Lakes · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
1 Le Lac Allos
A developed path climbs through undergrowth to reach the crater carved 20,000 years ago by the ancient glacier.
View full page →What to see in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in 3 days
The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence are known for the Verdon gorges, the lavender fields of the Valensole plateau, mountain villages and wide open spaces. The roads are long and the landscapes strongly contrasting.
This itinerary groups the best-rated sites in the catalogue into three days. The lavender bloom, around summer, attracts many people: book ahead and start early.
Our day-by-day itinerary
The map shows the numbered stops in visiting order, with one colour per day. The line follows the roads where available; otherwise it joins the stops as the crow flies. Distances and times are approximate (by car, without traffic).
Day 1 — Le Lac Allos to Col de la Bonette
This day brings together 3 sites close to each other: lakes, waterfalls and natural wonders. It passes through Jausiers. Allow half an hour to an hour and a half per site, plus travel time.
Driving for the day: about 71.9 km, or 2 h 07 behind the wheel in total (excluding visits).
↓ 57.4 km · about 1 h 18 by car to the next stop
Waterfalls · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
2 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.
View full page →↓ 14.5 km · about 49 min by car to the next stop
Natural wonders · Jausiers
3 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.
View full page →Day 2 — Sisteron to la cascade de Costeplane
This day brings together 5 sites close to each other: natural wonders, waterfalls and villages. Allow half an hour to an hour and a half per site, plus travel time.
Villages · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
4 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.
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Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
5 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.
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Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
6 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.
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Waterfalls · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
7 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".
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Waterfalls · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
8 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.
View full page →Day 3 — Simiane-la-Rotonde to Clue de carejuan
This day brings together 4 sites close to each other: villages, natural wonders and waterfalls. Allow half an hour to an hour and a half per site, plus travel time.
Villages · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
9 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.
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Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
10 Les pénitents des Mées
This walk will let you discover a curiosity visible from the Sisteron-Aix motorway or the N85 road.
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Villages · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
11 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.
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Waterfalls · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
12 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.
View full page →When to go
Early summer is the lavender season, which attracts many visitors. Spring and autumn suit the gorges and villages well, with mild temperatures. Winter is cold at altitude, and some mountain roads are closed.
Getting around
A car is essential: distances are long and public transport rare. Mountain and gorge roads are winding, sometimes narrow. Allow slack in your travel times and check road conditions.
Our tips
- Respect the lavender fields, which are crops and not photo locations.
- For gorges and trails, bring water, good shoes and a hat.
- Start early in summer, especially for the busiest sites.
- Check swimming and boating conditions before going into a lake or river.
If you have more time
Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
La Dalle à Ammonites
Only 4 km after leaving Digne, on the right bank of the Bléone, we meet the famous ammonite slab site.
Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Grès d'Annot
The generic name Grès d'Annot was given to this entire formation by the geologist Scipion Gras in 1840.
Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
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.
Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
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...
Natural wonders · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
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.
Waterfalls · Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
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.
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