Scenic viewpoint, Viewpoint in Roussillon, France
The scenic viewpoint in Roussillon is a location where you look out over red earth formations and rock structures that shimmer in shades of yellow to deep red. The landscape displays the natural mineral deposits that give this region its distinctive character.
In the 19th century, this location was the center of ochre mining, when the Luberon region supplied natural color pigments worldwide. The mining activities continue to shape how the landscape looks today and define the area's history.
The buildings in the village use colors that come directly from the surrounding soil, as locals have extracted minerals from the earth for generations to paint their walls. This practice shaped the village's distinctive look and shows how closely people here were tied to the land.
From here you can explore two marked trails of different lengths, each offering different views of the landscape. Information panels along the paths help you understand the geology and how these colorful rocks were formed.
The cliffs surrounding the viewpoint contain up to 17 natural color variations, created by iron oxide deposits in the soil. This range of hues is the result of different mineral makeup in the various rock layers.
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