Legendary capital of the Ubaye valley

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Barcelonnette Tourist Office : Tel. 04.92.81.04.04.
• Tourism Service of the Communauté de Communes :
• See also : Pra-Loup, Le Sauze, Lac de Serre-Ponçon.

Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district

MORE ABOUT THIS "MEXICAN" TOWN

HERITAGE

• Tour Cardinalis : in Barcelonnette, 42 m high, only remains of the couvent des Dominicains (1316).
  
• Churches and chapels : there are 120 in the valley restored and enhanced by associations.
  
• Fortifications : for centuries, the valley was disputed between France and Savoie, and then France and Italy. From the middle to the end of XIXth century, 35 km of defensive lines were built from Roche-la-Croix to Dormillouse, with the huge fortified mountain of Tournoux at its heart and a system of watches, semaphores, strategic roads, elevators. Then, betwen the two World Wars, The Maginot line was built to protect the Italian border of the Alps as far as Menton which added new fortifications with several big structures and a line of outposts. For the Valley, this century of big building sites and military presence in and around the forts represented a powerful economic activity.
  
  • Fort de Tournoux : 1.300 to 2.000 m. In an out-of-the-ordinary location, intriguing by its size, the Fort of Tournoux, installed on a rocky spur, stretches over a height of almost 700 m! Its location was to be one of the links in a chain of optical transmissions linking Briançon to Toulon.
    
  • Fort of Roche-la-Croix : 1.908 to 2.105 m. On an overhang, its unique artillery which the biggest in the Valley, is visible: periscopic vision armoured cloches armed with two 75mm guns, nicknamed « méchante » (nasty) by Italian troops, held back enemy attacks during the Great War. - Visits in July and August and all year round on appointment. Tel. 06.87.35.93.99.
    
• Rural heritage : washhouses, baking ovens… in most of the villages and hamlets.

WORTH A VISIT

• Musée de la Vallée : Tel. 04.92.81.27.15.
  
  • Barcelonnette : trips and emigration to Mexico, installed in the elegant "la Sapinière" villa, built between 1878 and 1883 by Alexandre Reynaud, former tradesman in Mexico. Closed from 14th November to 18th December inclusive and on 1st May, 25th December and 1st January. Five other museums bear the name Musée de la Vallée and each is devoted to a theme which explores part of the local heritage.
    
  • Jausiers : archeology and geology.
    
  • Lauzet-Ubaye : gathering and hunting.
    
  • Meyronnes : military presence in the Ubaye.
    
  • Pontis :  school and public education in the Ubaye.
    
  • Saint-Paul : peasants' and craftsmen's work.
    
• Maison du Parc National du Mercantour : « La Sapinière » villa in Barcelonnette. Tel. 04.92.81.21.31.
  
• Ferme des Villards in Lans (Jausiers) : looking after animals, lambing, shearing, transhumance, harvesting, old-fashioned tools and modern tools. Open all year round by appointment. Tel. 04.92.84.68.83.
  
• Moulin d’Abriès in Jausiers : the last working water-mill in the department. Tel. 04.92.81.11.42.
  
• Maison des Produits de Pays in Jausiers : 48 craftsmen and farmers offer their original and tasty specialities. Open every day of the year. Tel. 04.92.84.63.88.
  
• Maison du Bois in Méolans-Revel (the story of wood). Tel. 04.92.37.25.40.
  

ACTIVITIES - FACILITIES

• Swimming pool : Tel. 04.92.81.39.14.
  
• Guides Bureau. 06.62.10.35.39. alpicanyon04.free.fr
  
• Gliding centre :  aerodrome de Saint Pons . Tel. 04.92.81.08.78.
  
• Ubaye parapente. Tel. 04.92.81.34.93.
  
• Incondition’Aile paragliding. 04.92.81.18.33.
  
• Riding centre. Tel. 04.92.81.47.80. Mobile06.74.49.83.84.
  
• Karting. Tel. 04.92.81.90.44.
  
• Club 4x4 des 3 Cols. Tel. 04.92.81.07.64. Mobile 06.82.21.93.39.
  
• Parcours d’aventure (tree-top adventure playground). Tel. 06.73.26.29.32.
  
• Mini golf course. Tel. 04.92.81.16.98
  
• Tennis court. Tel. 04.92.81.16.98.
  
• Judo. Tel. 06.10.07.19.91.
  
• Institut Rossi Gym. Tel. 04.92.81.33.93. ou 06.13.33.43.54.
  
