Discover the hilltop villages and their typical local architecture. Narrow streets, lavender fields, olive groves, agriculture and traditional crafts are all interwoven with a rich local heritage and culture.
La Javie orchards
Old fruit trees stand in tortuous silhouette in the Haute-Bléone region. True sentinels of memory, they are now attracting renewed interest, both in terms of heritage and economics. Fertile farmland stretches around the confluence of the Bléone and Arigeol rivers. Long threatened by flooding, but very soon irrigated by canals, they were given over to […]
© ©UGPH
Saint-Armand chapel
From the perched village of Clamensane, the hike to the Saint-Amand chapel promises superb views over one of the Haute Provence Geopark’s emblematic valleys. The Saint-Amand chapel stands on an ancient site overlooking the Sasse valley. The ridge on which it was built once marked the boundary between the Roman provinces, and later the boundary […]
The Trente pas factory
The Trente-Pas hydroelectric power station, a witness to a bygone economic era, was in operation for over 60 years. Authorized by decree in 1938, the plant used water taken from the Bléone at its confluence with the Chanolette, then conveyed via a 4 km-long structure, including aqueducts and siphons, for a head of around 60 […]
The Pinées mine
Located in the clue de Verdaches, in the heart of the Haute-Provence Geopark, this mine is a reminder that the subsoil was once exploited in the region. The clue de Verdaches was carved out by the Bès nearly 6 million years ago in Triassic (-235 MA) and Carboniferous (-300 MA) terrains, some of the oldest […]
© ©UGPH
Saint-Etienne Church
Marcoux parish church is a fine example of rural Romanesque architecture. Its campanile gives it added charm. The building dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries. At the time, it belonged to the chapter of Digne Cathedral. The three-bay building, with its slightly broken barrel vault opening onto a semicircular apse, was listed in […]
© ©UGPH
Our Lady of Liesse
The Notre-Dame de Liesse chapel bears witness to the religious fervor of the 18th century, but also to the fear that the Asse River once inspired, with its devastating floods. The small chapel stands between the river and the road leading to the hamlet of Bellegarde d’Estoublon. Before the construction of the bridge over the […]
La Chapelle Saint-Jean
The Saint-Jean chapel marks the original site of the village of Saint-Jeannet, in the Asse valley. Its fine architecture bears witness to the persistence of Romanesque art in Haute-Provence. Among the remarkable architectural features of the Haute-Provence Geopark are the many Romanesque buildings that mark the area. You’ll find large churches and numerous chapels, such […]
© ©UGPH
The Lagremuse ruins
The ruined hamlet overlooks the Bléone valley, offering panoramic views. At its foot, a century-old olive grove adds to its charm. Lagremuse’s ruins proudly stand against the relentless onslaught of time. The site still bears witness to its past defensive vocation. You can still make out parts of the walls of the old fortified castle, […]
© ©UGHP
The ruins of Saint-Jean church
On the right bank of the Bléone, the site of Saint-Jean is a pleasant place for a stroll. The ruins of the church, built in the late 11th century, offer a timeless atmosphere. The Saint-Jean site was probably occupied as early as the Neolithic period, with a funerary function that grew stronger over the centuries. […]
© ©UGPH
La Chapelle Saint-Christol
This beautiful chapel dates back to the 11th century. Dedicated to Saint-Christophe, patron saint of travelers, it makes a pleasant stopover on the Route Napoléon between Digne-les-Bains and Malijai. Built on the ruins of an ancient Gallo-Roman villa, the chapel belonged to the Abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille. Originally vaulted, it was badly damaged by […]
© ©️AD 04/Martin Champon
The EDF canal
The Canal de la Durance crosses the territory of the Haute-Provence Geopark and marks man’s imprint on a valley that has always been a thoroughfare between the Alps and Provence. In the Middle Ages, the Durance was the “third scourge of Provence”, after the Parlement and the Mistral! Since its development in the 1960s, the […]
© ©UGHP
The Manosque canal
Almost a hundred years old, this canal is a haven of freshness and well-being. It is indispensable to local agriculture and much appreciated by walkers and hikers. Since its commissioning, the Canal de Manosque has revolutionized agriculture in the 13 communes it crosses on the right bank of the Durance, between Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban and Corbières-en-Provence. It’s […]
Gypseries at Volonne castle
The gypseries at Château de Volonne are among the finest in Provence. They recall the presence of gypsum, used to make plaster, in the soil of Haute-Provence. The château, commissioned by Melchior de Valavoire and built in 1607, stands on the village square, flanked by two round towers. It is more akin to a bastide, […]
© ©UGPH
The Mison still
