Merindol between Garrigue and Vaudois History
Accommodation in Merindol
Merindol brings together hiking trails, landscapes and themes from Vaudois history. If you are looking for a hotel in Merindol, you can use these different points of interest to plan your trip: the routes range from a short out-and-back walk to a difficult circular hike with a stated duration. There is also a museum, a memorial and the Garrigue landscape.
Hiking trails by route profile
The Sentier de La Garrigue is a fully secured 1.2 km out-and-back route to a viewpoint above the Durance. The trail carries the Tourisme et Handicap label for people with motor, visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities. Its length, route type and label provide specific guidance about this trail without equating it with other hikes.
A considerably longer option is Traces Vaudoises: this difficult circular hike is 20 km long, with a stated duration of six hours. Comparing the route details highlights the different planning requirements: on the one hand, the 1.2 km out-and-back Sentier de La Garrigue; on the other, a long circular hike with a stated duration. Traces Vaudoises passes through Craux, drailles and deeply cut valleys on the southern slope of the Petit Luberon. These are among the significant sites of Vaudois history in the Luberon.
Vaudois history in MĂ©rindol
The MĂ©morial Vaudois stands on the ruins of the original village of MĂ©rindol and offers exceptional panoramic views. The site's historical significance and the views across the landscape provide two distinct points of interest for planning a trip: its location on the ruins and the panorama.
La Muse is the Luberon’s Vaudois museum and also the home of the Association d’Études Vaudoises et Historiques du Luberon (AEVHL). In a permanent exhibition, La Muse presents Waldensianism, religious persecution and the 1545 massacre. Visitors wishing to explore these topics will find them brought together in a dedicated exhibition here. The outdoor information panels at La Muse remain accessible even outside opening hours.
Garrigue, Durance and views
La Garrigue de MĂ©rindol is designated an Espace Naturel Sensible (ENS) by the DĂ©partement de Vaucluse. The area includes pine forest, preserved agricultural land and wetlands connected to the Durance. These wetlands provide habitats for the characteristic flora and fauna of the low Mediterranean Garrigue. Nature and cultural experiences therefore offer different aspects of trip planning without requiring the same hike.
New information panels, interpretation panels and signposts were completed at the Observatoire ornithologique de Mérindol in early March 2025. The Sentier de l’Observatoire is 1.2 km long and starts at a small parking area 1.5 km south of Mérindol. The details about the starting point and route help you decide how to include this trail in your plans. The upper section of the Vieux Château in Mérindol also offers a view across the Durance Valley. This gives you several named perspectives on the landscape: the viewpoint on the Sentier de La Garrigue, the Durance Valley from the Vieux Château, and the nature features around the Garrigue.
Discover more destinations: La Bastidonne, Les Tourrettes, Sault-De-Vaucluse, Caumont-Sur-Durance, Vitrolles-En-Lubéron, Saint-Pantaléon, Violès, Cucuron.
For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.
