Discover the legendary Cedar Forest of the Luberon.
The Cedar Forest is a must-see walk in the Luberon: breathtakingly beautiful and accessible to all, it's a popular hiking destination for locals and tourists alike. There's something for everyone, from those looking for a short family walk in the Luberon to those looking for a long day out. Provence Web reveals all the secrets of the Cedar Forest.
History of the Cedar Forest
The cedar, the mythical tree of the Moroccan Atlas, is not native to the Lubéron. In 1860, foresters began to reforest a few hectares of the Petit Lubéron massif with Atlas cedars, as the cedar was a precious wood for carpentry and joinery. This magnificent species, with its bluish reflections, particularly thrived on the heights of the Petit Lubéron and gradually colonised the entire summit, creating this magnificent cedar forest, unique in France. You'll come across cedars of all ages, from majestic hundred-year-old cedars several dozen metres tall to young cedars growing in the shade of their ancestors.
An ideal family walk
The Luberon cedar forest is an ideal walk for families. The height and density of the cedars means that they remain pleasantly cool even in the height of summer. When it's over 35 degrees in Lourmarin or Bonnieux, it's cool in the shade of this beautiful forest. So there's no risk of children (and parents) getting overheated. There are a number of family trails starting from the sentier des crêtes car park. Some are even tarmacked to make it easy for pushchairs to get through. Older people with walking difficulties or in wheelchairs also really appreciate these tarmac paths.
The entire history of the Cedar Forest, the pastoral and forestry activities at the summit and the rich fauna living in the forest are all perfectly explained on the forest's ecological trail, created by the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon. Your children will love discovering all the fun explanations on a dozen panels spaced around a hundred metres apart along the way. It's also a great way to take your children on an educational outing.
Places not to miss in the Cedar Forest
There are a few places not to be missed in the Cedar Forest of the Luberon:
The large hundred-year-old cedars. There are many hundred-year-old cedars to be seen in this forest. The span of the trunks, the height and the beauty of these trees are breathtaking. You'll find some of these cedars between the car park and the start of the educational trail.
The Portalas lookout. Around thirty minutes' walk from the crest trail car park is the Portalas lookout (well signposted on all maps and directional signs in the forest). You'll have a magnificent view of the southern flank of the Luberon, with the Durance meandering past, the Alpilles and Montagne Sainte-Victoire in the distance. If you're lucky, you'll even catch a glimpse of the sea if the weather is fine and there's no heat haze.
The Pré de Roustan. Situated at the crossroads of the main paths in the Cedar Forest, the Pré de Roustan is the perfect place for a family picnic, with a seat on a cedar trunk or on one of the many tables provided for walkers. This former meadow, where shepherds used to graze their goats and cows in the 19th century, has been completely colonised by cedars and is now an integral part of the forest.
The wildlife of the Cedar Forest
Wildlife lovers will love the Cedar Forest walk. Away from the busiest paths, you can spot all kinds of birds: wrens, kinglets, titmice... birds of prey such as the Great Horned Owl and Bonelli's Eagle, which are in danger of extinction, can even be spotted. As for mammals, there are plenty of squirrels in the forest, and the luckiest visitors may come across foxes and roe deer (especially in the early morning and early evening). Butterflies are abundant in fine weather: you'll see the majestic machaons and flambés, the rare apollons can sometimes be seen at the Pré de Roustan and a multitude of Lycènes and Satyridae will fill your walk with wonder. Thanks to its natural coolness and humidity, many Provençal mushrooms can be found in this forest in autumn.
The Cedar Forest by bike
There are a number of trails in the Cedar Forest that can be explored by bike. Young children can learn to cycle on the tarmac paths leading from the car park on the sentier des crêtes. For mountain bikers, there are a number of wide paths that are great for cycling. There are many cycling routes to choose from, and the bravest can even make the round trip to the magnificent village of Lacoste from the forest car park. Cycling enthusiasts will need to watch out for hikers, however, particularly during the holidays, as there are plenty of them and most of the paths are not reserved for bikes only. Remember to wear a helmet, as falls on the roots are common in the forest.
A long hike in the Cedar Forest
If you're a keen hiker, then we recommend that you don't set off from the sentier des crêtes car park like everyone else. Start from the Valmasque car park at the junction of the D3 and D106. Starting at an altitude of 280 metres, you'll take a pretty path that winds up to the Pré de Roustan at the top of the Cèdres forest (at an altitude of around 700 metres). You can then admire the view from the Belvédère des Portalas and cross part of the Ménerbes forest before descending through the Cavède valley to the Cassandrons farm. From here, a path leads off to the right and back to your starting point at the Valmasque car park. This superb ten-kilometre walk through holm oaks and cedars, up and down the Petit Lubéron, will take you around 4 hours.