Colorado Provençal

The Colorado Provençal lies near Rustrel in the Luberon Regional Nature Park. Its coloured ochre cliffs are the remains of mining: ochre digging began in 1871, the railway reached Apt in 1877 and opened up the market, and the pits remained active into the 1990s. The cliffs shift from yellow to deep red depending on the light, they keep eroding and can crumble; closed-off areas must not be entered.

There are two waymarked trails: the Sahara trail (2.1 km, about 40 minutes, almost no climbing) and the Belvédères trail (3.9 km, 70 m of ascent, about 1 hour 45 minutes). The sun heats the sandy paths quickly, so take water, a hat and sturdy shoes. Parking is only at the paid car park on the RD22, and the fee includes admission. From May to August, morning visits must be reserved, and in high summer access may be restricted when there is a fire risk. Dogs must be kept on a lead (as of October 2026).