TOURIST GEOGRAPHY

Mane's village

The Lure Mountain to the north is a protective climatic barrier, the Luberon to the south forms the frontier with Basse-Provence.
The Forcalquier area nestles between these two sleeping giants, with its enchanted hills and valleys where narrow shady roads wind along, adorned with Romanesque chapels.
In Roman times the Domitian Way crossed this fertile agricultural land.
In the Middle Ages the Forcalquier area was an independent county. This was the period during which the typically Provençal perched villages developed.
This is a piece of countryside with an easygoing lifestyle, under a cloudless azure sky.

The Durance used to be a torrential river causing terrifying floods.
Nowadays its flow is controlled by several dams which have created beautiful lakes. Its main tributary, the Bléone, joins it upstream of Manosque. These two rivers have created a landscape of fertile plains, at the convergence of a whole network of valleys which each have their own character. The Durance and Bléone valleys are both alpine and Provençal, and are organised around ancient settlements such as Sisteron, Manosque and Digne-les-Bains, blessed with a remarkable heritage.

In the Forcalquier area, every stone bears witness to Man's presence over the centuries : the ancient traces of the Domitian Way, perched villages dating back to medieval times, Romanesque chapels and churches, country châteaux and opulent farmhouses. From Salagon Priory - headquarters of the Haute-Provence Ethnological Conservatory - to Ganagobie Priory, from the Rotonde at Simiane to the Château at Sauvan, a unique architectural heritage is waiting to be discovered !

The ancient medieval settlements of the Durance and Bléone valleys are full of character. Sisteron and its famous citadel built on a narrows in the river is the gateway to Provence from the North, Manosque lies in the Durance valley like a pebble, and the campanile tower of Digne-les-Bains, a spa town, stands against its mountain background. This is the land of writers : Jean Giono, Paul Arène, Maria Borrely, Pierre Magnan, René Frégny, etc.

Click the card to enlarge

Col de Fontbelle
Col du Pas de la Graille
Contadour
Digne-les-Bains
Forcalquier
La-Motte-du-Caire
Lurs
Manosque
Simiane-la-Rotonde
Saint-Michel l'Observatoire
Saint-Jurs
Sisteron

In the Forcalquier area / Lure Mountain you will find a Tourist Office at Forcalquier itself, a tourist information centre at Céreste and four "Syndicats d'Initiative" at strategically-placed locations around the area : Banon, Lurs, Reillanne, Saint-Etienne-les-Orgues...

Whatever your destination in the Durance and Bléone valleys, you will find all the information you need for your holiday at the Durance and Bléone Valleys tourist information association at Château-Arnoux-St-Auban. Château-Arnoux-St-Auban, Digne-les-Bains, Mallemoisson, Manosque, Les Mées, La Motte-Turriers, Oraison, Sisteron, Volx and Volonne...

>> list of the Tourism Information Offices

Whether you set off for a few hours walk or a hike lasting several days in the Forcalquier area, it is an unforgettable experience. On foot, on horse-back, astride a bicycle or riding a mountain bike, you will breathe in the fragrances of this piece of Provence between Lure and Luberon, bathed in light regardless of the season. You will also discover a rich architectural heritage : Romanesque churches, stone-built farms, shepherds shelters, etc.

Weather conditions in the Durance and Bléone valleys are excellent for gliding, whether you are a complete beginner taking a maiden flight or a top-flight competitor. The World Championships were held in the Alpes de Haute-Provence in 1997.
Facilities are provided for bathing and water games in lakes and rivers.

The Lure ski resort is just one hour's drive from Marseille. It consists of an alpine skiing area of some ten kilometres, perfect for learning to ski at your own pace. It is also ideal for Nordic ski touring, enabling you to cross the mountain in 2 or 3 days, following the ridges. You will enjoy a remarkable view of the Luberon and Provence to the south, the Dévoluy and Ecrins massifs to the North.

Even in the depths of winter, you can still enjoy some fine hiking in the Durance and Bléone valleys. At Valbelle on the northern slopes of the Lure Mountain, or at Fontbelle at the beginning of the Monges massif, there are some beautiful Nordic ski touring and snow shoe hiking routes.