Lafare: Hiking Trails, Cliffs and Heritage

The village of Lafare sits on elevated ground at the foot of a hill, in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail. To the north and west, wooded hills rise to the ridges of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Dentelles Sarrasines and the cliffs of La Salle. The area is also known for its many hiking routes and climbing areas in the Dentelles de Montmirail massif. Trails wind through vineyards and pine forests.

Landscape and Nature Around Lafare

The Les Dentelles ZNIEFF includes the municipality of Lafare and covers 384.8 hectares. The June 2024 edition of the INPN lists eight animal species of particular conservation concern for this area, including one of the rare breeding pairs of Egyptian vultures outside the Luberon and the Vaucluse Mountains.

Near Lafare, the Les Dentelles natural area features black Oxfordian marl, cliff faces, rock ledges and steep scree gullies. Its features range from dark marl rock and prominent rock faces to steep, scree-covered slopes. Together, they describe the landscape diversity of this nearby natural area.

Hiking and Climbing

The challenging Dentelles de Montmirail route is a 17-kilometre loop that can start in Lafare. The GR de Pays Tour des Dentelles de Montmirail is a multi-day hiking route that can be completed in three or six days, depending on the stages you plan. These details help you compare the time required: the loop’s total distance is specified, while the duration of the multi-day hike depends on its stages. The trails through vineyards and pine forests offer a different landscape from the cliff faces and scree gullies.

The Rocher Saint-Christophe climbing area in Lafare reaches a maximum height of 70 metres, faces west and has routes graded from 3b to 8b. Technical route details may change as updates are made; check the latest information before planning your visit.

The Cascade Saint-Christophe is one of the few waterfalls in the Vaucluse département and flows between two cliff faces in a well-known climbing area. A footpath leads to the waterfall in about five minutes. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.

Religious Buildings and Details

The Saint-Christophe Chapel measures 12.30 metres long and 4.90 metres wide on the outside. Its simple stone altar has been preserved. The exterior measurements give a clear sense of the building’s proportions, while the altar is a surviving furnishing.

Saint-Sixte Church has a painted ceiling in its sacristy. Its furnishings also include two polychrome wooden statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint Christopher. An 18th-century painting depicts the Virgin Mary, Saint Christopher and Saint Roch. At Saint-Sixte, the painted ceiling, wooden figures and historic painting thus represent different forms of religious art.

Vineyard Walk with Tasting

Domaine de Cassan in Lafare offers a vineyard walk with a tasting, an aperitif basket and bottles; the vineyards are in Beaumes-de-Venise and Gigondas. The activity lasts one hour and is designed for groups of two to twelve people. The walk with tasting must be booked five days in advance.

Discover more destinations: Monieux, Travaillan, Roaix, Flassan, Mirabeau, Beaumont-Du-Ventoux, Les Tourrettes, Lagarde-Pareol.

For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.