How to Visit Le Sentier des Ocres, Roussillon

Last Updated on 27th October 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.

Those who enjoy beautiful locations with a side of history would be well-served by visiting Le Sentier des Ocres, a walking trail which takes visitors through a former ochre quarry showcasing the magnificent colours of the rock in the region. Here’s how to walk the Sentier des Ocres, as well as what to know before you go.

Please note that the route is also referred to as The Roussillon Ochre Trail in English. I’ve now hiked the trail twice and loved it so much that I would happily return again given the chance!

Ochre mining in Roussillon and its surroundings

Roussillon is a delightful town in Provence which is regarded to be among the most beautiful villages in France thanks to its unique warm hued homes which are simply made from the local beautiful stone, ochre.

Ochre can be found across a strip of 25 km which stretches between Roussillon and Gignac and passes through Rustrel. In times gone by, this ochre was mined so as to be used in numerous ways, including lime paints, colour coatings, and concrete.

Indeed, this mining has created many funny formations and rocky outcrops in the hills surrounding Roussillon and they have been given names such as ‘Giants’ Causeway’ and ‘Needles of the Fairy Vale’.

Mining of the natural clay took place between the end of the 18th-century to 1940 but has since been prohibited to protect the mesmerising sites. Since the 1980s, the main source of income in town has been tourism.

If you want to see yet another former ochre quarry that has been transformed into a scenic trail, then you should consider checking out the nearby Colorado Provençal, which is a much larger version of a former ochre mine turned into a tourist attraction.

How long do you need at the Sentier des Ocres?

How much time you should allocate to exploring the Sentier des Ocres will depend entirely on the time you have to spare. There are two different trails, with one taking around half an hour and the other taking around a full hour.

With this being said, you can stay on the trails as long as you like during opening times as there’s no maximum time you’re allowed to spend on-site. I have done the trail twice and have also done both routes.

To be honest, the shorter trail is more than sufficient for getting a feel of the place, particularly when you consider that the most attractive part of the trail (i.e. the steps leading into the steepest mine) are located right at the start of both trails.

What to know about the Sentier des Ocres

The sun, wind, rain, and people over the centuries have carved out a unique Martian landscape that resembles somewhere in the American West. The trail does include 350+ steps and so is not recommended for people with reduced mobility or families with strollers.

If I could give you one main tip for hiking the trail it would be to avoid wearing white or light coloured shoes. Ochre stains and I have still not been able to get the sand/ dust stains out of my white trainers.

Unfortunately I didn’t take this advice myself the first time I hiked the trail and pretty much ruined a brand new pair of canvas white trainers! If you’re travelling with infants, I would recommend bringing a spare change of clothing!

En route, there are a number of panels detailing the history of the region, as well as what various parts of the quarry looked like over the past century. Be sure to bring water and suncream along, especially during the summer when the hot heat can get pretty intense.

Pets are welcome and there are toilets nearby. The trail itself is only a ten-minute walk away or so from town, meaning that you can easily go for food after your walk. There is ample parking close to the town but it can get pretty busy in the summer and so you’ll want to arrive as early as you can.

Last but not least, it’s worth noting that Le Sentier des Ocres is a paid attraction and so there are set opening/ closing times. You can pay at the entrance with card or cash and you’ll be given a small pamphlet detailing the history of the area as well as important information regarding the trails.