River
  5. 4 : km 2.71 - alt. 81 m - Passage under the railway bridge
  6. 5 : km 4.64 - alt. 198 m - Domaine de Maynes, ruins, turn right
  7. 6 : km 5.13 - alt. 230 m - View point
  8. 7 : km 5.39 - alt. 239 m - End of path, go left
  9. 8 : km 7.53 - alt. 166 m - Canal de Marseille, head left
  10. 9 : km 7.94 - alt. 169 m - Canal Tunnel, straight ahead
  11. 10 : km 8.61 - alt. 157 m - Canal bridge, 180° turn left
  12. 11 : km 9.22 - alt. 107 m - Path along Arc River
  13. 12 : km 9.42 - alt. 110 m - Gate - Aqueduc de Roquefavour
  14. 13 : km 9.52 - alt. 94 m - In front of the gate, turn left
  15. 14 : km 10.07 - alt. 97 m - D64/D65 crossing, head right onto the D64
  16. 15 : km 13.58 - alt. 234 m - Ventabren Village, Châtreau de la Reine Jeanne rui
  17. S/E : km 14.42 - alt. 242 m

Useful Information

Difficulty: average, especially due to the length of the hike which could wear out youngsters but no particular technical difficulties. Only large paths and trails along the way. Comfortable shoes are a must and a camera highly recommended.
Bring water and a picnic.
It can be very windy on the plateau but it's a nice area for a picnic. Choose a day without Mistral wind.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

(6) et sur d'autres points du parcours : magnifique points de vue à 360° vers le Mont Ventoux, le village d'Eguilles, l'Aqueduc de Roquefavour, la Sainte-Victoire et la chaîne de l'Etoile avec le Pilon du Roi.

Hameau de Roquefavour : profitez à la fin pour y faire une petit tour ; il est très joli et typiquement provençal.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 1 review

Clarity of route description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Walk interest
3 / 5
LivingTheGypsyLife
LivingTheGypsyLife

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 08/02/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Barrier at point 12 has been repaired. fence, chain & lock, barbed wires all aroud. impossible to continue

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