• Ciné Ubaye Cinema. Tel. 04.92.81.37.26.
  
• Bowling du Bachelard. Tel. 04.92.81.24.34.
  
• Médiathèque (Media library): in the former Hôtel-Dieu (1717). Tel. 04.92.81.51.65.
  
• El Zocalo Theatre. Tel. 04.92.81.04.71.
  
• Wi-fi : on the place Manuel, permanent free connexion!

FOR THE FAMILY

• Les Marmots Day-care centre. Tel. 04.92.81.28.03.

A WHITE WATER SPOT

• Alligator. Tel. 04.92.81.06.06.
  
• Fresh Rafting Ubaye. Tel. 06.75.39.49.47.
  
• Rios & Montanas. Tel. 04.92.85.54.68.
  
• Coureurs de Rivières. Tel. : 04.92.85.58.29.
  
• Eau Vive Passion Rive. Tel. 04.92.85.53.99.
• Aqua’Rider. Tel. 06.32.42.50.15.
  

MAIN EVENTS

• Markets : Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  
• Circuit des 3 Cols : cycle-touring event. Tel. 04.92.81.36.67.
  
• Barcelonnette Tennis Open. Tel. 04.92.81.16.98.
  
• Nuit des Musées (Museum Night) : May.
  
• Barcelonnette-Texas : country music festival, beginning of June.
  
• Festival des Enfants du Jazz : July.
  
• Fêtes latino-mexicaines : mid-August, for two weeks, Barcelonnette puts on its Mexican costume and its streets echo with Latino rhythm and music: folk ballets and shows, parades, salsa lessons, dawn serenades, concerts, Mexican, Cuban, Argentinian  bands
  
• Dogora Festival : end of August on even years, classical music.
• European Heritage Days : mid-September.
  
• Farm fair : end of September

TWO NORDIC SITES

• Larche : 1.700 to 2.000 m, 45 km of runs all levels, Tel. 04.92.84.35.93.
  
• Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye : 1.400 to 2.000 m on two sites, 20 km of runs all levels, nordic border-cross, cross country ski instructor, snowshoeing, equipment rental. Tel. 04.92.84.39.76.
  

THREE ALPINE SKI RESORTS

• Pra-Loup : 1.600 to 2.400 m, 180 km and 80 Alpine ski runs, 50 skilifts, 2 telphers, 3 cable-cars, 13 chairlifts, 32 draglifts, 3 ski kindergartens, 1 snow-park, skating rink, sled runs, 7 restaurants on the slopes, mountain circuit, hang-gliding and paragliding take-off areas, 2 ski schools, all shops and services, day-care centres. Tel. 04.92.84.10.04.
  
• Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine : 1.800 to 2.400 m, 30 km and 15km of Alpine ski runs, 8 skilifts (1 chairlift, 5 draglifts, 1 rope tow), ski kindergarten, sled run, ski school, restaurants, equipment rental. Tel. 04.92.84.33.01.
  
• Sauze/Super-Sauze : 1.400 to 2.400 m, 65 km and 37 Alpine ski runs, 23 skilifts (20 draglifts and 3 chairlifts), 50 % of area artificially snowed below 2.000m, 1 snow-park, 1 rider area, 3 accesses to the area (Sauze, Rente, Super-Sauze), indoor swimming pool, skidoo, 2 ski schools, all shops and services, day care centres. Tel. 04.92.81.05.61.

