Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: what to see and do
42 sites listed in the département. A land of light and wide open spaces, the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence combine lavender fields, the spectacular Gorges du Verdon and typically Provençal hilltop villages. One of the least densely populated départements in France, it offers a complete change of scene between Provence and the high mountains.
Clue de carejuan
After the Point Sublime, the road descends towards the bed of the Verdon until it comes so close that, following floods of the Verdon, the road had to be rebuilt.
Col de la Bonette
The road that goes round its summit, the Cime de la Bonette, reaches 2,802 metres: one of the highest paved roads in Europe, in the heart of the Mercantour.
Les Robines du Liman
Robines are hills of black marl sculpted by erosion. When the ground is soaked, the reflections of light on these dark harmonies create violent contrasts.
Les pénitents des Mées
This walk will let you discover a curiosity visible from the Sisteron-Aix motorway or the N85 road.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Clinging to the foot of cliffs, in the hollow of a fault where a torrent flows and olive trees have grown, with fields of lavender, lavandin, thyme and cork oaks on the horizon, this village at the edge of the Verdon gorges and near the artificial Lake Sainte-Croix is one of the wonders of Provence.
Gorges du Bachelard
Up to the Col de la Cayolle through the Bachelard gorges. The road is very narrow and not suited to photo stops, so we will have to wait until we are out to fill the memory box.
Grès d'Annot
The generic name Grès d'Annot was given to this entire formation by the geologist Scipion Gras in 1840.
La Dalle à Ammonites
Only 4 km after leaving Digne, on the right bank of the Bléone, we meet the famous ammonite slab site.
Le Lac Allos
A developed path climbs through undergrowth to reach the crater carved 20,000 years ago by the ancient glacier.
Le défilé de la pierre Ecrit
About ten kilometres from Sisteron, beside the road to Saint-Geniez, shortly before Chardavon, the rock was engraved in the early fifth century with an inscription praising the benefits of Claudius Dardanus, an influential man of that period, who is said to have had the road giving access to Theopolis built...
Le rocher de la Baume
The Rocher de la Baume offers a completely unusual lithic architecture: vertical bars of limestone alternate with softer beds attacked by erosion.
Les Clues de Barles
Between high rock walls, the agitated waters of the torrent rush in. Thirty million years ago, a geological upheaval caused a tremendous vertical break called a "clue".
Plateau de Valensole
A huge farming plateau covered with lavender fields as far as the eye can see; in July Valensole offers one of the most photographed landscapes of Provence.
Sisteron
Called the pearl of Haute Provence, Sisteron, a town of history where glories and miseries once alternated, is today one of the flagship towns of the Alpes de Haute Provence.
la cascade de Costeplane
At the junction that leads left to Savines-le-Lac, a viewpoint over the Ubaye and the Costeplane waterfall opens up; on the other side, the Dormillouse military battery overlooks from its 2,505 metres and seems still to defend the valley against invaders.
Abbaye de Valsaintes
Cascade de Chaumie
Cascade de la Lance
The Lance waterfall is a classified natural site, at Colmars-les-Alpes. A large car park lets visitors reach it without any difficulty.
Cascade de la Piche
Château d'Allemagne-en-Provence
Château de Gréoux-les-Bains
Château de Sauvan
Château de Simiane-la-Rotonde
Property of the Simiane Agoult family, it underwent several major alterations according to periods of intense activity or partial abandonment.
Citadelle de Sisteron
Colmars
A fortified village of the Haut-Verdon, surrounded by ramparts and two Vauban forts, among the Most Beautiful Villages of France.
Entrevaux
A town fortified by Vauban, dominated by its perched citadel and linked to the town by a drawbridge.
Gorges de Saint-Pierre
La Vallée Sauvage
La cascade D'auzet ou du saut de la Pie
Le Jardin des Papillons
Musée Conservatoire ethnologique
Musée de Préhistoire des Gorges du Verdon
Designed by the English architect Norman Foster, the departmental Museum of Prehistory of the Verdon Gorges, labelled Musée de France, is the largest prehistory museum in Europe.
Praloup
Saint Jean Montclar
Sauze Supersauze
Simiane-la-Rotonde
Simiane owes its fame to the Rotonde, the circular keep of the castle that crowns the hill on which the village spreads, a witness to a rich history.
Val d'Allos 1500 Le Seignus
Val d'Allos 1800 La Foux
In the Southern Alps and the upper Verdon valley, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département (04), you have a date with the Val d'Allos.
Castellane
Dominated by a rocky peak 180 metres high capped with a chapel, Castellane is the traditional gateway to the Verdon gorges.
Digne-les-Bains
Forcalquier
Parc naturel régional du Verdon
Extending over 188,000 hectares between the Var and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, this regional nature park protects the famous Verdon gorges as well as Lac de Sainte-Croix. A spectacular territory, between vertiginous canyon and perched villages.