colorado provencal

The orches here were colourful and the walking trails very pleasant, not the arduous sort of climb. The rustrel village itself has a few shops but nothing fantastic. There's a toilet near the car park but you need to get the key from the shop. The car park attendent seems a little dodgy so don't wind down your window too low.

There are a couple of option to enjoy the ochres in Provence. I recommend Le Colorado Provencal for being the most authentic.It is worth driving to Rustrel from Roussillon or wherever you stay if you want to enjoy the ochres in nature. You only pay for parking and get three options for your trip. I would recommend the second one, but be prepared to climb before you see the first ochres.The colours of the sand are so beautiful and so different, and you have as much time as you need to enjoy the location.Be prepared that you can face difficulties with a lunch at Rustrel, but there are other nice hill-top villages for a lunch.

Provence's Colorado Rustrel area is well worth visiting. It's far from being on the Colorado USA scale but it's a delightful taster of it! The range of colours of the soil, the small pinnacles, the lovely walks through the Colorado and through the surrounding woodlands are really pleasant and enjoyable. It's easy to get to and the only charge you face there is the carpark charge. It's got a couple of coffee/snack shops. make sure you bring water with you if you're going to walk the area -- and bring your camera!

The morning after a refreshing rainfall was a perfect time to enjoy the cool, crisp air and the vibrant colors of this unique area in Rustral. After a small parking fee and with a trail map in hand, we chose the blue trail which is the easiest and shortest. After a short walk over a stream and an aquaduct, we were amongst rocks and small hills of warm and vibrant sandstone colors similar to those I have seen in southern Utah. This area is unique in that we were walking in sand of these same warm colors. There is a reason why professional artists in this area collect this sand for their painting. The striking colors of this area can only be fully enjoyed by a personal experience. The weather made our walk even more enjoyable. It was not a hot day and the wind was not blowing the sand from the trail onto our clothes and into our eyes. This would not have been a good experience otherwise. If it is hot and windy, wear the right clothes and bring the necessary equipment. Our friends were covered in dust after their hike. Enjoy!

A 4 euro parking fee enabled an easy access to the colourful rocks at Rustrel. There are 3 marked walks of different lengths and terrain and elevation. We chose the black 2 track which gave us a fantastic view over the coloured rocks which were lit up in the late morning sun. After a walk of about 40 minutes we emerged onto the rock surfaces themselves. The terrain is very sandy and can be a bit slippery so not for those who find walking difficult. There is a reasonably flat access but still a good hour round trip. The contrasting colours of the rapidly eroding sandstone is definitely worth the walk.There are toilet facilities but have to be accessed with key from boutique so be warned.

A must when visiting near the Luberon mountains. This Colorado is not far from Apt. A choice of 3 walks. We chose the 2 hr. Steep climb to begin with walking over rocks. Our 4 yr old had no problems what so ever running and jumping "up" the hill. Do wear appropriate foot wear,especially if its been raining. Definitely do not wear flip flops or sandals. Make sure you take water and why not a picnic if going around lunch time. As previously mentioned by others its a very dusty place but we managed to get our clothing and shoes clean afterwards quite easily. Be careful of adventurous children, shear drops at the top with easy access. Plenty of parking but gets very very busy. We arrived at 11am and it was packed. Parking costs 4€, officially to keep the area "natural and well kept" but I have doubts !

A really original landscape in Provence. Beautiful colours, and an easy walk for families with kids.

Stunning concretoions, colors, easy walk and a bit of climbing if you so wish. Kids wear Indian (ocre) make up and slide down effrotless from dunes :-) Make sure you wear clothes which agree to remain yellow forever: dust is so thin that even the best washing does not get rid of it. Then get to Roussilon and its musuem of Ochre and colors (great shop with original stuff around natural colors and crafts) and have a stroll and ice cream in the old town in Apt.

We followed other reviews on Tripadvisor's advice and went to Colorado Provencal with friends. The parking was not open so we parked for free and were able to walk at our leisure. It was a little muddy in parts from recent rains so I would check your footwear to be sure that this is water-friendly. We had previously done the walk at Roussillon but we were able to be more up close and personal here at Colorado. We took the blue walk (no 2),it took us about 45 mins and we all enjoyed it. My son of 11 especially as he was able to explore amongst the hills. On another day I may return to do the longer hike and to see more. Taking water on even the short blue route is worth while. At this time of the year there was nothing to eat or drink available for purchase. The place is well sign-posted - just follow the signs from the village.