VILLAGES AROUND

• La Condamine-Châtelard : village in the shadow of the imposing Fort of Tournoux, nicknamed the « military Versailles of XIXth century », and the ski resort of Sainte-Anne. Worth a visit: Fort of Tournoux, hamlet of le Châtelard perched on a rocky spur, le Villard well-known for its artists and craftsmen, Toumoux sundial (1817). Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Faucon-de-Barcelonnette : small village on the side of a gentle sunny hill above Barcelonnette, the oldest village in the valley whose site is said to have been occupied since Roman times. Worth a visit: Couvent des Trinitaires (convent building rebuilt in XVIIth century, built in 1193 by Saint-Jean de Matha, born in Faucon and founder of the Trinitaires Order), Clock tower (XVIth century), church of Saint-Étienne rebuilt in 1872 on a Roman base.  Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Jausiers : gateway to the Haute-Ubaye and the Mercantour National Park, at the bottom of the road to the Col de la Bonette (the highest col in Europe - 2.802 m), this big mountain village is built around an agreeable pedestrian street whose houses are painted pastel colours. The Arnaud brothers, pionneers of the emigration to Mexico in the early XIXth century, left from Jausiers. Worth a visit: Maison des Produits de Pays, Musée de la Vallée, church of Saint-Nicolas de Myrhe, the last working water mill in the department, Mexican villas, cemetery with flamboyant tombs. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Le Lauzet-Ubaye: Built against a rock at the exit of a deep gorge, Le Lauzet was once the military stronghold of the valley and is now a dynamic and colourful village between the Ubaye (several white water sports bases) and a charming little emerald-green lake surrounded by willow trees, and in which the high peaks around are reflected. Worth a visit: Pont Romain (Roman bridge on a narrow road 40m above the Ubaye, listed XIIIth century site), the Villard dolmen (Prehistoric, listed in 1900), church of Saint-Laurent, sundial in la Lauze. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Larche : on the Italian border, Larche and the torrent de Rouchouze, is located in a site surrounded by high majestic mountains. Completely destroyed during the last war and rebuilt, it has the « village fleuri » label (label for flowering of the village). In the Mercantour National Park, the Vallon du Lauzanier, cross-country ski resort in winter and hiker's paradise in summer, is exceptionally wild and beautiful and well-preserved. Worth a visit: modern chapel of Notre-Dame des Neiges (XXth century), church of Maison Méane, church of Notre-Dame des Lumières, cemetery, Tête de Moïse and Aiguille d’Oronaye peaks. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Méolans-Revel : comprised of several scattered hamlets (Méolans, Saint-Barthélémy, Le Laverq, Rioclar, Revel) and dominated by high peaks (Tête de l’Estrop 2.961 m, Trois Évêchés 2.819 m), Méolans-Revel is a real naturale paradise with several white water bases and a climbing school. Worth a visit: Maison du Bois, circuit des 3 églises, vallon du Laverq, sentier des Eaux Tortes, former glacier de la Blanche. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
•  Meyronnes : on the Ubayette, Meyronnes was built in an imposing site at the foot of vertiginous cliffs. Don't miss the hamlet of Saint-Ours, perched at 1.800 m and with a via ferrata open in summer and in winter (700 metres of steep walls), and the forts of Roche-la-Croix, Saint Ours and Viraysse (2.772 m). Worth a visit: Tour de la Meyna, circuit of the Rocher de Saint-Ours, Rochaille trail, Saint-Ours station of the Cross. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye : on the col de Vars or « Route des Grandes Alpes » road, a small village on a promontory against a backdrop of peaks and steep jagged needles. Famous for climbing, and the starting-point for many climbs, it is the highest commune in the  Alpes de Haute-Provence and the only one with 34 peaks of over 3.000 metres, such as the Brec du Chambeyron (3.390 m), the Aiguilles du Chambeyron (3.412 m) or the Brec du Rubren (3.340 m). Worth a visit: Musée de la Vallée, church of Maurin, high-mountain hamlets (Fouillouse, Maljasset, Combe-Brémond), Chatelet bridge (1882, 110 m above the river) , Redoute de Berwick. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Saint-Pons : in the Middle Ages, Saint-Pons was, along with Faucon , one of the most important villages in the Valley. Its torrent, the Riou Bourdoux, was for a long time one of the most-feared in Europe, sweeping everything away in its passage until it was dyked at the expense of colossal structural work, hundreds of dams and the planting of millions of trees! Worth a visit: church (late Duracian Romanesque art, XIIIth and XVth century, graded Historical Monument), richly sculpted gate (XIIth century), sundial (1828). Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Les Thuiles : the village, which got its name from the former pottery workshops with its houses and wooden chalets spread out on a grassy slope opposite the Grande Séolane (2.900 m). Worth a visit: church of Saint-Martin de Tours (1525), sundial. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
• Uvernet-Fours : overlooked by the resort of Pra-Loup, the village of Uvernet is at the entrance to the Vallon de Fours, which is perhaps the most authentic in the Alps, in the Mercantour National Park, and goes through heavenly mountains to the col de la Cayolle on the Route des Grandes Alpes. Worth a visit: hamlets of Saint-Laurent and Bayasse, church, Chapeau de Gendarme climbing routes. Lists of  SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Altitude : 1.135 m.
  
• Population : 2.963 inhabitants.
  
• To get here :
  
  • by road : A51 motorway exit La Saulce then D 900 through Tallard and Espinasses. Coach: SCAL coach station. Tel. 04.92.81.00.20.
    
  • by train : Gap SNCF station then bus shuttle.