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Home > Discover the Alpes de Haute-Provence > Towns, small towns and typical villages > Castellane
Castellane
The gateway to the Gorges du Verdon | TOURIST INFORMATION |
- Castellane Tourist Office. Tel. 04.92.83.61.14.
- See also : Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Annot, Saint-André-les-Alpes.
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 MORE ABOUT THIS 'VILLE DE CARACTERE'Dominated by its "Roc", a huge 184-metre high limestone cliff, with the chapel of Notre Dame du Roc at its summit , the site is one of the most striking in Haute Provence. In a middle Verdon valley where the Route Napoléon and the Route de la Lavande meet, Castellane is also a stop on the Grande Randonnée trail (GR 4), near the artificial lakes of Castillon and Chaudanne, which make up one of the biggest tourism centres in the region.
A stopover town on the Route Napoléon 60 km from the Mediterranean and the upper gateway to the famous Gorges du Verdon, Castellane is dynamic and skilfully mingles the wealth of its past with its touristic vocation and many activities.
Besides a rich heritage which can be seen in the painted facades, picturesque fountains and the old pedestrian town centre, Castellane and the villages around offer a multitude of sports activities centred on the Verdon: hiking, white water, climbing, canyoning, hang-gliding and paragliding, bungee jumping. And of course water sports on the lakes of Castillon and Chaudanne a few kilometres from the town centre. And all in an exceptional climate, with agreeable temperatures all year round, pure dry air and cool soothing nights: just as well with all there is to do!
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HERITAGE |
- Chapel of Notre-Dame du Roc : dates back to 812, rebuilt in XVIIIth century, perched on a rock 200m above the town, listed site.
- Ruins of Petra Castellana : between the present village and Notre-Dame du Roc.
- church of Saint-Victor : end of XIIth century, listed a Historical Monument, semi-dome apse, quadripartite vaultings, Romanesque Gothic transition.
- Pentagonal tower : XIVth century, 5-sided machicolated tower graded Historical Monument.
- Clock Tower : XIVth century.
- Old ramparts : XIVth century.
- Gateway of the Annonciade.
- Pont du Roc : XVIIth century, listed site.
- Fontaine aux Lions : surprising in shape, said to date back to XVIIth century.
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WORTH A VISIT |
- Musées Sirènes et Fossiles (Sirenians ad Fossile Museums) : museographic complex in the Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence, it tells the fabulous story of the sirenians (ancestors of today's manatees) and the legend of mermaids. Open every day in July and August, Monday to Friday from September to April. Tel. 04.92.83.19.23.
- Vallée des Sirènes Fossiles : col des Lèques 8 km from Castellane on the Digne road, a paleontological deposit which is the only one of its kind in the world.
- Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires. Open from 15th May to end of October. Tel. 04.92.83.71.80.
- Guided tours of the town : Sunday, Tuesday and Friday at 10am from 15th June to 15th September.
- Vulture-watching : June and September every Wednesday morning, July and August on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Tel. 04.92.83.61.14.
- Chaudanne dam : the lake of Chaudanne, a long 70 ha winding ribbon of water below Castillon on the river has a 72m high dam.
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THE GORGES DU VERDON | This is a most remarkable gigantic water-formed slash, as if the mountains had been sliced through with a sword. In the limestone of the plateaux of Haute-Provence, the river has cut a 50 km long canyon which in some places reaches a depth of 700 m.
The sheer cliffs, dotted here and there with caves known as baumes, are a climber's paradise (1.500 climbing routes among the most famous in the world), as is the impetuous river for canoeing and kayaking, rafting or fishing.
Two circuits make it possible to visit the Gorges du Verdon, one by the right bank from Castellane to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, lthe other by the left bank from Aiguines to Castellane.
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THE SENTIER MARTEL | This path, inaugurated in 1928 by the Touring-Club de France bears the name of the French spelunker Edouard-Alfred Martel who opened it . Part of the GR4, it follows the Verdon over nearly 14 km onthe right bank from the Point Sublime to the Chalet de la Maline which is the best place to start from.
After 2 hours of walking, you reach the Brèche Imbert and its 252 steps which go down 100 m. You come out at the Point Sublime through tunnels and there is a taxi service to take you back to where you left from. On the left bank there is another magnificent winding circuit, the sentier de l’Imbut.
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MAIN EVENTS |
- Provencal market : Wednesday and Saturday morning.
- Fête du Pétardier : last Saturday in January.
- Fête patronale : on Mother's Day.
- Pilgrimage with torches to Notre-Dame du Roc : 14th August.
- Folklorama : festival of traditional arts, 2nd week in August.
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ACTIVITIES - FACILITIES |
- Open-air centre : children over 4. Tel. 04.92.83.71.84.
- Lake of Chaudanne : 70 ha, equipped beaches, swimming, fishing, pedal-boats.
- Lake of Castillon : 500 ha, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, motorboating, pedal-boats
- Salle multi activités. Tel. 04.92.83.71.84.
- Bases : white water, canyoning, climbing, bungee jumping, hang-gliding and paragliding
- Swimming pool : heated, 3 pools, 2 diving boards and toboggan, aquagym and swimming lessons (1/2 price in June and September). Tel. 04.92.83.60.22.
- Tennis.
- Cinema : travelling Tel. 08.92.68.05.79.
- Motorbike : espace Boade in Senez 15 km away, organiser of world championships, courses. Tel. 04.92.34.22.94. 06.15.38.66.28.
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VILLAGES AROUND |
- Demandolx : with its back to the Crémon rock barrier, the village looks down over the lakes of Chaudanne and Castillon, and offers a magnificent panorama which brings to mind Norwegian fjords with the deep blue of the lakes set off by geen mountains. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- La Garde : the village got its name from a XIIth century watchtower and still has the authenticity of the Middle-Ages with its crooked streets, covered passageways, its warped facades in old stone or painted in pastel tones. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Peyroules : a group of small hamlets in a long valley surrounded by mountains and hills, la Bâtie, la Rivière and la Foux, in the middle of forests, pastures and amazing eroded black schist.
- Rougon : hanging on to its rocky spur in the middle of rocks and lavender, Rougon looks down on the entrance to the Verdon grand canyon. This environment with its reintroduced vultures offers an exceptional view of the fabulous Point Sublime. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
- Soleilhas : nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains and forests, the village looks down over a plain along the Esteron river and, as its name indicates, faces the sun. Snow stadum (Alpine and cross-country skiing) in winter. Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the area.
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OTHER INFORMATION | Altitude : 724 m.
Population : 1.539 inhabitants.
To get here :
- by road : RN85, route Napoléon, from Digne in the norht and Grasse in the south.
- by train : Grasse SNCF station (60 km) or Manosque (80 km).
- by plane : Nice airport (80 km) or marseille airport (175 km).
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