As Roussillon was closed, we were suggested to visit this site. Called the car park and checked the opening times. We were told to take it easy: he was going to wait for us. Parking was 4 euros inclusive of the entrance to the site. We were given a map and the advice to see at least part of the shorter route (path 3 – blue). Excellent advice: we talked to other visitors that told us that the ‘sahara’ is most likely the best part of the walk. Colors are great and you are welcome to wander around as signs will be guiding you to the exit.My family loved it. I am glad we visited it. It was the cheapest place we visited in France !

While visiting the hill top town of Rousillion, which in my opinion is a waste of time (Tourist trap), it is worth taking a walk through Les Sentiers Des Ochres. Only a couple of minutes walk from the town centre, and with a small entrance fee, this visually startling hike takes you through old Ochre mines, used for centuries by people in the pursuit of artistic expression. Path access is limited to able-bodied people, but wheelchair bound visitors can gaze on the spectacle of colour from the platform above. There are a couple of paths, one short, one longer, that carry the hiker closer to the cliffs. If having seen the cliffs, you are hungry for more, I would thoroughly recommend a drive to Colorado Provençal, 20km to the east. Here, the more adventurous visitor can don the hiking boots and climb up into the hills around a much larger Ochre landscape. Just to the south of the town of Rustrel, off the D22, are the cliffs of Le Colorado de Rustrel. From the car park by the road (where you pay a small parking fee and collect a map of the area), it is then a 10 minute walk to the beginning of one of 3 possible routes around the area, depending on your circumstances. The routes are graded by time. I went off-piste so to speak and hiked up to the top of one of the hills, but this is only recommended if a) you have food and water to suit b) have a map and c) the appropriate foot gear. The graded routes are pretty well signed and offer shade when required. Immerse yourself in the sumptuous colours of the Desert and be amazed!!! I went in July and only met one other couple during the 3 hrs I walked around the area. Thoroughly recommended.

Having read the reviews of both Rustrel and Roussillon we decided to go to Rustrel and were very pleased. There were quite a few school trips there the day we went, but by choosing the longest walk (5km) we had the path nearly all to ourselves. We stopped for morning tea at the White Desert and we were amazed how many people were walking behind us without even noticing them. The path is well marked except for the last part which can be a bit misleading and it was great to have an ice cream at the little café near the exit.

The place is really amazing, we did 2 chemins: "des Fées" and "du Shara" it took more or less 2 hours for both of them.In the first one you arrive at the top and see from there a surpising panorama and are willing to go down to walk in the desert.The second one is a desert, with so may different colours: unbeliavable!We went there in a sunny summer day and colors were so bright, you are in France but it's so exotic!You pay just 4 € for the parking but unfortunately there are no services around, just a small bar selling icecreams and drinks, no toilets, no post cards (and this was a pity for us because the camera went off after a while and we had no possibilities to buy postcards instead).

This place was most unexpected and absolutely amazing. There is a small car park (unmade and no charge) and we followed the signs to 'Sahara'. You will walk down the hill where there is a leat which has been restored and then follow a footpath for about 10 minutes. It then opens out into an opening with stunning red cliffs and orange sand. Definitely one for landscape photographers. There was a small café but it was closed when we were there (mid-morning).http://www.colorado-provencal.com/

I was not prepared for this. My friends told me it was a simple walk. I left my water and sunblock in the car. Big mistake. At least I wore sneakers! The helpful guides at the beginning told us about the 3 different paths we could take...something like 45 minutes, an hour and a half, or a two hour walk. We chose the hour and a half. They told us it started with a gentle climb. Let's not beat around the bush here, it was a steep climb. The reward of the amazing view of the red rocks helped a bit, but overall, the walk was pretty taxing. No bathroom or food/water facilities along the way, only at the end. If you are prepared for a hike, it's probably lovely.We didn't pay a fee because we parked down the street. I think if you park in the parking lot it costs.