Information : Brimming with health at Montbrun les Bains
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Welcome to Montbrun les Bains and its lovely surroundings. This is one of the prettiest villages in France, with open gates and an open heart. Montbrun is also a thriving spa resort that has expanded to offer new services and care treatments.
A series of walks takes you to the essence of Provençal Drôme among lavender fields whose fragrance will scent your summer nights. It's a land of light and perfume to delight the senses. Explore the Upper Provence where celebrated author Jean Giono lived, a few kilometres from Montbrun, high on the Plateau d'Albion. You'll travel on foot through the Baronnies in unspoilt and quite remarkable natural surroundings.
And wherever you walk, the Giant of Provence will watch over you. If the fancy takes you, you could always go up and greet him at the summit...
Note: This tour requires to have a car to join the various hikes.
If you arrive early enough, you might like to do a 5.3km walk, total uphill 80m, duration around 1hr40mins (level 1/5).
You are in 'blue gold' country, at the heart of the largest lavender producing area in Europe. (Lavandula angustifolia is the cultivated variety.)
A signposted path reveals the multiple facets of this symbol of Provence, whatever the season. Informative panels relate the essentials of lavender botany, cultivation, harvesting and distillation.
There's also an opportunity to visit the distillery at Le Vallon.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
D2
The Gorges de la Nesque, round trip
7km walk with total uphill 200m. Duration around 2hrs30mins. Level 2/5.
Lovely walk near Monieux which brings you to the Gorges de la Nesque with their prehistoric caves, and the chapel of St Michel .
This fairly easy yet spectacular walk leaves you time to visit the church at Monieux: 12th century church, gate and fountains, not forgetting the Museum of the Truffle!
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
D3
Tour of the Citadelle from Montbrun les Bains
5 km walk, total uphill 150m. Duration around 2hrs. Level 1/5.
This pleasant walk starts in the streets of Montbrun les Bains then continues on round the Citadelle.
La Citadelle is the high point which Montbrun backs on to.
The tour round this 'sharp' little mountain affords very fine views over the nearby village of Reilhanette and the more distant Mont Ventoux.
Care treatment session at the Montbrun thermal spa.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
D4
Round the mountain of Vic
11 km with total uphill of 250m. Duration around 3hrs30mins. Level 2/5.
The walk begins in Montbrun itself and takes you round mount Vic by two modest passes: the Col de la Villette on the south face (701m altitude) and Vénéjean on the north at 651 metres.
There are lovely views over the north face of Mont Ventoux - the 'Giant of Provence' - and across the valley of the river Toulourenc.
Note that you will also be entering the limestone pre-Alps, close to the marly limestone strata so characteristic of the Baronnies Provencales.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
D5
The summit of Le Chomatton by the Col (pass) de la Bohémienne starting from Aulan
14 km stage with 650m total uphill. Duration around 4hrs 30mins. Level 4/5.
This circuit crosses some wild, practically uninhabited countryside. The narrow path over the Col de la Bohémienne brings you to the heart of the Baronnies Provençales. The route is very diverse, going through a valley bottom, then snaking along the mountainside through patches of marl before following a long ridge. Two thirds of the itinerary are at more than 1000m. The fine viewpoints over the area are crowned by that from the peak Le Chomatton, culminating at an altitude of 1136 metres.
Along the way you may like to have a closer look at the Château d'Aulan which proudly guards the gorges of Toulourenc and the village of Poët-en-Percip.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
D6
The chapel of La Done
9 km walk (6 km if you start from the guest house). 450 m total uphill. Duration around 3hrs. Level 2/5.
This pleasant walk aims to bring you to the modest Chapelle de la Done with its sober yet original architecture.
The goat track above the farm called La Boucoule offers lovely viewpoints over the north face of the Mont Ventoux.
Care treatment session at the Montbrun thermal spa.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
D7
The summit of the Mont Ventoux starting from the Chalet Reynard
Return-trip option: 10.5 km. Total uphill 500m. Duration around 3hrs. Level 3/5.
Loop walk option: 15 km. Total uphill 950m. Duration 6hrs. Level 5/5.
Walking up the Mont Ventoux is undoubtedly the best way to appreciate its flora, fauna and enchanting views.
And at a turn in the path you may well get a glance of the chamois, that live all year round in these vast stony screes, fleeing towards the valley of the Toulourenc.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guest room surrounded by lavender.
Spa facilities: access on demand from 13.30 and 19.00 to ("Espace Détente") - hammam, whirlpool bath, terrace with panoramic views, sports ground.
Roadbook and route maps.
Update GPS tracks
Technical and logistical assistance.
What's not included?
Beverage and extra
Round trip transfer from Home to the first accomodation
Facultative cancellation and repatriation insurance
Characteristics of circuits
Easy walks, shortish strolls and tougher hikes.
Daily stages between 5km and 15km, from 1hr 40 to 5hrs of walking per day.
Total uphill: from 80m to 950m.
Altitudes go from 500m to 1900m.
Choose from 3 round-trip walks from Montbrun, and 4 round trip walks which start elsewhere and require the use of your vehicle to get to start point.
Organisation
This holiday is suitable for walkers at all fitness levels; you choose how to play it - ambling exploration or athletic foray!
The roadbook will guide you along the way.
We look after logistical and technical support.
Some of the walks start from Montbrun les Bains. The others, within a 10 km radius, are reached by vehicle .
Accommodation is half board.
3 spa care treatments are included in the programme :
1/ Vichy Shower (gentle full-body water massage). Body scrub with marine salts
Marine mud treatment plus entry to the Espace Détente (Relaxation Zone)
2/ Aromatic 'Aérobain' (soothing bubble massage). Energizing jet shower
Body massage in aqua-mist plus entry to the Espace Détente (Relaxation Zone)
3/ Aromatic hydro-massage soak Body massage with essential oils (20 mins).
Plus entry to the Espace Détente (Relaxation Zone)
Access
This tour requires to have a car to join the various hikes.
By car
Highway A7, exit Bollène - 1h/1h30
By air
Lyon, Marseille or Avignon airport
By train
Avignon, Orange, Carpentras railway station. Then you can rent a car to join the tour
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5.0
De superbes paysages préservés, des randonnées à la portée de tous et des rencontres authentiques.
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