A symbol of a bygone era, the Mison still bears witness to the importance of fruit in the heart of this fruit-growing region, and in the life of the community. This old copper still, manufactured in 1933, remained in operation until 1997. Designed to be mobile, it has never been moved since its purchase! And […]
© ©UGPH
Chateaufort
Just 15 km from Sisteron, Châteaufort seems timeless, set in a remarkable natural setting – the Hautes Terres de Provence with its long geological history. To reach Châteaufort, you’ll take a small road cut into sedimentary rock, which seems to have been planted as a singular backdrop. You’ll then come to a peaceful village that […]
The Nibles altarpiece
The small village of Nibles nestles on the banks of the Sasse, a tributary of the Durance, in the heart of the Hautes Terres de Provence. Its church, N.-D. de Bethléem, conceals unsuspected treasures. With its natural setting, its bell tower-wall that stands out against the blue sky of Haute-Provence, and the landscaping of its […]
© ©OT_Sisteron
The village of Saint-Geniez
At the heart of the Haute-Provence Geopark, the village of Saint-Geniez is set in a remarkable natural setting, rich in heritage. The village, situated at an altitude of 1,116 m, backs onto the Gouras and Trainon massifs and is protected by the Mélan mountain (1,705 m). The commune is part of an agricultural, forestry and […]
Saint-Marcellin chapel
Just 800 m from the charming village of Vaumeilh, the Saint-Marcellin chapel seems to stand outside time. Set on a plateau, the site invites contemplation and tranquility. Vaumeilh has been home to several religious settlements over the centuries. While the oldest dates back to Gallo-Roman times, the best-known is certainly the Chane priory, which predates […]
Le Vieil Aiglun
Overlooking the Bléone valley (830 m.), Vieil-Aiglun and its church of Sainte-Madeleine are a haven of peace, offering one of the finest panoramas in the Haute-Provence Geopark. From this old village, which has been reborn a few years ago, you can observe the relief of the Dignois Pre-Alps, from the Estrop summit to the Valensole […]
© ©UGHP
Our Lady of the Rosary
Built on a hill overlooking the village of Mézel and the Asse valley, this chapel is a pleasant place to walk around. Its old single-needle clock is clearly visible from the village. Notre-Dame du Rosaire (17th c.) is the former parish church of the original village of Mézel, of which a few fragments of the […]
© ©Michel_Boutin
Le Hameau de la Rouine
In a landscape characteristic of the Haute-Provence Geopark, the famous black earth, this small hamlet seems timeless. This small, Romanesque-style chapel has a single nave crowned by a small bell tower. It was built at the request of the parishioners of La Rouine in 1647. Restored in the 20th century by local residents, it features […]
Our Lady of Lauzière
The walk to this site, which overlooks the Bléone valley, is pleasant and offers a magnificent view of the Bléone valley and the Dignois Pre-Alps. Probably built in the 12th century, Notre-Dame de Lauzière is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture in Haute-Provence, thanks to its simple layout. Its single nave ends in a flat […]
© ©UGPH
The mine gallery
In some of the oldest rocks in the area, Triassic quartzites, we find a cavity that opens onto the side of the road; it’s an old galena mine gallery. Here, in the Clue de Verdaches, the Bès has carved its gorge into a geological structure known as the Dôme de Verdaches. The clear rock (quartzite) […]
The bell tower of Thoard
A landmark in the Duyes Valley, Thoard’s bell tower-dungeon soars into the Haute-Provence sky, testifying to its rich history. The hilltop village of Thoard is a must-see on the Route du Temps of the Haute Provence Geopark. With its recognizable bell tower-dungeon, it stands at the bottom of a valley that has preserved its identity. […]
© ©Elsa
Gaubert rock church
Gaubert and its church seem to be protected by the Cousson mountain, the guardian of the Dignois region. Stretched out on a sandstone ridge, the village offers superb views over Digne and the surrounding countryside. Gaubert was an independent commune until the end of the 19th century, and has a very long history. The slopes […]
© ©️AD 04/Martin Champon
The annalematic sundial
The Thoard analemmatic sundial is one of only forty of its kind in France. Have fun guessing the time… according to your own shadow! This type of dial consists of an ellipse drawn on the ground, on which the hours of the day are marked. The observer places himself on the small dial according to […]
© Communauté de Communes Sisteronais Buëch
Authon
Nestled in the Massif des Monges, the village of Authon is a haven of peace and serenity. With its relief and history, it is one of the emblematic villages of the Haute-Provence Geopark. Authon (1,137 m) is nestled in a remarkable natural setting. The beauty of the scenery and the calm that surrounds it invite […]
© Martin Champon
Our Lady of Bethlehem Church
A must-see on the Haute-Provence Geopark discovery trail, the church of N.-D. de Bethléem, a listed historic monument, is a surprising structure. Set in unspoilt natural surroundings in the heart of the Massif des Monges, the village of Bayons is not short of attractions, including its monumental church! You’ll be amazed by its size (35 […]
