Introduction

This is undoubtedly one of the shortest mountain bike tours. It's entirely on a forest track, but it presents some challenges that are jarring in the saddle. We could of course also go there on foot. 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 MTB rating gives the blue (easy) category because of the short duration. In reality it is rather difficult in certain passages.

The facts

2,5 km total distance

30 min movement time. incl. 10 min leave the bike and explore on foot

80 m total elevation

orientation easy

mark 0% of the total distance

65% forest roads

15% coarse gravel

15% difficult trails

5% easy trails

<5% hard-surfaced quiet side streets

dangers falling on difficult track

children no

useful picnic stuff

required Hardtail mountain bike 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 by bike, it's at least 14 kilometres north on the D22 and D35 roads and 500 meters of elevation gain uphill.

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 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

As mentioned above, the tour is very short. The forest track to follow is very changeable: concrete part, very large stones, exposed rock, sections washed out by rain, mud after storms. We climb in less than 10 minutes, but we think we have done much more.

It is of course possible to extend the tour via the multiple tracks that run along this southern slope of the Albion Plateau. We could thus start from lower (for example at La Fumeirasse) or go much higher (for example at Les Estfourniaux). The path which continues from Bergerie Cabrone towards the west is impassable for mountain bikes.

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. Pause at Bergerie Cabrone.
3. The same forest track down again.

Section 1: D34 - Bergerie Cabrone

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

   ↙ Colors of the sections like MTB rating but without the duration.

<5% hard-surfaced quiet side streets, without marks

15% coarse gravel, without marks
   ↖ very steep passages

25% forest roads, without marks

15% difficult trails, without marks
   ↖ very steep passages

45% forest roads, without marks

We climb the concrete ramp to the left of the small parking lot. The concrete may be covered with rubble. This easy cover doesn't last long.

The follwomg is as steep, but the road is made up of stones the size of tennis balls. The MTB tires grip well, but overall it is very bumpy.

Before sweating seriously, 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. However, there is no point in accelerating and changing gears a lot. It remains dented and there are dry or filled water holes.

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.

Afterwards, we drive peacefully and pass a significant turn to the left. Just after, a very steep passage on the rock begins. You have to go through it in one go because it's difficult to restart in the middle.

Beyond that point, it becomes easier and much flatter again. 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.

Apart from a few stones on the road, this last part is easy. 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. It is unnecessary and undesirable to perform acrobatics here.

Section 2: Bergerie Cabrone

➙ 0,1 km ... 10 min ➚ 10 m ➘ 10 m ↝ easy

100% easy trails, without marks
   ↖ leave the bike and explore on foot

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 can 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.

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. It is possible to see these elements chiseled in the rock by going up the path on the left under the stable and continuing to go left.

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.

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 perhaps less humid and less cold.

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

Section 3: Bergerie Cabrone - D34

➙ 1,2 km ... ➚ 10 m ➘ 62 m ↝ easy

   ↙ Colors of the sections like MTB rating but without the duration.

45% forest roads, without marks

15% difficult trails, without marks
   ↖ very steep passages

25% forest roads, without marks

15% coarse gravel, without marks
   ↖ very steep passages

<5% hard-surfaced quiet side streets, without marks

We resume the easy part which passes through the hairpin bend of Ravin des Seysses.

It continues easily until the rocky part. It was annoying going uphill, but it's more terrifying going downhill.

Afterwards, the easy stuff starts again. However, be careful of stones rolled on the road.

The last piece on the large rubble shakes a lot, but these stones are large enough not to slide under the tires when braking. Because you have to brake, the slope is significant.

Sources and additional information

This tour 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 tours 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.

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