Chapelle Notre Dame des Aspirants - Chapelle des Costes

Dating from the 12th century, it has been listed as a historic monument since 1983. In the 12th century, the Abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon owned a church and the priory of Notre-Dame-des-Aspirants. At the same time, the area, known as "Castrum de Penna", was protected by a fortified castle. The castle was the scene of a "family tragedy", when the lord's wife murdered him with an axe. She was sentenced to the stake.

Departure point: 5km after leaving Le Buis-les-Baronnies in the direction of Vaison la Romaine. Park at the intersection with La Penne sur l'Ouvèze (roads D5 and D525).

1. Follow the D5 towards Buis-les-Baronnies. Pass Chausson Matériaux.

2. After 500m, take the first road on the left, which curves left, then right again and heads straight north. You'll pass between crops and olive groves.

3. After 900m, at the electricity pole, leave the road and continue straight ahead on a track alongside olive groves.

4. At the intersection (alt. 429m on IGN), turn left. Go through a gate (be sure to close it), then follow a track uphill for 1.2km.

5. At a fork in the road, take the track on the left. As the track descends, you pass an old ruined cottage. When the track curves to the left, follow it downhill. Do not go straight ahead on a steep track, as this is private property.

6. You then come to a tarmac road (alt. 458m on IGN), which you take on the left, still going downhill.

7. After 800m, you come to a fork in the road. Turn right onto the village road. Cross a small bridge. Continue straight ahead on the village road. You
a wooden sign pointing to the chapel. After a short climb, turn left onto the chemin de la chapelle. The road becomes an unsurfaced track, which you follow for 400m until you reach the chapel.

8. After the chapel, stay on this track which descends to the D5. The village of Pierrelongue and its hilltop church come into view.

9. Join the D5, which you take on the left for 500m.

10. 30m after the wall of a bridge, take a path to the left which climbs up into the undergrowth. This has a few technical sections.

11. As you leave the woods, you come to a field, which you walk along at the top (on your right) and then around to the right.

12. The path then turns right to leave the field and gradually join the road, which you take on the right. From here, follow the D525 to the start parking lot.