The Colorado Provençal, the Bruoux Ochre Mines and Apt
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Badge Unlock
Ochre Miner
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
225
XP
+100 France
= 325 total
1 day
The Colorado Provençal, the Bruoux Ochre Mines and Apt
225 + 100 XP
At Rustrel, about 10 km from Apt, two marked footpaths run through the old open-air ochre quarries of the Colorado Provençal, past eroded cliffs carrying more than twenty shades of ochre, fairy chimneys and canyons, with the little river Dôa cutting through the middle. At Gargas, where industrial ochre working began in 1848, miners called ocriers cut the galleries of the Bruoux mines with pickaxes — left-handers, harder to find, were paid more than right-handers — leaving 40 km of workings up to twelve metres high; the Société des Ocres de France still works the last open-air ochre quarry in Europe here. Apt has held its market on Saturday mornings since 1523, when René de Savoie moved it from the Tuesday granted by King René in 1470, and in 1365 the town's syndics sent its candied fruit to Pope Urban V.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk both marked footpaths at the Colorado Provençal and try to count the shades of ochre in the eroded cliffs — the source claims more than twenty — then find the fairy chimneys and the Dôa, the stream that cuts the old quarry floor
2
of 4
On the guided walk through the Bruoux galleries, under a roof five to twelve metres above you, find the pickaxe marks still visible along the top of the gallery walls and the floor channel where the dynamite went in to clear the rest
3
of 4
At the Saturday morning market in Apt — moved to Saturday from the Tuesday of 1470 by René de Savoie in 1523 — buy a bag of the candied fruit the town's syndics sent to Pope Urban V in 1365, and find a stall selling ochre pigment by the kilo
4
of 4
In the municipal museum at Apt, follow the two production lines side by side — candied fruit and ochre — find the mechanical workshop both industries needed, and look up what ochre was doing in rubber, which is why an elastic band is ochre brown
Walk both marked footpaths at the Colorado Provençal and try to count the shades of ochre in the eroded cliffs — the source claims more than twenty — then find the fairy chimneys and the Dôa, the stream that cuts the old quarry floor
On the guided walk through the Bruoux galleries, under a roof five to twelve metres above you, find the pickaxe marks still visible along the top of the gallery walls and the floor channel where the dynamite went in to clear the rest
At the Saturday morning market in Apt — moved to Saturday from the Tuesday of 1470 by René de Savoie in 1523 — buy a bag of the candied fruit the town's syndics sent to Pope Urban V in 1365, and find a stall selling ochre pigment by the kilo
In the municipal museum at Apt, follow the two production lines side by side — candied fruit and ochre — find the mechanical workshop both industries needed, and look up what ochre was doing in rubber, which is why an elastic band is ochre brown
Before you go
The Bruoux mines open 7 March to 31 October, guided tours only, and booking is by telephone only — the galleries hold at 10 to 12 degrees even in August, so take a jacket; the route is accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. The Colorado Provençal is closed from 12 November to 5 February and access is through its paid car park, the only parking on the site. Ochre dust stains clothing and boots permanently, so do not walk the Colorado in anything pale.
Finding nearby campsites...
About Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Loading region info…
Explore more about Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
225 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
325 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
More challenges nearby
within 100km
Roussillon, Sénanque and Gordes: Ochre, a Cistercian Abbey and the Lavender Museum
France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
wellness
easy
2d
16 km away
The Luberon Villages: Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes and the Pont Julien
France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
scenic
easy
1d
18 km away
Sault: The Lavender Fields and the Gorges de la Nesque
France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
scenic
medium
1d
19 km away
Lourmarin and Cucuron: Serlio's Renaissance Wing, Camus's Grave and the Plane Trees of the Étang
France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
cultural
easy
1d
20 km away
Forcalquier and Salagon: The Count's City and the Priory Gardens
France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
cultural
easy
1d
23 km away
Mont Ventoux: Climbing the Giant of Provence
France · Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
sports
hard
2d
34 km away