About
The Sentier des Ocres, or Ochre Trail, is a walking route through the old ochre quarries of Roussillon in France. It is the kind of place where the land itself is the attraction: the cliffs and hollows glow in brilliant reds and yellows, and the colours change with the light across the day.
What the walk is like
The route is an easy walk, suited to most visitors, and it winds among the former quarry workings and the rock formations left behind. You move at your own pace, stopping to look at the colours up close and at the wider views over the surrounding countryside. It makes a relaxed outing rather than a demanding hike.
- Easy walking, suitable for families and visitors of varied fitness
- Striking colour in the rock, most vivid in good light
- A quiet, open setting in a nature reserve
Before you go
Dress with the dust in mind. The ochre is fine and gets onto clothing, so wear something you do not mind staining, and avoid white clothes altogether. Comfortable footwear will serve you well on the uneven ground.
Around the trail
Roussillon is a village of ochre-coloured houses, and the trail gives a natural way to see why the village and its surroundings look as they do. Combining the walk with a stroll through the village makes a full half-day out of the visit.