Your basket
  0 item(s) 0,00 ¤
weather   22°C

 

Home » Hotels » Campsites » Guest houses » Self catering » Activities » Shows & events » Shows & events » Week-ends & stays

Week-ends & stays

from 81 ¤
Cycling trip "In the land of colour"
 
Follow the ochre roads in the Luberon !
Distance: 51 km - Level: discovery ; Itinerary is entirely marked. Parking available in all the towns on the itinerary
Leave from Apt, where you should see the faience ware made by Yvonne at the RIGO workshops ; her work tells the story of ochre and perpetuates local traditions of mixed-clay pottery.

Go in the direction of Rustrel. Here ochre is at its most flamboyant in the famous "Provencal Colorado" with its countless shades of ochre.

Here you can visit the former mining operations, on your own or with a guide.

Then on to Villars, a little village nestled in the hillside. Wander the old village, see the picturesque streets and covered passageways, the ruins of the 13th-century dungeon, the 14th century church, rebuilt in the 19th century, Saint Roch votive chapel from 1721, classical style; Saint-Pierre de Bagnols Romanesque chapel, recently restored. Also see the 18th century church in the hamlet Les Grands Cléments, and the 19th century oratories Saint-Joseph and Notre-Dame.

Then pedal onwards to the village of Saint-Saturnin les Apt, crowned by the ruins of its medieval castle, a massive fortress with machicolations.

Visit the old part of the village with two 17th century windmills, the vestiges of the castle and three fortified structures from the 13th, 14th and 16th centuries.

The Ayguier gate remains standing. You will also see many chapels and oratories as you stroll Saint Saturnin les Apt, as well as lovely bories and "aiguiers" or water collectors, from the 19th century.

Climb up to the top of the village for a picturesque picnic !

From there, take the direction to Roussillon. Stop in at Okhra, in the former Mathieu factory, now a conservatory for colour.

There are workshops you can take part in , and visits. Learn about the techniques of using ochre and pigment. Visit the "Dye-plant garden" and learn about plants used to make colour.

Then cycle on to Gargas, where ochre remains in the Bruoux Mines, with 40 kilometres dug out by hand …

Visit in the footsteps of the miners who mined for colour! A magical place to explore on a guided visit. The Bruoux Mines are the only place in Europe where ochre continues to be mined at the place of origin. Here the site is still operating!

Then, take the road to Apt to return.

For more information, click on "Réserver".
Links