Gorges de Véroncle

Today's hike was for advanced hikers and absolutely worthy of our last day of vacation - the Gorge of the Véroncle. As we enter the gorge, the trees close over us, it becomes dim, the path is narrow and it doesn't take long, and rocks rise to the left and right. You follow the course of the river, come across caves and see root snakes creeping down the rocks. There are old mills along the way, or rather the ruins of the same, they give an idea of the labor of bygone times. Here grain was ground with the power of water. And that had to be in the gorge beforehand. Today the river bed is dry, at least in summer, I don't know whether it will have water at other times of the year. After the first mill, the path becomes more difficult, you have to climb narrow paths, some with the help of ladders, some with ropes and handholds, not all of them look reliable. Due to the rain of the past few days, the stone is very slippery, you can't always find a footing, but it's adventurous and great fun. You have to find your way, feel your way with your feet and you feel more and more secure along the way. Above all, the views up, along the rocks, following the course of the river, stone holes filled with water and all around are so great and beautiful. The path is often shady, but the sun is high in the sky and the play of light brings additional charm. It takes some time to cross the gorge, not only because you have to take the steps very carefully, but because you have to look over and over again. So beautiful! When you leave the gorge, you walk across wild meadows, which in midsummer must have an indescribable splendor of flowers. We walk towards the village of Murs, which is located on a hill and attracts from afar with the sight of the towers of the old church and the chateau. The path leads past an imposing old oak and then you are already in town and stroll through the alleys. It's very pretty and calm and it looks old. We go back a short distance on the same path, then we turn off and take our way home above the gorge. The path lined with herbs takes us through a low oak forest, everything here is lush green and not at all stony and barren, later also taller conifers protrude - cedars probably. Then we cross a gravel road, we come closer to the gorge again and the path changes. It becomes stony, tall cedars alternate with crumbling oaks and, above all, scratchy scrub grows on the edges of the very narrow footpath, which tears us by our legs. Again you have incredibly beautiful views of the country, the ocher of Roussillon shines towards us, the rock face of Lioux jumps out of the landscape, today you can see far because the day is clear and bright. Then we're already down and this great hike is over and the wonderful time here in the Luberon is almost over.