Alpes de Haute Provence
Gréoux les Bains
An immaculate thermal spa combining a historic setting with modern spa facilities. The Romans established a thermal spa here, but the town's credentials got kick started in the early 19th century when Pauline Bonaparte (1780-1825), the younger and favorite sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and later Princess Borghese, the scandalous femme fatal of her times, frequented the baths here. The town is pleasant with many cafés and restaurants. The remnants of a 12th century Knights Templar fortress tower over it. There are plenty of accommodation options here, a good base for exploring the Verdon region.
Manosque
A fairly busy town (pop.20.300), the largest in the Alpes de Haute Provence department and an important center for agriculture and commerce. Located at the eastern end of the Grand Luberon and just a few steps away from the Durance it lacks the charm and aura of typical Luberon towns due to its size and the many modern quarters. Many of the employees for the nuclear research facility of Cadarache live here. But it is a good place for shopping, especially on the Saturday morning market. On the outskirts, near Autoroute A51, is the manufacturing facility of l'Occitane. You can tour their operations and buy at the factory outlet.
Historical highlights are the two 14th century fortified gates, the Porte de la Saunerie and the Porte du Soubeyran. Sauniere is the Provençal word for salt. The Porte de la Saunerie was located near the salt stores where the salt tax had to be paid, a flat tax per head which was highly unpopular and was only abolished during the French revolution and later replaced with the income tax, also highly unpopular. At the north end of the old town is the 13th century Porte du Soubeyran with a 19th century campanile. Soubeyran means the highest point in Provençal. Noteworthy is Cathédral St.Saveur with a very pretty wrought iron belfry. There are many stately town houses, ancient churches and chapels in the old center. Manosque was the birthplace of author the Provençal author Jean Giono (1895-1970). The only remnant of the castle of the Counts of Forcalquier is the Tour du Mont d'Or on a hill 1km northeast of the town. You have fabulous views over Manosque and the Durance river.
Moustiers Sainte Marie
A perched village near the western entrance of the Verdon Gorges on steep slopes below two limestone cliffs. Famous for its potteries which are shown in collections and museums all over the world. No surprise Moustiers is a major tourist destination with thousands of visitors per day and .......read more about it here.
Route Napoléon
The route taken by Napoléon (1769-1821) upon his return from Elba on his way to Paris and a 100 days later to Waterloo. It runs from Cannes to Sisteron and further on to Grenoble. Napoléon came ashore on March 1, 1815 at the Golfe Juan near Cannes and traveled through the Haute Provence to Grenoble in 7 days, receiving a hero's welcome in each town and village. A very scenic route with historic markers on the houses, inns and châteaux where he ate and slept - the French version of "George Washington slept here". Its an interesting trip for history buffs retracing Napoléon's steps. From Cannes the route passes through Mougins, Mouans-Sartoux, Grasse, St.Vallier, Seranon, Castellane, Barreme, Digne les Bains, Malija, Sisteron, Tallard, Gap, Corps and La Mur until it reaches Grenoble. The 180 km (112 mile) drive is well marked and will take all day if you plan a couple of stopovers in between.
Simiane la Rotonde
Situated on a hill topped by a rotunda, you can see this entirely concentric village (pop. 530) from afar, one of the prettiest hilltop villages in the Provence. Narrow streets and stone houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. This is the center for the sparsely populated Plateau d'Albion region, one of the major lavender growing areas of the Provence, dry and hot in the summer, windy and cold in the winter.
But what was the purpose of the rotunda on top of the hill? Is it a defensive structure or a chapel? One theory maintains that the lords of Simiane built the rotunda similar to the castles erected by crusaders in Palestine. Once you have walked up to the top of the village you find a hexagonal tower dating from the 12th century, built into the remains of a castle, and topped by a cone-like roof. Inside the rotunda is irregularly twelve sided (the 12 months of the year) with a crypt below and an ornamented chamber above - a strange building! A baroque music festival is held from mid-Juy to mid-August. Nearby is the Abbaye de Valsaintes, one of the four Cistercians abbeys in the Provence, with a beautiful garden with over 600 varieties of roses. It is privately owned and can only be visited during May and June.
The Plateau d'Albion is a prime area for hiking and getting away from it all. The 18 underground nuclear missile silos of the Force de Frappe located on the plateau were closed down in 1999. You can organize your own lavender tour here, just drive from village to village or walk on some of the marked hiking trails in the area between Sault, Banon and Simiane la Rotonde. June and July are the best months to see lavender in bloom. There are only a few villages here, such as Montsalier and St.Christol, with its 12th century Église Notre Dame et St.Christophe. The lavender industry in the Provence survives largely on subsidies from the EU's CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) funds. There is strong competition from Eastern Europe and China, where more than 50% of the world's lavender is grown. Life for small growers is harsh, many distilleries have closed. Tourism is a way to keep things going to some extent and local festivals and markets are one way to promote the industry.
Sisteron
Sisteron (pop.7.200) is the northern gateway into the Provence. It is built into the rocks on the west side of a gorge just below the confluence of the rivers Buech and Durance and the massive la Baume montains on the eastern side of the river. Already in Roman times Segustero was an important strategic fortification on the Via Domitia. A citadel of massive ancient fortifications, started in the 11th century and subsequently enlarged many times, towers above the town. You have great views from its highest point, where the Devil's Tower stands.
The old town below is a maze of narrow streets and archways linking tiny squares. Near the Place de la République are the town hall, Cathédral Notre Dame des Pommiers (from porneriuni=open space) and the four remaining 15th century towers what were once the ramparts. Nearby is the Musée du Vieux-Sisteron, the local folk art and history museum. In Rue Saunerie 20, Napoléon took lunch on 5 March 1815 on the route, now known as Route Napoléon, that lead him from Elba to Paris and a 100 days later to Waterloo.
Verdon Gorges
The Verdon Gorges, also called the "le Grand Canyon du Verdon", define the border between the Départements Var and Alpes de Haute Provence. The Verdon river carved a deep canyon into the limestone cliffs here for about 21 km (13 miles). It is much smaller than the Grand Canyon but it's Europe's deepest. This is a nature conservation area, the Parc Naturel Regional du Verdon. The walls of the gorge rise a spectacular ....... read more about it here.
