Crillon-Le-Brave: Chapels and Hiking Trails

Two themes stand out when planning a stay in Crillon-le-Brave: sacred architecture and history, and hikes featuring varied landscapes and views. If you are looking for a hotel, this distinction can help you plan your stay around your interests. You can focus on the chapels and parish church or make one of the described hikes the centerpiece of your visit. You can explore the village’s history through individual buildings, while each trail offers its own landscapes and views.

Chapelle Saint-Michel: Ruins and Setting

The ruins of Chapelle Saint-Michel lie on the plain, away from the hilltop village. The chapel is considered characteristic of Romanesque architecture in Provence. The ruins have been listed as a historic monument since February 23, 2011. Their setting clearly distinguishes them from the village on the hill and provides a separate geographical landmark. For travelers interested in cultural history, the site brings together Romanesque architecture and the history of a ruined chapel.

Chapels and Parish Church

Chapelle Notre-Dame des Accès tells another part of the story of the area’s sacred heritage. It was built in 1721 in honor of Saint Roch, as the plague that spread through Provence from Marseille in 1720 was taking hold. Numerous votive offerings are kept in the chapel. Votive offerings are objects donated by the faithful in fulfillment of a vow or as an expression of gratitude; they add tangible evidence of lived religious devotion to the chapel’s dedication. A pilgrimage to Notre-Dame des Accès still takes place in early September. Check the date before your trip if you would like to include this tradition in your plans.

The parish church of Saint-Romain also offers a distinctive architectural feature: its Romanesque architecture has Gothic alterations. The nave consists of four bays. A bay is a section in a building’s architectural layout; the four bays make the nave’s spatial arrangement easy to appreciate. The church also houses a wooden altarpiece by Bernus. An altarpiece is a structure behind or above an altar, so the church’s history includes not only its architectural form but also a specific piece of its furnishings.

Hikes with Different Highlights

There are two hiking options, each with a different focus. The “Circuit Pédestre - Bédoin Crillon” is a walking route that offers a chance to discover the small village of Crillon-le-Brave. The hike passes through changing landscapes, from garrigue and olive groves to vineyards. The route therefore highlights both the village and the variety of the surrounding scenery.

In the description published in 2024, the third stage of the “Tour du Ventoux” runs from Veaux along a ridge to Crillon-le-Brave and offers beautiful views of Mont Ventoux. The hikes described therefore have different focuses: the Circuit features the village and changing landscapes, while the Tour du Ventoux stage emphasizes the ridge route and views of the mountain. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

When planning your trip, you can use these differences as a guide: the chapels and Saint-Romain offer cultural and historical points of interest, while the hikes focus on different landscapes and views. This makes it easy to choose the aspects of Crillon-le-Brave that interest you most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Beaumont-De-Pertuis, Mornas, Monieux, Puyvert, Travaillan, Lamotte-Du-Rhône, Caumont-Sur-Durance, Vaugines

See the regional travel overview: Vaucluse.