A long hike to discover the summit of Le Pavillon, the highest point on the southern Montdenier ridge, and its marvellous panorama!
Crédit photos : ©OTMoustiers
From Place de l'Église, take Rue de la Clappe. Immediately after crossing the Riou stone bridge, keep to the right and head towards Vincel. At the Montdenier campsite, follow the tarmac road towards the hamlet of Vénascle (approx. 1km).
At the Parking des Plaines, turn left towards Le Pavillon. This will take you uphill for 5km.
At the junction with the wide forest track at Baisse de Montdenier, walk up to Pied du Pavillon. Finish the ascent by reaching the summit of the Pavillon (1625 m altitude) on an increasingly discrete path dotted with small cairns.
On the way back down, return to the forest track and continue straight ahead. You will come to the Montdenier campsite, cross it and follow the same tarmac road as on the outward journey. You will reach the village via Pierrefeu. The descent along the Chemin de Courchon offers a superb panoramic view of the Lac de Sainte-Croix.
The short version of the Pavillon summit : park at the Parking des Plaines (on the Vénascle plateau) and climb to the summit and back. This variant allows you to enjoy the panoramic views and takes around 10km to complete in 4 hours.