Le Sentier des Ocres

Like a hike through sand dunes.

Älgbert Elgson

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The ocher rocks near Roussilon and Rustrel formed millions of years ago when the primeval sea created a small island full of red deposits in a loamy environment. These deposits were previously mined for the production of color pigments. Together with the natural erosion, this has contributed to the fact that we can now marvel at this beautifully bizarre landscape. Depending on the sunlight, the ocher rocks shine in the colors yellow to orange.

The ocher rocks can be hiked in two places in Provence – one in Roussilon and one in Rustrel. The ocher landscape at Rustrel is the larger one with about 30 hectares. After paying the parking fee, you will receive a map and the hike can begin. You should plan for between 30 minutes and 4 hours and take enough water with you as there is no way to get something to drink.

Le Sentier des Ocres in Roussilon is a bit smaller and can be visited faster and easier. The path starts at a small ticket booth and leads in a circular route on paths that are partly paved with wood into the orange landscape. The exact admission prices and opening times can be found on the official homepage.

The round trip in Roussilon takes around 30 minutes, depending on the walking speed and the frequency of the photo breaks.
You should also bring comfortable but hiking-friendly footwear. No alpine ascents are necessary, but some sections are not paved with wooden floors and there is a risk of stumbling. The circular route in Roussilon is only partially suitable for wheelchairs and prams. It is not a problem from the ticket booth to the first viewing platform, but if you want to see the entire landscape, you have to go down and up a staircase.

How to get there?

Due to the remote location, it is recommended to travel by car. Those who have a lot of time can also come to Roussilon by bus.
In front of the place is the sufficiently large and cheap parking lot, from which it is only a few meters to the entrance of the circular route.

Conclusion:
The ocher rocks are a unique natural spectacle that should not be missed. There are many ways to sit on the numerous benches during the short hike.
At the entrance we are reminded that it is forbidden to dirty the rocks or to scratch the surface. You have to stick to this so that future visitors can visit this place in its uniqueness.

we were here: 2019