The Portalas trail

14 points of interest

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  Flora

  The Cedar forest

  In 1862, cedar seeds from the Algerian Atlas are sown by some convicted foresters, to try to reforest the summit of the Petit Luberon. This first generation of cedars are now 150 years old and have an imposing figure and are great-grandparents.Their descendants surround them and form the forest we know today.

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  Savoir-faire

  Young people will inform you

  Between July 1 and August 31, you will meet on this trail one of the 36 assistants trained for the prevention and monitoring of forest fires (APSIF). These young people are recruited and trained by the Luberon Regional Nature Park to raise awareness about the risks of fires but also to inform on the regulations and access to the forest. It is essential to ensure the good behaviour of the users and to reduce the risk of fires.

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  Patrimony and history

  1952, the big fire

  On July 18, 1952, the Luberon mountain range experienced the biggest and most catastrophic fire in its history. It destroyed 2030ha of forest, particularly affecting the towns of Lacoste, Bonnieux and Ménerbes and sparing only the heart of the cedar forest. The fire lasted seven days because of the Mistral (wind). Some old cedars bear the scars of this devastating fire, and others, seeming spared on the outside are charred inside.

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  Elevage et pastoralisme

  Guardians of the rich natural heritage

  The action of the sheep herd in the winter and spring, combined with bush clearing, contains the expansion of shrubs and ensures the preservation of this exceptional heritage that represents the lawns of the Luberon ridges. Pastoralism is also essential to the defence of forests against fire.

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  Flora

  Boxwood: Yesterday's fertiliser

  Recognizable by its foliage, evergreen and glossy, it is rich in nitrogen. Used until the beginning of the last century as animal litter, it was then common in the fields as nitrogen fertilizer. Inedible for the flock, the abandonment of this practice and the decline of pastoralism favoured the invasion of open areas by boxwood. It has an exceptional durability because it can live 5 to 6 centuries and reach several metres high.

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  Flora

  Fraxinella or "Burning bush"

  In May, you can discover here the beautiful fraxinella (Dictamnus albus), with leaves ressembling those of the Ash (Fraxinus = Ash in Latin). The entire plant is covered with glands smelling like cinnamon and lemon. It is said that these glands release a volatile oil naturally flammable in hot and muggy weather, hence the other nickname of the plant: "burning bush". Warning, : picking is prohibited because the plant is rare and protected in our region!

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  Flora

  Flower of tales

  The Rampion bellflower (campanula rapunculus) is recognizable by its bell-shaped and dangling blue flowers placed along the stem to form a long bunch. Before blossoming, it has a great taste and can be eaten in salads. It is in fact the famous plant that treats the queen in the tale of the Brothers Grimm adapted by Disneywho then gives the name to her daughter and princess, Rapunzel.

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  Flora

  Ophrys of Sarato

  The Ophrys are orchids of particularly aesthetic and complex forms, the lower petal called the "labellum", mimics the hairy body of wild bees. Attracted by these forms and the scent copying the pheromones of female bees, the male bees after being tricked, go from flower to flower transferring pollen. The Ophrys of Sarato (Ophrys saratoi), is present on these lawns during spring, a protected species, endemic to Provence and Dauphiné (Picking is prohibited!).

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  Fauna

  The iconic Egyptian vulture

  The Luberon is one of the safe havens in France for this rare and protected vulture. A true natural knacker, it is threatened by the decline of herds and the depletion of food resources. To ensure the survival of this species, the Luberon Park ensures the supply of several feeding stations and has set up a specific device for monitoring, observation and conservation management.

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  Geology

  Mourre Nègre

  The Aiguebrun river, which originates from the Claparèdes plateau, has carved the Luberon mountain range, from north to south, digging the Lourmarin valley. It separates the Grand Luberon, with its rounded shapes culminating in Mourre Negro, from the Petit Luberon of which limestone summit plateau bears the Cedar Forest.

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  Panorama

  The Portalas viewpoint

  This viewpoint offers a wonderful view of the south side of the Petit Luberon and its maze of valleys and then on the vast plain of the Durance. 200 000 years ago, this river was a stream that ran through the Lamanon threshold to go into the sea, building its delta at the current location of the Crau plain.

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  Flora

  From Matorral (shrubland) to Phoenician juniper

  The Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea) is a small conifer tree somewhat resembling the cypress because of its scaled leaves. Specialist of exposed rocky areas: walls, ledges, viewpoints... its inaccessibility sometimes allows it to live many centuries away from the hand of man and plant competition! In Portalas, it forms a beautiful "matorral", a term used in ecology referring to an open formation of trees and evergreen shrubs.

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  Geology

  Arch of Portalas

  Nature and especially the work of water have shaped this magnificent arch! The Portalas Arch corresponds to an ancient underground network that erosion uncovered. This paleo-network was also dug by rainwater, which has slowly dissolved the limestone by seeping in the subsoil.

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  Flora

  The forest exploited by man

  Strong and fragrant, naturally weather-resistant, cedar wood is valued since ancient times. Here, the communal cedar forests of Ménerbes, Lacoste and Bonnieux are managed by the National Forestry Office (300ha). They are exploited regularly by thinnings which produces lumber, while ensuring the renewal of the forest. Cedar is used locally for carpentry and construction.