Le Prieuré de Carluc
Département des Alpes de Haute Provence
Prieuré de Carluc
Greet Beun

Carluc Priory

1,000 years of history

On stage The Méditerranée à vélo Apt | Manosque, between Céreste and Reillanne, hidden at the bottom of a coomb and surrounded by centuries-old oaks, Carluc Priory’s vestiges may go unnoticed by cyclists in too much of a rush! However, this religious house begun over 1,000 years ago and now listed as an historic monument is well worth a stop. With its Romanesque chapel surrounded by a cemetery, this tranquil, refreshing place has long been appreciated by walkers. Explanatory panels allow visitors to find out more about the priory on the spot.

In the Middle Ages, as the priory stood close to the major Via Domitia road, it provided a welcome place to rest for pilgrims moving between Spain and Italy via Provence. The existence of troglodytic monastic cells recalls its role as a thriving religious centre. Now, it’s most often a new type of tourist pilgrim on a bike who stops to visit the priory!

Custom route

Custom route

Apt / Manosque

10 Apt / Manosque

83 km
5 h 50 min
it’s steep
Explore the old pedestrian streets of historic Apt, plus, on Saturday mornings, the major Provençal market. Then head back onto the heights of Le Calavon Greenway. Also note that thanks to the Circuit des Ocres à Vélo, Apt is a great starting point for discovering the colourful little ‘Colorado Provençal’ area. Note how the mountains get larger leaving the county of Vaucluse for the Alpes de Haute-Provence, Lure Mountain standing out. Around each turn in the road, surprising discoveries await: Céreste Roman bridge, Carluc Priory, the perched villages of Reillanne and Lincel, and the cités de caractère of Mane and Dauphin… Carry on through lavender fields, past old-stone farms, up to Manosque.
Manosque / Meyrargues

11 Manosque / Meyrargues

28 km
7 h 10 min
Given the actual state of affairs on this stage, it is highly recommended that you take a train between Manosque and Meyrargues, as no existing way is considered satisfactory for the time being in terms of security for cyclists on the Mediterraneen Cycle Route. See under.