Jean Giono is connected to Redortiers by more than just the name of a route: the former village, perched on a ridge, was abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century and inspired the writer. The area also features listed historic ensembles, hiking and cycling, and a family-run farm producing chestnut products. You can therefore shape your stay around literature, architecture, outdoor activities or regional agriculture.
The Jean Giono Route
The Jean Giono Route is 152 kilometres long and can be travelled by car, bicycle or motorcycle. It runs from the D950, beyond Montsalier, to Redortiers-Le Contadour. When planning your trip, consider both your mode of transport and the road conditions; check the state of the road before setting off.
Listed historic ensembles
The ensemble known as Le Moulin de Giono, listed as a historic monument, comprises a ruined mill, boundary walls and a wall with arches; it was listed on 17 June 1996. The Les Graves farm was also protected as a historic monument on the same day. The Jas des Terres du Roux was listed on 28 May 1993. This ensemble includes a sheepfold, a shepherd’s hut, a cistern and an enclosure. Both ensembles comprise several features, so they are groups of related structures rather than just single buildings.
Architecture and film history
The second Bergerie des Fraches also has four stone arches joined with mortar. The ruins of the Jas des Agneaux served as a filming location for Jean Giono’s film Crésus. Alongside the protected ensembles, there is therefore a distinctive architectural feature and a connection to film history.
Hiking and cycling
Activities in Redortiers include hiking, mountain biking and cycling. The Le Contadour – Entre bergeries et lavandes hike is 17 kilometres long and has 350 metres of elevation gain. For your planning, take both figures into account and check local trail and access conditions before setting out.
The hike and the Jean Giono Route represent different scales of trip planning: one is a specific 17-kilometre hike with 350 metres of elevation gain, while the other is a 152-kilometre route that can be travelled by car, bicycle or motorcycle. This lets you decide whether to focus your time in Redortiers on a hike or on a trip along a designated route.
Chestnuts from Redortiers-Le Contadour
Another way to shape your trip is with a visit to Entre Lure et Ventoux, a family-run farm established in Redortiers-Le Contadour in 1976. The farm offers direct sales at the farm and online sales; visits are preferably arranged by appointment. During chestnut season, it sells the harvested chestnuts both fresh and in processed forms, such as chestnut cream, flour and beer. You can choose between buying directly at the farm and shopping online; bear in mind that visits are preferably arranged in advance.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Saint-Vincent-Les-Forts, Volonne, Quinson, CĂ©reste, Mison, Saint-Laurent-Du-Verdon, Jausiers, Saint-Jean
Back to the regional travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
