Lavande et vieilles pierres

This route will take you to some of the key sites of the Luberon: Reillanne, Vachères, Banon famous for its goat cheese but also for its bookshop “Le Bleuet”, Simiane-la-Rotonde, a superb village of character, the Valsaintes abbey and its gardens, the Oppedette gorges, dug by the Calavon, who will take you back to Céreste.

Cycling in the middle of lavender fields, discovering villages with stones weathered by time, what better way to capture the soul of Haute-Provence, discreet and fierce at the same time.

From Céreste, refuge of the poet-resistant René Char during the Second World War, take the charming little road that follows the valley of the Encrème. It will lead you successively to the “Roman” bridge - in reality medieval -, then to the Priory of Carluc. Further on, the village of Reillanne preserves the mystery of its narrow streets lined with old houses. Continue to Vachères. On this territory was discovered a life-size statue representing a warrior from the time of Augustus, a copy is in the municipal museum.

Here a first variant allows you to reach Oppedette and its Gorges dug by the Calavon.

Continue to Banon, between fragrant fields. In the village, don't forget to stock up on goat cheese. A second variant of the circuit takes you directly to Simiane-la-Rotonde. But the bravest will take the long hill that leads to Revest-du-Bion before going back down to Simiane-la-Rotonde. This village perched 650 m above sea level, with its feet planted in lavender, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Haute-Provence. Its streets lined with private mansions, its medieval keep and its vast panorama make it an exceptional site.

A few pedal strokes in the middle of the lavender in the direction of Oppedette via Carniol, and you will stop at the rose garden of the former Valsaintes abbey before climbing again towards Viens, a small hilltop village in Vaucluse. The return to Céreste is done peacefully following the Calavon valley.