Introduction

We are aiming for an installation of an entire farm under several wide caves. The place is unique in its kind in the Luberon and in Provence.

The facts

2,7 km total distance

1 h walk time

110 m total elevation

orientation easy

mark 0% of the total distance

90% forest roads

5% difficult trails

5% easy trails

dangers exposed sections

children no

useful picnic stuff

required hiking boots, hiking equipment and water

GPS coordinates (WGS84) of start and end point 43.956108,5.453171

downloads

Public transport

The starting point is not reachable by public transport. The regularly accessible point by bus is Apt, see timetables at Zou! (only french). From there, it's 14 kilometres north. You find taxi services in Apt.

Access by car

Coming from Marseille and the south-east (Var and Alpes-Maritimes), we reach Aix-en-Provence and continue towards Gap on the N296 road and the A51 motorway. Leave the motorway at the Pertuis exit, continue towards Pertuis, then take towards Cadenet at the following roundabouts and intersections. Reach the center of Cadenet and continue along the signs towards Apt. In the town of Apt towards Sault. Later turn left towards La Garde d'Apt.

From Vaucluse and the western part of Bouches-du-Rhône, aim for Apt or Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt then continue towards Rustrel. Then turn left towards La Garde d'Apt.

From Manosque, join Apt, but take towards Rustrel before. Later turn left towards La Garde d'Apt.

From the three previous departures, the road climbs in bends towards the Plateau d'Albion. Just after a particularly tight hairpin bend to the right, we spot a free space on the left.

From the upper Durance valley, take the Vallée du Jabron south of Sisteron towards Séderon. At the Col de la Pigère saddle, turn left towards Revest-du-Bion, then St. Christol, then Garde d'Apt. We descend the southern slope of the Plateau d'Albion. The road only begins to descend very slowly. Six minutes after La Garde d'Apt, we pass a final hairpin bend, then we follow the slope towards the west. Shortly after, there follows an open space on the right with a concrete track just behind.

Useful parking spaces

We park in the clear space to the right of the concrete track going uphill. There are also one or two places opposite going downhill along the split forest track.

Hints

The forest track to follow is very changeable: concrete part, very large stones, exposed rock, sections washed out by rain, mud after storms. The path which continues from Bergerie Cabrone towards the rock above is a little more difficult.

You can also do this tour on mountain bike.

The whole region is a zone with a high risk of forest fires. In summer, but also in other seasons when it is very dry or by strong winds, access to the forest areas can be regulated. As a result, the roads may be closed to traffic and/or the trails prohibited to hikers. Current information: Map for access to the forests of the Vaucluse department (only french). The map shows the colours green, yellow, orange and red which correspond to levels of danger.

The sections

1. Forest track upwards.
2. Bergerie Cabrone and its rainwater collection system.
3. The same forest track down again.

Section 1: D34 - Bergerie Cabrone

➙ 1,2 km ... 25 min ➚ 62 m ➘ 10 m ↝ easy

100% forest roads, without marks

We climb the short concrete ramp to the left of the small parking lot. The concrete may be covered with rubble.

Very soon, we see a cabin on the left under the road. It is not a borie but a circular construction with mortar. It was a shepherd's or hunter's shelter. The roof is completely missing.

A little later there follows a fork where we keep left and a flat part begins.

It starts to lead upwards again and the gravel starts to get a little bigger again. On the left then follows a flat and open space. The view is clear to the west. We see a rocky bar which protrudes in places from the low forest. The widest and smoothest part in the middle is the one under which the Bergerie Cabrone is located.

After a significant turn to the left follows the last real ascent.

At the next fork, left again.

We pass a hairpin bend in the Ravin des Seysses which is very flat here. Shortly after, follow the sign Voie privée sans issue (private road and cul-de-sac). This is doubly true. This is a private site, but access is authorized. It's rare enough to be noticed positively here.

The next fork is to take right and we are already under the rocky bar with the troglodyte installations below. Let's leave the mountain bike here.

Section 2: Bergerie Cabrone

➙ 0,3 km ... 20 min ➚ 35 m ➘ 35 m ↝ average

20% easy trails, without marks

60% difficult trails, without marks

20% easy trails, without marks

We arrive from the top and first pass on caves left in their natural state. One only created installations in caves with flat ground and easy access.

The first cave with installations is the largest. It houses the stable and a cabin added to the right without it reaching the natural ceiling.

The interior of the troglodyte stable forms a large hall whose floor rises quickly. These stable sheltered sheep and goats, both of which could also climb the natural slope of the cave. An intermediate platform is built for goats. Cabre means goat in Provencal, the farm is called Cabrone.

Between the cistern and the stable there is a two-part troglodyte dwelling which completely fills its cave. These are private and closed.

The hut built in front of the troglodyte sheepfold dates later as the construction in the rock. This corresponds to the need for more living space and was perhaps less humid and less cold.

This complex arrangement met the needs for long periods of self-sufficient life in the mountains.

Above the cliff is a water collection system. These are mainly channels and a large basin. This water was needed because there is no permanent source nearby. The water diversion also prevents runoff onto the troglodyte constructions below.

The little cave on the left is walled up more carefully. It houses a cistern with a drinking trough in front. This cistern is fed by the channels above.

It is possible to see these elements chiseled in the rock by going up the path on the left of the cistern.

We come across steps chiseled into the rock. A path climbs the cliff in a southerly direction for about twenty meters before turning a little to the right. At this bend, an even less marked path begins on the right to go up along the cliff. We see on the edge a fine channel which serves both as a gutter for the troglodyte dwellings below and as a supply for the cistern seen below. Higher up, we arrive at a rectangular basin which undoubtedly served to temporarily store excess water.

On the way back down, we only see the large hut covered with tiles and its small solar panel.

Section 3: Bergerie Cabrone - D34

➙ 1,2 km ... 20 min ➚ 10 m ➘ 62 m ↝ easy

100% forest roads, without marks

We take again the forst track with its short steep sections.

Sources and additional information

This walk is inspired by this book: 25 balades sur les chemins de la pierre sèche (25 Hikes on tracks of the dry stone constructions, only french) between Monts de Vaucluse, Montagne de Lure and Lubéron, by Florence Dominique, Le bec en l'air publisher, ISBN 987-0-916073-45-3. If you are more interested in these constructions, this book will also pass on well-founded knowledge. The hikes are well explained with pictures and maps.

It is better to use a good topographic hiking map: this tour is on the IGN map "Apt, Parc naturel régional du Luberon", scale 1:25000, 3242OT.

If you don't want to bother with a paper map, you can also use mapping apps on your cell phone. On the one hand, it is the Géoportail app from the official map service IGN. However, it requires access to the data network and this is sometimes difficult in canyons or remote locations.

Alternatively, you can use apps that store data directly on the device. They're generally not free, but they don't cost much. We mainly use OSMAnd, here it is possible to add contour lines, relief shading, markings and others. To store this data on your phone you need a lot of space.

Of course, one needs access to satellites for the GPS signal with any app. In some canyons this is not the case. Therefore, do not rely on the position shown, but read the map on your phone as you would read it on paper. Most apps are available for Android and iPhone. The applications usually allow us to record the route travelled and also view the GPS files offered for each of our hikes.

This page has been seen 350 times since 20 March 2024.