French Colorado has nothing to envy to the United States. The Colorado Provençal is just as colorful as the real Colorado, with less tourists, and it’s the closest thing we can see from Mars! Located in Rustrel, in the south of France, you cannot miss this mind-blowing spot. Here’s everything you should know for a great visit.
Located in the south of France, near the gorgeous canyon river of the Gorges du Verdon, the Colorado Provençal is a must do during a Luberon itinerary. When you enter the site, you’ll feel like you have landed on another planet with its red, orange and yellow ocher hills all around.
The colors are so vivid and flaming, you just can’t believe something this unreal happens to be located in the middle of nowhere in Rustrel Luberon! Here’s a bit of history about the Rustrel Colorado, its entrance price, as well as things to do there and in the area.
🇫🇷 Good to know: do they speak English in France?
What is the Colorado Provençal?
Colorado Provençal France is a former ocher-mining quarry in Rustrel. The presence of ocher in the soil formed unusual yellow and red rock formations. Walking in this colorful desert will truly take your breath away with every new step you take due to the contrast with the blue sky and green forest. While the ocher hill site is 4 km long, the entire site stretches over 100 hectares.
It is now handled by the Colorado Provençal de Rustrel Association and opens almost every day of the year from 9am to 6pm. It’s only closed during bank holidays or in the event of a fire alarm in the region. Sometimes, they also regulate the number of people inside when they are too many tourists, but it’s very rare. If you don’t come during rush hour on a Saturday, you should be safe.
An entrance fee of 5€ per car had to be paid at the parking lot, which is not bad for such a site! It is typically the kind of activity I would recommend in the 34 ways to travel with no money.
Where is the Colorado Provençal?
The Colorado Provençal is located in the Southeast of France, in Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur. It is part of a very touristic area called the Luberon, known for its typical villages and lavender fields.
You’ll find the former ocher mines in Rustrel, in between the Luberon mountains and the Mont Ventoux. To access the parking lot, you need to take the D22 road.
A bit of History of the Colorado Provençal
Why is the Colorado Provençal red and why is it called this way? The legend says that the wife of the king of Roussillon was in love with a troubadour.
The castle lord heard about it and became crazy jealous. He killed the troubadour and served it to his wife for dinner, without telling her. When she finished eating, he told her and she was so depressed that she threw herself off a cliff and her red blood gave birth to the ocher of the Colorado.
In reality, the Colorado Provençal is called this way for two reasons. First, “Colorado” means colored in the local provencal dialect. Second, it’s basically the fake twin of the Colorado of the United States!
So, how did this nature wonder form? About 150 million years ago, the sea was covering the South of France. Due to several weather conditions, it became dry and left a mixture of sand and clay on the ground.
The Colorado Provençal Rustrel landscapes as we know them today were formed because of the swash of the waves and the shellfish excretions concentrated in the iron of the glauconite. Finally, the iron oxidized with the decomposition of mangrove leaves and the sea drained, forming large holes in the canyon.
Between 1871 and 1991, the Colorado Provençal Roussillon became ocher-mining quarries. The red ocher was used to thicken rubber and to dye lime, oil painting or food coloring. How was the ocher extract?
After using dynamite to uncover sands, some pipes were watering the surface to separate the ocher from the sand, between autumn and spring. After this, it was necessary to wait until August to extract the dry ocher. Since then, this wonderful spot attracted more and more tourists from all around the world.
What to Do in the Colorado Provençal Luberon?
You can ask for a “Colorado Provençal itineraire” at the parking entrance if you’d like to have it on paper. Otherwise, I got you covered! Here are the two trek itineraries you can do.
Colorado Provençal : Circuit du Sahara
The Sahara trek, blue on the map, is the smallest and easiest one. It’s 2 kilometers long and is a loop itinerary around the ocher rock formations. It’s family/kids friendly.
Even if the road is beautiful, please stay in the marked path. The Colorado is a very fragile that could disappear in the next decades because ocher crumbles quickly.
To preserve this environment, please don’t hike anywhere else than the marked trails.
Colorado Provençal : Circuit du Belvédère
Want to see all the different shades of white, yellow, orange and red rock formations? The Belvedere and Colorado Provencal Sahara trek, orange one on the map, is for you!
During the 4 kilometers hike, you’ll not only walk through the former ocher mines but also see them from above. You’ll get an impressive view from the belvedere and walk through a nice path in the forest for around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Guided Tours
To learn more about this exceptional nature site, the association offer guided tours of 1h30 for both children and adults.
You’ll follow a guide on a specific circuit while he tells you everything about the history of the place. These are usually open from April to the end of October and you can ask for a ticket at the desk office. It costs 8€ for adults, 2€ for children under 12 and it’s free for babies under 6 years old.
