|
|
Home > Discover the Alpes de Haute-Provence > Towns, small towns and typical villages > Annot
Annot
La cité des grès millénaires | TOURIST INFORMATION |
- Annot Tourist Office : 04.92.83.23.03
- See also: Entrevaux, Saint-André-les-Alpes, Castellane.
|
 MORE ABOUT THIS 'VILLAGE DE CARACTERE'Near the Mercantour National Park, the Gorges du Verdon and the Côte d'Azur, Annot is in a privileged location between the Alps and the Mediterranean. Far from any major roads, this little medieval town listed a « Village et Cité de Caractère » stretches out at the foot of the rocky bar of Annot limestone and its hundred year old chestnut trees that the first inhabitants used as shelters: the first troglodyte dwellings, backed up against the limestone blocks were built in the Vers-la-Ville quarter.
In the Middle Ages, a first fortified enclosure was built on an overhanging rock between two rivers, the Vaïre and the Beïte, and the town is still in the same place. With the opening of the route nationale 202 and the building of the Chemins de Fer de Provence, Annot entered the XXth century.
Listed a « Station Verte de Vacances » (Holiday Green Resort), Annot is today a touristic village which welcomes hikers and nature-lovers all year round and climbers from all over Europe to the famous Grès climbing site.
|
HERITAGE | Guided tours in July and August on Tuesdays at 10.30 am, and from May to October every day the steam train runs at 2.15 pm. Tel. 04.92.83.23.03.
- Church of Saint-Jean Baptiste : XIth century and after, built into the ramparts, quarter-sphere vaulted apse culminating outside in a semi-circular crenelated watchtower.
- Chapelle Vers-la-Ville : remarkable stations of the Cross.
- Chapelle de Vérimande.
- Romanesque Cross.
- Bridge over the Vaïre.
- XVIIth century altar-piece.
- Old town: small winding streets, alleyways, round-headed doorways, medieval shops, fountains.
|
MAIN EVENTS |
- Market : Tuesday morning.
- Flea market : beginning of May.
- Feast of Saint-Fortunat : Whitmonday.
- Provencal Festical : 2nd weekend in July, even years.
- Folklore Festival: 2nd weekend in July, odd years.
- Flea-Market : 3rd Sunday in August.
- Journées de l’art et de l’artisanat local (arts and crafts) : 2nd weekend in August.
- Fair : 19th October.
- Cross des Châtaignes : cross-country race, 1st November.
- Christmas Market : Tuesday before Christmas.
|
ACTIVITIES - FACILITIES |
- Hiking : a network of marked paths in the heart of a preserved environment, 1 to 3-hour family walks in a loop or out and back, and hiking on the Grande Traversée des Alpes.
- Eau Vive Evasion : rafting, canyoning, white water sports. Tel. 04.92.83.38.09.
- Open-air swimming pool : heated, open from 15th June to 15th September, every day except Tuesday. Tel. 04.92.83.25.70.
- Centre Equestre de Vérimande FFE riding centre. Tel. 04.92.83.21.60.
- Climbing : 200 routes - all levels (4 to 8c) in the sandstone.
- Canyoning Saint-Jean ravine, a pretty course through rocks, perfect for beginners. Access permitted from 1st May to 30th November from 10am to 6 pm.
- Tennis. Tel. 04.92.83.31.64.
- Mountain bike rental. Tel. 04.92.83.35.35.
- Fishing : cards for sale in Annot (bar-tabac). Tel. 04.92.83.31.64. In Rouaine (hôtel le Relais du Bécassier). Tel. 04.92.83.20.98.
- Cyberespace : computer and wi-fi connexion in the Town Hall. Open from Monday to Friday 9am to 12 and 2pm to 6pm. Tel. 04.92.83.22.09.
|
AN EXCEPTIONAL ROCK FORMATION | The generic name Annot Sandstone qualifies a sedimentary rock made up of grains of quartz, feldspath and rock debris cemented together by calcite. The sandstone banks which can be up to 250 m deep, were formed around 40 million years ago by sub-marine avalanches of sand and mud.
When the Alps were formed, they cracked and warped which gives them this picturesque aspect. A marked trail enables you to discover this exceptional natural heritage and visit the famous Chambre du Roi (King's Room) and see a great variety of plants.
Some of the gigantic isolated blocks are fun for climbers who have at their disposal 150 equipped routes and a rare opportunity to climb on sandstone.
|
THE TRAIN DES PIGNES | Whatever direction you come from, the Train des Pignes track runs above Annot and winds through chestnut trees and sandstone blocks before entering the station which was opened over a century ago. Today, the Chemins de Fer de Provence line is known all over the world.
Over 151 km of narrow track with structures and perched villages links Nice to Digne-les-Bains every day and all year round. A steam train, kept going by a group of keen voluntary workers, runs from May to October on Sundays and some holidays between Puget-Théniers and Annot.
Its locomotive is listed as a Historical Monument, its platformed carriages and its varnished wood seats offer the traveller a trip back through time in a poetic decor. Possibility of guided tour of the village after lunch. Tel. 04.97.03.80.80.
|
VILLAGES AROUND ANNOT |
- Braux : in a sandstone landscape, chestnut forests where some of the trees are 600 years old, fruit trees, babbling streams, in a green and pleasant smelling environment dotted with beautiful barns built in old stone, Braux is an old village which is very much alive and children play in the street, people chat sitting on the church steps and where everyone says "hello"! Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Castellet-les-Sausses : perched on a rocky spur high above the Var valley , Castellet-les-Sausses (originally Castelletum-del-Salsum: a reference to an ancient castle and a salt-water fountain) is a small village with a long history which still has two cattle breeders and two craftsmen. worth a visit: ruins of the old fort, XIIth century church listed in the inventory of Historical Monuments. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Le Fugeret : a quiet little village on the Train des Pignes line whose name comes from its being founded by the Knights Templar of the region of Entrevaux fleeing the persecutions (fugare, flee) or from the ferns which used to cover the region. Worth a visit: wall clock on the church, cobbled streets,statue, remains of Roman bridge, sundial dating back to 1886. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Méailles : perched village that seems to be balancing on a rocky spur high above the Vaïre valley : take the tiny road under the impressive cliffs to Méailles for a real adventure; arrive on a high plateau where a few cows graze in green pastures and have a complete change of scene. Worth a visit: XVIth century listed church and altar-piece, cave (400 m gallery whose ceiling is made up of spherical limestone nodules and very beautiful stalactites). Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Saint-Benoit : in a remarkable natural site of grey rocks filled with gullies caused by erosion which rise up out of green meadows and forest-covered hills, between poplars, fir-trees and poppies, Saint-Benoît has a tiny square with freshly painted facades in the middle of which there is a round fountain next to its tile-covered wash-house. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Ubraye : little village on the side of a hill, in a corrie of tree-covered hills where all you can hear is the river below: Ubraye is absolute peace and quiet! On the GR4 and very near vertical cliffs, Ubraye will attract keen walkers and climbers. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
|
OTHER INFO |
- Altitude : 700 m.
- Population : 1.000 inhabitants.
- To get here :
- by road : RN 202 from Nice (80 km) or Digne-les-Bains (70 km).
- by train : Chemins de Fer de Provence station. Tel. 04.92.83.20.2
-
|
 |
| Annot |
 |
| Annot |
|
|
|
Gites de France accommodation options
The Self-Catering Gites
Annot
