Provencal Canyon (France)

The valley of ocher and red earth called Provencal Canyon on the road from Rustrel to the village of Apt

The valley of ocher and red earth called Provencal Canyon on the road from Rustrel to the village of Apt

The village of Rustrel is known in Provence for the colors that characterize the Provencal Canyon

Trails in Provencal Canyon

Thousands of visitors each year walk the paths traced along the walls of Provencal Canyon

Yellow, orange and red of the earth, mix with the green of the woods and the blue of the sky creating a fantastic palette of colors

Yellow, orange and red of the earth, mix with the green of the woods and the blue of the sky creating a fantastic palette of colors

Thousands of visitors each year walk the paths traced along the walls of Provencal Canyon

Provencal Canyon. Area called Sahara

Walking through the woods you will discover unexpected colored areas especially white and red

Walking through the woods you will discover unexpected colored areas especially white and red

The paths lead to every hidden corner of the canyon to observe striking and colored point views

Walking you encounter particular rocky shapes created by rain and wind

The area called Sahara, the route most visited by visitors

The area called Sahara, the route most visited by visitors

Path along the walls of Provencal Canyon

Thousands of visitors each year walk the paths traced along the walls of Provencal Canyon

Photographers have thousands of ideas to take during walks in the canyon

White, orange and red are the dominant colors of Provencal Canyon

The paths, many kilometers long, reach every part of the canyon between wooded valleys and colorful hills

The paths, many kilometers long, reach every part of the canyon between wooded valleys and colorful hills

The paths, many kilometers long, reach every part of the canyon between wooded valleys and colorful hills

Contrasts of lights, shadows and colors are always present along the paths of the canyon

High walls of colored and very friable lands characterize the valley

High walls of colored and very friable lands characterize the valley

Several kilometers long, the trails reach every place of tourist interest in Provençal Canyon

Walking you encounter particular rocky shapes created by rain and wind

Walking you encounter particular rocky shapes created by rain and wind

Pinnacles of fragile colored earths eroded by wind and rain. In the end, the rock will fall and the pinnacle will disappear

Pinnacles appear suddenly above the forest as guardians of Provencal Canyon paths

Pinnacles appear suddenly above the forest as guardians of Provencal Canyon paths

Pinnacles of fragile colored earths eroded by wind and rain. In the end, the rock will fall and the pinnacle will disappear

Pinnacles appear suddenly above the forest as guardians of Provencal Canyon paths

A high pinnacle above the forest indicates the moon

Leaving Provencal Canyon, you reach the village of Rustrel to taste typical Provencal products

Where is the Provencal Canyon

By: Carlo Piccinelli

Provencal Canyon on Google Maps
Crossing the larch forests and the cereal and lavender plains, you reach the village of Rustrel where you will find the Colorado Provençal and the Terre delle Ocre itineraries. Trails that reach rock formations that rain and wind have made bizarre, set in vividly colored canyons that fade into different shades of red, yellow, orange and white. They are what remains of ancient mines of ocher and sand already known in Roman times are exploited in the eighteenth century to obtain colored pigments. The map of the paths, with indications of the length and travel time of more or less short walks between the rock formations, withdraws to the car park. The complete route is 9 km long divided into short paths marked by colored panels depending on the trail. Some tips: if along the way you meet a cross at a crossroads it means that the path is not passable while if you walk in windy days, keep in mind that in a few minutes the raised dust can cover you from the head to the feet of earth from the colors gaudy. An interesting journey through the colors and scents of Provence.
Links for more informations:
Atout France: www.france.fr
www.colorado-provencal.com