Tour of the Gorges d'Oppedette

Les Gorges d’Oppedette sont longues de 2,5 km, larges de 140 m et peuvent atteindre une profondeur de 200 m. Le canyon, formé suite au soulèvement de la montagne de Lure et du plateau du Vaucluse, a été creusé par le passage du Calavon dans les calcaires massifs urgoniens. Le village d’Oppedette lui-même est édifié sur un éperon calcaire délimité à l’est par un miroir de faille et à l’ouest par les escarpements du canyon.

The configuration of the gorges and the combined presence of the river and cavity trees allow this natural area to ensure a role of ecological corridor for wildlife. The old and big white oaks are home to a significant biodiversity: bats (Barbastelle) and insects (Capricorn, Stag beetle, Osmoderma ...).

TheProvençal shepherd is a shepherd who does not own his own land but who concludes a grazing agreement among farmers. After the harvest, the flock benefits of remaining straws on areas too hard to plow The animals feed on straw, but they also eat weeds and sanitize and improve soil fertility. Finally, during the landfilling, the stubble will retain the moisture from the soil. A win-win situation for the farmer and the livestock breeder!

The small cliff on the edge of the field is a slickenside. As you approach (while being careful with the crops), you will see on this polished surface, iron deposits and horizontal streaks. All this translates friction and movement of a boulder over the other! The Earth moves. The hard rocks break and boulders move.

The European eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is the giant of the owl species. As big as an eagle, it is still well represented in the territory of the Luberon Park. Sixty pairs have been identified therein. Its nocturnal habits play a large role. To cope with the disappearance of the rabbit, it has adjusted its eating behavior to feast on rodents, birds, hedgehogs, reptiles, fishes ...

The Grand Vallat, a wild tributary of the Calavon river is a small canyon amphibians such as the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) or the European tree frog with its very powerful croaking take shelter. Be careful, this fragile site is subject to a biotope protection order: canyoneering, aquatic hiking and swimming are strictly forbidden.

When you cross the big bridge of La Blaque, lean towards the Calavon's riverbed, which is most of the time dry or almost dry. But do not be fooled by its quiet appearance. The Calavon is a monster that sleeps! Its large watershed can produce deadly flooding downstream. Notice the early warning system located at the end of the bridge (limnigraph with solar power batteries that can record changes in water level).

The cliffs are the territory of the Common Raven recognizable by its resonating croaks. Discreet birds like the Wood Nuthatch (blue and orange) and the Wallcreeper (gray and red) perform stunts on tree trunks. More common species perform their birdsongs (tits, blackbirds and jays).

The Luberon holds nearly a third of the French flora. The gorges of Oppedette in particular have a large vegetable wealth and have several protected species: the Larkspur (Delphinium fissum), the Euphorbias (Euphorbia graminifolia), the Asplenium petrarchae (Asplenium petrarchae) ...

The woods in which you have entered are composed of several species: the Holm oak is the second most present tree behind the predominant Downy oak, and the undergrowth is comprised of shrub species: Butcher's broom, Rowan, Box tree, Field maple ...

Far from being Mediterranean, the predominant micro-climatic conditions in the gorges resemble more those of mountainous regions; less light, higher moisture, trapped cold air. It is therefore not a coincidence if we can see unusual species here in Provence, such as the European beech (Fagus sylvatica), the Alpine Buckthorn (Rhamnus alpina), the Mountain Currant (Ribes alpinum), or the magnificent Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon).

Worthy representative of the many bat species, the Lesser Horseshoe Bat (size 4cm, 22cm wingspan, weight 6g) has established on the plateau of Vachères, one of the last bastions of Provence. In winter it occupies favourable underground cavities, such as the sinkhole of the ladder. It starts to hunt between 15 and 30 minutes after sunset. It identifies insects at short distances and captures them most often in flight.

Viewpoints and ledges attract us for the views they offer... They are also the preferred habitat of a very specific flora which can adjust to extreme drought and lighting conditions. The Larkspur (Delphinium fissum) and lilacs with laciniated leaves (Hesperis laciniata) are two beautiful representative flowers, rare in the local area. The Larkspur is even protected in our region. It is therefore appropriate to keep them out of our quest for view points!

The Oppedette site is a remarkably rich and diverse area which, despite the efforts of protection and management, remains very fragile. Let us protect it, together, by following some basic rules of a responsible hiker. The sum of isolated damages is never trivial! On this balcony path, while keeping a grip on the trail, avoid the repeated trampling of plants and insects, such as the formation of gully erosion lanes in the scree.

At either side of the banks, the bracken fern has spread its roots. It is described and called "réglisse des bois" as some have chewed its roots which gives a taste of liquorice.

