THE OPPEDETTE GORGES
Unforgettable walks await in the magnificent Oppedette gorges, thoughtfully developed for visitors.
The gorges are part of the Luberon Regional Nature Park and are protected.
The exceptional richness of the flora and fauna (particularly in spring) ranks this area among sites of national interest. The departmental council, in collaboration with the commune and the Luberon Park, works to protect the most fragile and emblematic species of the site.
With its heritage plant species and hollow trees, the gorges play a vital role as an ecological corridor.
For hiking enthusiasts, the village of Oppedette is a must-see. Perched on its promontory, this charming little hamlet offers stunning views over the gorges, making it the ideal starting point for a magnificent 7km hike.
The hike takes approximately three hours, with an elevation gain of 105 meters. This rocky trail includes sections bordered by precipices, requiring sturdy footwear for the rocky terrain. The route is suitable for most hikers and promises breathtaking landscapes.
Located at the crossroads of several long-distance hiking trails (GR4, GR6, and GDP), the Oppedette gorges offer 3 loop trails suited to different skill levels.
The gorge trail includes passages along cliff edges—caution is required in these exposed sections.
The gorges are part of the Luberon Regional Nature Park and are protected.
The gorges are accessible year-round.
Opening time
The gorge are accessible all year long
Safety Guidelines
Check weather conditions: hikes are strongly discouraged in rainy weather (rocks become very slippery)
Allow ample time. Bring appropriate equipment, don’t forget drinks, food, and a mobile phone
Caution: exposed cliff-edge sections
The Development of the Gorges: A Brief History
On the last Tuesday of March 1950, an idea was proposed at the Oppedette Town Hall in the presence of Father Pierre Martel: Why not develop the Oppedette gorges?
Within a few weeks, everything was organized. A development committee composed of the mayor, the priest, and the schoolteacher, among others, was created, and with the prefect’s approval, a team of village men opened the first path.
The Old Mill and the Grand Vallat Torrent
It was in these gorges, with its Moulin du Calavon, that Captain Alexandre, his men, and all the local resistance fighters joined the maquis (French Resistance). René Char immortalized this mill in one of his poems, Affres, Détonation, Silence:
TORMENT, DETONATION, SILENCE.
The Calavon Mill.
Two years running, a farm for cicadas, a castle for swifts.
Here everything spoke mountain stream, sometimes with laughter, sometimes with the fists of youth.
Today, the old rebel grows weak in the middle of its stones, most dead of frost, solitude and heat.
In their turn the omens have dozed off in the silence of the flowers.
Roger Bernard: the monsters’ horizon was too close to your earth.
Don’t look on the mountain; but if, a few kilometers from there, in the Oppedette gorges, you meet the lightning with a schoolboy face, go to it, oh, go to it and smile, for it must be hungry, hungry for friendship.
— René Char, from Furor & Mystery and Other Poems, translated by Mary Ann Caws (Black Widow Press, 2011)
Family Adventures
in Haute-Provence
Get ready for a vacation filled with discovery and excitement for all ages!
Our vast territory offers endless possibilities. Whether your children love exploring historical sites, seeking thrilling experiences, or simply having fun, Authentic Haute-Provence promises unforgettable moments for every family.
