PLACES TO VISIT
About 30 minutes’ drive
• Espinasses /Rousset - Apiland, the wonderful world of bees: live hives, honey,
guided tours, gifts
• Espinasses /Rousset - Lake Serre-Ponçon, Museoscope explains the workings of the hydro-electric dam, Panorama for stunning views of the lake, sale of minerals and fossils, gifts, snacks, Plage du Bois Vieux for open air swimming, fishing, boating, snacks.
• Rochebrune, Les 3 Lacs, open air swimming, fishing, picnics, campsite
• Remollon - Demoiselles Coiffées, rare geological formation
of towering columns capped with giant boulders, walks, viewpoint
• Saint Geniez - Parc animalier, a centre for local wild animals and birds, with activities for children
• Sisteron - Citadel, Nuits de la Citadelle International festival of music and dance,Terre-Temps museum of time and space, Cathedral
• Tallard – Mediaeval castle, son et lumiere; Aéropôle flying club, gliding, helicopter rides, parachuting championships
About one hour’s drive
• Crots – Boscodon Abbey
• Digne-les- Bains - Haute-Provence Geological Reserve, Jardins aux
Papillons butterfly garden, Alexandra David-Neel’s house, spa
• Ganagobie – mediaeval Priory, restored and in active use
• Gap – Charance Conservatoire botanical gardens and indoor display
• Méouge Gorge Very pretty gorge with picnic and bathing places
• Le Laus - Notre Dame du Laus, chapel, pilgrimage and religious retreat
• Le Sauze du Lac - La Montagne aux marmottes, centre for wild animals, displays with birds of prey, activities for children
• Salagon, Mane - Conservatoire ethnologique de Haute-Provence, local history, botanical gardens, events, concerts
About two hours’ drive
• Aspres sur Buëch – astronomy in the hamlet of Chevalet
• Gréoux les Bains - Spa
• Quinson - Musée de la Préhistoire, museum of pre-history
designed by Norman Foster, activities for children
• Forcalquier – Cathedral, Rencontres Musicales chamber music festival,
famous Monday market
• Saint-Michel l’Observatoire – astronomy activities
• Verdon Gorge - Canyon, rock climbing,
village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Lake Sainte-Croix
GET UP HIGH FOR A FABULOUS VIEW!
Accessible by car (a little walking involved)
1 - Approach Turriers from Bayons via the “Tourniquets”
hairpin bends (Monte Carlo Rally route)
2 – Turriers orientation table at the top of the village:
Superb views of the High Alps and nearer peaks and valleys
3 - Venterol orientation table: view down to the Durance valley
4 - Reynier: view over the Beaudinard valley
5 – Valavoire: view over the Sasse valley and Melve plateau
6 - Piegut: view of the dam and Lake Serre-Ponçon
7 – Sigoyer orientation table
Access on foot only
1 - Pic des Monges, altitude 2215 m
(4hrs hike from Esparron),
2 - Croix Saint-Jean, altitude 1886 m (2½ hrs hike from Valavoire),