If you practice rock climbing, feel free to enjoy a few tracks equipped by the FFME on the cliff overlooking the trail. Because of issues related to the protection of birds, it is the only authorized and equipped area for rock climbing in the gorges of Oppedette. To the right, enjoy the easier lanes and, in the middle, the more difficult ones. After the effort, a splendid view of the entire circus uphill! Please note that free climbing is a sport governed by specific rules of practice; respect them.!

35% of what we eat depends directly on the work of bees. But nowadays, bees are experiencing alarming winter mortality: 20 to 30% of the hives do not survive the winter. Blame the pesticides used in intensive farming that are extremely dangerous to bees. Without bees, it is estimated that 80% of plants would disappear from the lack of pollination.

At the edge of the trail, large ivy flowers parade on the cliff. Their flowering lasts from September to October and fruiting occurs in late winter, early spring. The Ivy flower therefore presents a reversed phenological cycle compared to plants. Its flowers are among the last to provide pollen for bees. A bee is directly related to the ivy; Ivy bees (Colletes hederae). You can see it flying until early November if the weather is mild and lenient.

La flore naturelle du Parc naturel régional Luberon est d'une très grande variété, avec une période de floraison très étendue, ce qui en fait un territoire privilégié pour la production de miel. La palette va des miels doux et clairs aux parfums subtils (acacia, tilleul) aux miels fruités, corsés et ambrés (bruyère, lavande, lavandin, thym, romarin, cèdres). Le romarin est la première plante à fleurir dans l’année, au mois de janvier ou février, ses fleurs bleues sont aussi jolies que parfumées. Puis, un peu plus tard, au mois de mai, c’est au tour du thym de fleurir. Puis vient la lavande fin juin, début juillet, qui embaume toute l’atmosphère à proximité des champs.

Located at the entrance of the village, the building holds a fountain, a wash-house and a drinking trough. Supplied by a spring from the hamlet of Fenouillet, the fountain was built in the mid 19th century. Octagonal in shape, it has a central shaft which is nearly 3.70m high. The wash-house, meanwhile, has two basins: the largest was used for washing; the smallest, near the fountain, used for rinsing.

Overlooking the entrance of the gorges, perched on its rocky spur, the village of Oppedette (whose name comes from the Celtic-Ligurian oppidum on which it was built) was frequented from the Palaeolithic (remains dated of about 40 000 years) . Oppedette is a typical Provencal village with narrow streets and facades where the coating has faded over the time and have exposed the limewashed masonry stones.

The church was built in 1834 on the spot of an ancient chapel as evidenced by the collages and the reuse of masonry on the façade. This later-built building in an already existing structure is why this church is not strictly facing east. In 2000, the town of Oppedette, supported by the technical services of the Park, restored the building to preserve this remarkable element of the rural heritage.

Barely visible in the landscape, you will need to go to the site to discover the country of Oppedette, a rugged landscape and covered with woodlands. What reward once on the spot: a "magnificent" landscape reveals the deep gorges forming a canyon that you can embrace or roam. In this wooded setting, viewpoints are occasionally open at the hilltop village of Oppedette and the Lure mountain. These areas seem to have evolved over time without any pressure related to human activity.

"It is here, in the presence of two prefects, that was cut in 1951, the symbolic ribbon of the first gorge trail. Hence the name of ''Belvédère des deux préfets''! From there on, the language uses have simplified the name to ''Belvédère du sous-préfet", then ''Belvédère des gorges''...". Mr. Fayet, a former teacher of Oppedette.

Le 17 novembre 2015, lors de la 38e Conférence générale de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour les Sciences, la Culture et l’Education (UNESCO), les 195 États membres ont ratifié la mise en place d'un nouveau label : géoparc mondial UNESCO, afin de montrer l’importance accordée à la gestion globale de sites et de paysages géologiques exceptionnels. Il existe actuellement 195 Géoparcs mondiaux UNESCO répartis dans 48 pays dont 97 en Europe. Sept Géoparcs mondiaux UNESCO sont en France dont 2 en région Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (Luberon et Haute-Provence). Les gorges d'Oppedette font partie de la soixantaine de géosites identifiés sur le territoire du Géoparc du Luberon, animé et piloté par le PNR Luberon.

The department of Alpes de Haute-Provence, with the help of the Region, of the Commune and the Park, got together to accomplish the rational, harmonious and sustainable development of this remarkable but fragile site. The latest landscaping and protection projects were completed in 2009. The entire project of the sensitive natural areas or ESA (study, acquisitions, works) cost €287 641. ! It is now up to all the visitors to contribute to its preservation, adopting a responsible behaviour.