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The loops of Provence

Written by Denis Chouquet-Stringer, edited by Jean-Marc Clément

Presentation

It is a 14-loop hike totalling 1,371 km, 112 mountain passes (plus 6 optional ones) and an elevation gain of at least 25,060 m.

Twelve loops are accessible all year round, while the other two (Ventoux and Lure) are subject to restrictions in winter depending on snow conditions on the roads.

The 14 loops start from 9 stages where there is no shortage of accommodation (hotels, campsites, gîtes, guest houses, etc.): No. 1 and 2: Malaucène (84), No. 3 and 4: Gordes (84), No. 5 and 6: Forcalquier (04), No. 7 and 8: Auriol (13), No. 9, 10 and 11: Grimaud (83), No. 12: Castellane (04), No. 13: Grasse (06), No. 14: Moustiers (04). Each day you return to the starting point: you don't need to pack everything you need to travel independently, just your equipment for the day, so you can travel light.

Our cycle route is accessible to any reasonably fit cycle tourist, regardless of their physical condition: the longest loop is 122 km but only has an elevation gain of 1,170 m, while the most difficult has an elevation gain of 2,220 m over 96 km. On average, the loops are 98 km long with 1,790 m of elevation gain. And, as they are loops, shortcuts are almost always possible.

This hike was mapped out by Denis Chouquet-Stringer of the Confrérie des Cent Cols and modified by Jean-Marc Clément.

Course

Registration form

Theme

Provence? It's a land of contrasts.

Its climate is Mediterranean, with around 300 days of sunshine a year. Winters are mild, summers hot and dry, but sometimes the cool Mistral wind can more than make up for the sun's heat.

The deep blue sky, the scent of lavender, the fields of aromatic plants, the garrigue, the vines, the olive groves, the chestnut groves, the cork oaks and the pine trees are all emblematic features of Provence. But you may be deafened by the sometimes violent songs of the cicadas.

Our Boucles de Provence will take you on a journey through some of the most emblematic mountain ranges in Provence:

• The Dentelles de Montmirail
• Mont Ventoux
• The Alpilles
• The Lure Mountain
• The Luberon
• Ste-Victoire Mountain
• La Ste-Beaume
• The Calanques
• Les Maures
• The Verdon
• Grasse region (Préalpes d’Azur)

Controls

Fourteen checks must be carried out at points along the route that you choose yourself.

1. Malaucène 1 (84): 86km, 13 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,780m
2. Malaucène 2 (84): 65km, 5 mountain passes, elevation gain: 2000m
3. Gordes 1 (84): 122km, 8 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,170m
4. Gordes 2 (84): 95km, 9 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1950m
5. Forcalquier 1 (04): 106km, 3 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,930m
6. Forcalquier 2 (04): 113km, 5 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,780m
7. Auriol 1 (13): 112km, 7 mountain passes, elevation gain: 2,100m
8. Auriol 2 (13): 110 km, 12 mountain passes, elevation gain: 2,050 m
9. Grimaud 1 (83): 93km, 10 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,300m
10. Grimaud 2 (83): 83km, 10 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,500m
11. Grimaud 3 (83): 91km, 6 mountain passes, elevation gain: 1,215m
12. Castellane (04) 100km, 8 mountain passes, elevation gain 2075m
13. Grasse (06) 100km, 9 mountain passes, elevation gain 1975m
14. Moustiers (04) 96km, 7 mountain passes, elevation gain 2,230m

Some passes

• Suzette pass
• Col des Tempêtes
• Col de la Vayède
• Col de Murs
• Col de la Ligne
• N-D des Abeilles pass
• Pas de la Couelle (Petit-Galibier)
• Grand Sambuc pass
• Col de l'Espigoulier
• Col de la Gineste
• Col du Canadel
• Babaou Pass
• Gratteloup pass
• Three Terms Pass

BCN and BPF sites on the route

• Vaison La Romaine
• Mont Ventoux
• Gordes
• Les Baux de Provence
• Forcalquier
• Plan d'Aups - Ste Baume
• Cassis
• Collobrières
• La Garde Freinet
• Gréolières
• Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Rules of the game for permanent walks

All participants in this permanent trail agree to respect the Rules of the Game. governing it.

For further information

Contact the person in charge of permanent walks

Jean-Marc CLEMENT
10 rue de Normandie
31120 Portet sur Garonne
FRANCE

Tel: +33 (0)5 61 76 30 12
E-mail: [email]randos@centcols.org [/email]

Please note: Please only send your route maps to be approved, as well as your postcards and travel reports, to the person in charge of permanent hikes who is active at the time of sending and whom you can find on the 100 COLS website!