With an area of 6,935 km2 and just 139 600 inhabitants, Alpes de Haute-Provence is one of the largest and least densely populated "départements" : less than 20 inhabitants per km2.
It comprises vast protected areas where you feel you are the only person on Earth.

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Our "département" is the meeting place between the Alps and Provence, and has inspired writers and artists down the centuries, struck by the richness of its landscapes.

Jean Giono, the "stationary traveller" born in Manosque, used the area as the setting for his most important novels such as "Colline" and "Hussard sur le toit". Maria Borrely and Jean Proal described the tough daily lives of people living on the plateaux bordering the Asse or the region of Seyne-les-Alpes. Alexandra David Néel, the formidable explorer of Tibet, lived in Digne-les-Bains for the last 40 years of her life.

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From prehistoric times onwards, people have always inhabited the area of Alpes de Haute-Provence. They lived in caves in the Verdon gorges and built huts on piles in the Durance valley.

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© J. Gagnepain

Le climat des Alpes de Haute-Provence est globalement méditerranéen, caractérisé par des étés secs, des températures élevées et un fort ensoleillement : plus de 300 jours par an.

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For centuries the economy of the Alpes de Haute-Provence was traditionally based on pastoral agriculture, centred around sheep.
Each farming family had a small flock which provided meat and wool. At the end of the spring, thousands of animals from Basse-Provence would make their way to the high altitude pastures to spend the summer: this was called transhumance.