Boucle de Roussillon - Ocres à vélo

During ancient times, nature gave a color to the ochous sands, before 2 centuries of human exploitation, digging underground galleries and huge quarries.

mis à jour le 03/05/2019 par Velo Loisir Provence

14.9 km to go

Duration : 2h30

186 m

Max. altitude : 317 m

Recommended period(s)

Spring | Summer | Winter | Autumn |

Type(s) of land

Hard coating (tar, cement, flooring) |

Municipality(ies) crossed

Gargas | Roussillon |

Téléchargement Trace GPX - Boucle de Roussillon - Ocres à vélo

Roussillon loop: 14.9 km - 2h30

►Departure: Conservatory of ochres and colour, in Roussillon.
►Theme: The exploitation of ochre, underground quarries or open pit quarries.

It was nature that gave their colors to the ochous sands more than 100 million years ago, but it was man who exploited them for two centuries digging underground galleries and huge quarries constituting semi-natural, semi-industrial landscapes.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Mobile App: Geology and Ochres

Discover the exceptional site of the ochres massif, between Roussillon and the Provencal Colorado of Rustrel, thanks to the “Ochres à vélo” app for smartphones and tablets, created by the Luberon Regional Natural Park.

Playful and accessible to all, it will guide you in complete serenity, on small quiet roads to meet the riches of the land, landscapes and ocrier sites of the Luberon.

This app shows you sites of interest when you go nearby and offers a discovery from various media: videos, audios, texts, quizzes, games, augmented reality...

Les Ochres by bike: 51 km and 411 m of positive elevation gain

Four loops are proposed with different themes (mountain biking recommended):

Apt loop: 25 km, 3h45. History of the country of Apt from geological times to modern times.
Rustrel loop which contains a shorter variant: 19 km, 2h45 or 11 km, 2h. In the shoes of a geologist, looking for Colorado. This loop and in particular its short version is especially dedicated to families and children.
Caseneuve Loop: 26.8 km, 3:45pm. Rocks, fossils, landscapes and men.

The ochre massif is a classified site: it is up to each of us to preserve it by staying in the paths and leaving the ochre on site.