When visiting La Roche-Des-Arnauds, you can choose between different interests, including hiking, heritage, and horseback riding. Specific options include the very easy Circuit de la Gerle, the difficult Les Cabrettes hike, historic sites, and the activities offered by Les Sabots de VĂ©nus. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider which of these interests should guide your plans.
Hikes for Different Ability Levels
The Circuit de la Gerle is a 4 km, very easy circular family trail with 180 m of elevation gain. It starts at the school parking lot, “la boule,” and leads to waterfalls and past several pools where you can cool off in summer. Conditions depend on the weather and snow; check the conditions before setting out.
Les Cabrettes is a difficult 12 km hike with 750 m of elevation gain; it starts at the Matacharre forest lodge. The route follows the panoramic ridge of Clape and offers views of Céüse, the Baronnies provençales, and Mont Ventoux on the horizon. Visibility depends on the weather, and route conditions also depend on the weather and snow. If you are hiking mainly for the views, take the weather into account when planning.
The details make it easy to compare the two hikes: the Circuit de la Gerle is 4 km long with 180 m of elevation gain and is very easy; Les Cabrettes covers 12 km with 750 m of elevation gain and is difficult. Distance, elevation gain, and difficulty rating together provide a concrete basis for choosing between the two hikes. The landscapes also differ: waterfalls and pools versus far-reaching views from the panoramic ridge.
Heritage and Directions
The Circuit de la Gerle also passes the ruins of a medieval tower. On Les Cabrettes, you can see the Cabrettes des Roux, restored by Pierre Para, as part of the region’s forestry heritage. The Chartreuse de Bertaud offers a different historical focus: it was founded in 1188 and was the second women’s house of the Carthusian Order. This brings together a specific founding date and a distinctive place in the history of the order.
From the church, you can reach La Tour in about 40 minutes on foot. Unlike the two hikes, the reference point here is an approximate walking time rather than a distance. You can therefore plan using different measures: an approximate walking time to La Tour, and distances, elevation gains, and difficulty ratings for the hikes.
Horseback Riding for Different Plans
Les Sabots de VĂ©nus offers rides lasting one to six days. Riding lessons are for beginners through advanced riders and are available from age three. For the rides, the possible duration is the main consideration; for lessons, it is experience level and minimum age. You can assess the options by asking different questions: How many days would you like to plan for a ride, and are the age and experience requirements a match for the lessons on offer? Programs and availability may change, so check the current offering in advance.
Discover more destinations: Jarjayes, Saint-Auban-D'oze, Savines-Le-Lac, RĂ©otier, Manteyer, Le Sauze-Du-Lac, RĂ©allon, Saint-Chaffrey.
For the broader travel guide: Hautes-Alpes.
