메린돌 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

This trail offers superb views of the surrounding hills.

The Durance valley extends for approximately 320 kilometers, shaped by the most important river in Provence. Once capricious, it has been controlled by numerous dams, including that of Serre-Ponçon, one of the largest in Europe. The valley is also rich in biodiversity, home to many plant and animal species specific to this Mediterranean region.

The Luberon, famous for its mountain pastures exploited since Antiquity, is home to an old farm, restored by the Luberon Regional Natural Park, which today serves as a sheepfold and reception center. An apricot orchard, dedicated to the conservation of old varieties, resists despite difficult terrain and recurring droughts. Roger Jouve, a former breeder who grew up on this site, brings his expertise in management and local biodiversity to the park, thanks to his ancestral knowledge.

This imposing rock testifies to the geological richness of the region. Its limestone appearance blends perfectly with the green setting. Take your cameras !

This is an easy walk , one or two steep bits on way back , does not follow marked route whole way around so need to keep an eye on Komoot trail

From the ruins of the old castle of Mérindol and its former village, you can see the present-day village and enjoy beautiful views of it. These ruins may seem unremarkable, but two tragedies occurred here. The great plague epidemic ravaged Provence, and in 1448, Mérindol-le-Vieux was completely decimated. In 1504, inhabitants of the Provençal Alps settled in this area. They had the misfortune of practicing the Waldensian Evangelical Church and were mostly massacred in 1545 by royal order. This tragic episode became known as the "Sack of Mérindol." A Waldensian memorial was inaugurated in 1978 in the castle ruins, at the initiative of three Waldensian associations from Germany, Italy, and France.

The Petit Luberon, in the heart of which you are now moving, has magnificent limestone rock formations, as well as a forest of remarkable cedars.

Covered, freely accessible benches for breaks or snacks.