© Office de Tourisme Sisteron Buëch
The Written Stone
This monumental inscription, dating from the 5th century, recounts the retreat of one of the last dignitaries of the Roman Empire, Claudius Postumus Dardanus. The Pierre-Écrite is a site with a rich heritage. It bears witness to an eventful era (collapse of the Empire, progress of Catholicism, invasions…), to the history of mankind, but also […]
© OIT Motte Turriers
Melve Tower
Dating back to the 13th century, the Tour de Melve was once part of a defensive system linking 21 castles and watchtowers in the Hautes-Terres de Provence region. It is a stopover on the Hautes-Terres route of the Haute-Provence Geopark. The tower is located at an altitude of 900 m, on a steep slope that […]
Fountain of Gigors
Gigors is one of the villages of the Hautes Terres de Provence. Its fountain and plaster mill are precious reminders of life in days gone by. Between two hikes, or as a stopover on the Haute-Provence Geopark discovery route, don’t hesitate to stop off in the charming village of Gigors. The village was once a […]
© OT BSP
Villages & Cités de Caractère Seyne les Alpes
At an altitude of 1260 m, Seyne is a city of character, with a rich architectural heritage and an exceptional natural environment. Winter and summer alike, Seyne is a popular vacation resort. The town, crowned by its fort and “grande Tour”, reveals its narrow streets and squares, with authentic village houses, some of them half-timbered, […]
© Office de Tourisme Sisteron Buëch
Queen Jeanne Bridge
Crossing this stone bridge over the Vançon is like stepping out of time, into a remarkable natural setting. Ideal for a walk… at the end of the world! The bridge links the hamlets of Vilhosc and St-Symphorien, both in the Entrepierres commune. Once densely populated, they were severely affected by the rural exodus, and the […]
© José Huguet
Chapel and crypt of Dromon
Probably built in the 11th century, this chapel is a truly spiritual place. Nestled in an impressive natural setting, it invites humility and meditation. Clinging to the rock face, N.-D. de Dromon is exceptional for its early Romanesque crypt. The chapel was restored and enlarged in 1682; despite numerous alterations, it retains important Romanesque features. […]
© Thibaut VERGOZ
Malijai Castle
Made famous by Napoleon’s visit, the Château de Malijai is a rare and beautiful example of 18th-century seigniorial architecture in the Haute-Provence Geopark. The château has a rectangular plan with two facades, one on the village side, the other on the garden side. On either side are two round towers topped with glazed tiles. Built […]
© Jean-Luc ARMAND
The 16th-century Château de Château-Arnoux
The Château de Château-Arnoux is one of the architectural jewels of the Haute-Provence Geopark. Its listed staircase is remarkable for its statuary, unique in the south of France. Built between 1510 and 1515, the building’s massive base, latticed archways and cannonieres are still medieval. By contrast, its glazed roof, mullioned and scalloped windows and staircase […]
© OT DLB
Village of Thoard
Overlooking the Duyes valley, the village of Thoard is a good example of the grouped settlements of Haute-Provence. Its 13th-century keep is remarkable. Thoard – from the Latin turris ardua, meaning high tower – was for centuries a formidable defensive post. Atop the rocky outcrop, the medieval tower crowned by a bell tower stands next […]
© Paroisse Cathédrale Digne Asse Bléone Duyes
Notre-Dame du Bourg Cathedral
With its large rose window, regular layout, single nave and four large bays, Notre-Dame du Bourg is one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in south-east France. Romanesque architecture is very much in evidence in the Haute Provence Geopark region, with a number of remarkable buildings, not least Notre-Dame du Bourg. It was built in […]
One land, many cultures
Discover other
Geopark sites
A unique geology
Here, over 300 million years of history are revealed before our very eyes. Explore the Geosites to understand the tumultuous history that has shaped the landscape over time.
Art in the mountains
Art and nature mingle in the heart of the Geopark territory. From herman de vries to Andy Goldsworthy, they have all drawn inspiration from the area. Their peregrinations, as well as their encounters with the local inhabitants, are at the origin of a collection of works scattered throughout the territory.
Exceptional landscapes
Discover breathtaking panoramas! Between cultivated plains and towering mountains, dark valleys and dazzling cliffs, let yourself be transported by the richness of the landscapes of the Haute-Provence Geopark.
Discovery routes
Five discovery routes wind their way through the Geopark's emblematic heritage sites and sumptuous landscapes. Each route reveals geological and cultural treasures, inviting you to explore the region in an enriching and immersive way.
Remarkable biodiversity
In the heart of its remarkable landscapes, the Haute-Provence Geopark is home to an exceptional biodiversity that reveals itself discreetly, offering precious moments of escape in a preserved natural environment.
