Located north of Apt at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse, Rustrel is renowned for its open-air ochre quarries, now dubbed the "Colorado Provençal".
It's true that the place is fascinating, with its ochreous sand rocks stretching over some 30 hectares.
Its trails take in eroded cliffs in over 20 shades of ochre, the "cirque de Barriès", the "cirque de Bouvène", settling basins, fairy chimneys, the "Sahara", tunnels and the bed of the Dôa (the local river), offering a variety of scenery for hikers.
The GR 6 long-distance hiking trail crosses the site.
Other Rustrel sights include the oil mill and blast furnaces, and the château, built in the center of the village in the 16th century and now housing the town hall.
Rustrel
Three spring-fed washhouses still exist: the Bouvène and Viaux washhouses, and the Istrane washhouse, which is likely to be restored.
The remains of the 12th-century Prieuré Saint Julien, built on an ancient Gallo-Roman site, lie to the west of the Doa valley. This is a private site that cannot be visited.
In the village, at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse, since 2006, a "water walk" has also enabled visitors to discover the 12th-century Romanesque church, the 16th-century Château-mairie, the 18th-century Moulin à l'huile (oil mill), open to the public in summer (see Mairie for opening hours), and the Renaissance-style Castelet (private).
In 2009, to the north-east, in the Massif du Pointu, the Sentier de la Baume de Midi was created as a tribute to the foresters of yesteryear, showcasing the remains of charcoal production. From the landscape-reading table, walkers can enjoy an exceptional view of the Colorado Provençal.
Rustrel Town Hall
Le Château
84400 Rustrel
Tel.: 04 90 04 91 09
rustrel.mairie@wanadoo.fr
http://luberon.fr/luberon/culture/ocres/
Translated with DeepL.com
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