Horse-riding conditions
Last but not least, it’s usually forbidden to ride horses at the Colorado Provençal because of the fragility of the site. But if you’re a professional and have a special project, you can contact the association to know the horse-riding conditions governing the crossing of the site and get a permit.
Shooting Permissions
This is a very special place to be in and it could give you shooting ideas. Just like many movies are shot on the lunar Iceland, those that take place on Mars could definitely be filmed at the Colorado Provençal!
This spot offers spectacular decors and views on the fifty shades of the red ocher. For any shooting plans, movies or videos, contact the association.
Things to do and to Not Do
Conservation of the Colorado Provençal
As it’s a private nature site that is very fragile and could disappear someday, there are some rules you need to respect at all costs during your visit.
The first one being to not climb cliffs. Then, you can’t smoke at the site or at the parking because the fire risk is very high in this area.
You can’t ride horses, bikes, motorbikes or any kind of vehicle in the site, collect ochre, engrave the walls or throw your rubbish.
If you have young children, please prefer baby carriers rather than strollers, and if you a dog, keep him on a leash. Lastly, drones are not allowed.
To Have the Best Time at the Colorado Provençal
You should have closed shoes that you’re not afraid to screw up as the ocher is a strong dye. Staying on the market trails is also recommended for your own safety. For instance, going to the “Cheminées de Feu” could put you at risk.
Rustrel restaurant : where to eat in the Colorado Provençal?
There is the cutest little farm restaurant, the Bastidon du Pégot, just at the entrance of the trail. We didn’t get to try it because it was closed when we went but you can eat at a vintage table in a garden, and the menu looks delicious too!
There is also a Snack Colorado Provençal called Les Milles Couleurs, where you can have a drink, sandwich or meal. It’s right next to the parking. Lastly, there is a restaurant and bar at the beginning of the treks called La Rinsoulette.
Rustrel Hotel : where to sleep for the best Luberon itinerary?
You can stay at the Auberge de Rustréou, right next to the Colorado Provençal for one night. It’s a hotel and restaurant, so you’ll get to eat typical provencal meals too.
If you’re religious or just like abbeys, the Abbaye of Valsaintes not only has a nice garden to visit but can also provide you with food and accommodation.
On a budget, you can sleep in a tent in the Camping Le Colorado., located between Rustrel and Notre Dame des Anges.
If you’re looking for a Colorado Provençal Airbnb, I highly recommend booking in advance as there are not many in the area. You can also include Roussillon and Gordes in your accommodation researches.
These villages are very close and are the cutest to stroll in and get to know the provencal lifestyle and landscapes even better.
Rustrel France : what to do near the Colorado Provençal?
Visit Rustrel
Even if the Rustrel canyon is the main nature wonder of the area, there are lots of other things to do and places to visit all around Rustrel Vaucluse.
Starting directly with the Rustrel village nestled on the hillside and leaning against the foot of the Plateau d’Albion. It is dominated by its 17th century castle and has the cutest little streets!
Explore its neighbors : Rousillon & Gordes
Rustrel Provence is not the only typical local village of the area, you can also visit the lovely Roussillon and Gordes. In Roussillon, you can enjoy the combination of a beautiful small provencal village with fascinating typical houses, small alleys and flowers all around.
In Gordes, right nearby, there is the Sentier des Ocres, the Art Gallery Contemporary Tapiezo and the old city and stunning architecture details.
Sillans la Cascade
After your Luberon trip, you should head to the Verdon nature park! This region got the most insane blue water and nature spots, starting with Sillans-La-Cascade.
1 hour and 40 minutes away from the Colorado Provençal, the town of Sillans-La-Cascade got its name because of the 42-meter-long waterfall in the middle of the forest. The water is running down the rock into the bluest oasis.
Provence Lavender fields
You heard about the famous french lavender fields but you’re not just sure when and where to find them? Well, you’re in the best area to stroll in them because you can find some all over Provence, and especially near the Colorado Provençal. Late June and early July are the best times to visit lavender fields in Provence.
Gorges du Verdon activities
Then, you need to rent a boat, stand up paddle or canoe in the Gorges du Verdon. It is a set of gorges carved out by the Verdon River, separating the Prealps of Castellane and the Prealps of Digne, in France. The river has the bluest water ever, the views are absolutely stunning and there is even a stunning french waterfall!
Visit Beaux de Provence
You should also witness the mapping shows at the Carrières de lumière of Beaux de Provence. It’s really impressive because it’s basically art projections on rocks in a cave, just like the Atelier des Lumières in Paris.
I hope you enjoyed this article about the Colorado Provençal and that you got all the information you were looking for! This spot is absolutely out of the world and makes us think of another planet.
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