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Colorado Provençal

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Two people walking in Bois de la Plate, Rustrel, Francia, Colorado Provencal.

Named after its fiery red and orange landscape (which locals likened to Colorado), this former ocher quarry is one of the best places to appreciate the area’s mineral riches. Ocher was mined here from the 1880s until 1956, leaving a legacy of canyons, valleys, hills and sculptural rock formations such as the Cheminée de Fée (Fairy Chimney). Several color-coded trails lead from the car park.

The site is signposted south of Rustrel village, off the D22 to Banon.

The site gets blazingly hot in summer: start early, carry water, wear hiking boots and a hat – and don't be surprised if you take some ocher home with you on your clothes (the best idea is to wait till it dries and brush it off).

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