|
|
Home > Discover the Alpes de Haute-Provence > Towns, small towns and typical villages > Thoard
Thoard
Perched Haute Provence village | TOURIST INFORMATION | Digne les Bains Tourist Office : Tel. 04.92.36.62.62.
See also : Digne-les-Bains, Val de Durance, Sisteron.
List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
|
 MORE ABOUT THIS VILLAGE IN THE GEOLOGY RESERVEOn a road which was occupied in ancient times by celts, Thoard has a long and rich history. Still surrounded by ramparts, the village is a good example of medieval defensive habitat, huddled on a narrow rocky platform.
On the Route du Temps and the Route de la Lavande, a heritage such as this is worth a visit, from its street of the « Grande Débauche » (great debauchchery) where you can admire the crooked facades and old doors, to the village heights where you can see the remains of the medieval ramparts. Don't forget to visit the enormous grey stone church and its impressively tall bell-tower (XIIth century) : so enormous that it's difficult to go around it as it is embedded in the middle of the houses !
From the top, besides a marvellous view over the old tiled roofs and the countryside, you will no doubt have a strange feeling of intimacy and safety, well-sheltered behind these ramparts and thse thick high walls. Try the local specialities, pork sausage, paté with juniper berries, stew, andouillette, honey or goat's cheese…
|
HERITAGE |
- Church of Notre-Dame de Bethléem.
- Belfry : against the church, XIIth century, listed Historical Monument.
- Altar-pieces : in the church, one made of wood with twisted columns (1677).
- Remains of the medieval castle's enclosure : strange plaster fireplace dating back to 1692.
- Old village : maze of narrow streets and stairways, facades, fountain.
- Chapel of Sainte-Madeleine : houses a work by Andy Goldsworthy.
- Chapel of Saint-Martin : being restored.
- Chapel of Vaunavès : restored, musical events in summer.
- Chapel of Saint-Joseph de la Pérusse : pilgrimage on 2nd Thursday in August.
|
WORTH A VISIT |
- Perfume plant distillery : old-fashioned family distillery, presentation of the job of lavender-grower, visit of the lavender distilleru, sale of essential oils. Tel. 04.92.34.80.33. Portable 06.18.50.85.68.
- Cactées des Combes (Cacti) : a trip into the world of cacti. Tel. 04.92.34.80.11.
|
THE LITTLE MUSEUM OF BRASS INSTRUMENTS | Discover, from Berlioz to Wagner and Chet Baker and the music of the Republican Guard, Classical, Jazz, Fanfare and Military musical instruments. Meet ophicleids, cornophones, serpents, euphoniums, duxplex, trumpets, stolzel cornets , hunting horns, French horns, mellophones, tubas (a contralto signed Adolphe Sax), saxhorns, helicons, sousaphones, bugles, trombones, barytones from the American Civil War... An unforgettable visit and famous names such as Besson, Halary, Stowasser, Couesnon, Gautrot, Conn, Labbaye, King, Lidl.. Rich literature and organology essay.
Open : from July to September, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday fro 2 to 6pm, sunday from 10am to 12 ; from April to June and in October on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1.30 to 5pm. Tel. 04.92.31.57.46.
|
FOR THE FAMILY |
- Centre de loisirs Chapi-Chapo : activities for 3/12 year olds; day excursions, sports stays and courses 12/18 year olds. Tel. 04.92.34.68.75.
|
MAIN EVENTS |
- Feast of Saint-Blaise : February
- Egg-hunt : Easter Monday, picnic in the kindergarten.
- Local producers' market : from June to September, Sunday morning.
- Pilgrimage to the Chapelle of Saint-Joseph de la Pérusse : 2nd Thursday in August.
- Foire aux Agnelles (lamb fair) : Wednesday after 15th August.
- Foire aux Laines de tous Poils (Wool Fair) : December.
|
LEISURE ACTIVITIES |
- Hiking: 4 PR from the village, many PR around, botanical trails in the Forêt de Fontbelle.
- Donkey rental : Poivre d’Ane. Tel. 04.92.34.87.12.
- Riding centre : l’Arc des Duyes. Open all year round. Tel. 04.92.31.57.99.
- Forest of Fontbelle : fitness and discovery trail, starting point for trails, picnic area.
- Au fil du bois : identification of trees in the forest, wood workshop, courses in initiation to wood-working, turned and glued wood objects. Yolande et Claude Verchot. Tel.
- Library. Tel. 04.92.34.83.44.
|
ON THE ROAD THROUGH TIME | Parallel to the Route du Temps created by the Haute-Provence Geological Reserve, the Time Trail stretches between the Alps and Provence, winding through a land with strong contrasts where lavender and edelweiss grow close together. This hiking itinerary goes through awe-inspiring landscapes born of a tormented geological history.
All the way along the trail, clues mark nature's and man's time and houses welcome you tso that you can share some of their life. Itinerant hike of 4 days/ 3 nights full board, accompanied by a registered middle-mountain guide. Discovery guide, calendar and prices on request. Tel. 04.92.34.87.12.
|
OUT OF THE ORDINARY : A HOME CHEF | Give him the keys of your kitchen, he will do everything : the home chef Bernard Cayrier prepares your meals with friends, with the family or for professional reasons… with his generous refined cuisine based on local products. He will prepare the meal you want and also offers cooking lessons in your home : every time, he looks after everything, from the shopping to the washing up and cleaning the kitchen! Tel. 04.92.34.87.05.
|
VILLAGES AROUND |
- Barras : on the banks of the Duyes, Barras is a little village in the plain in a bucolic and hilly site, in the middle of fields of wheat and lavender. The river banks invite you to stroll in the shade of the poplars and chestnut trees. Worth a visit : church of Saint-Nicolas, chapel in old stone with its little bronze bell which dates back to 1732. List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
- Le Castellard-Mélan : on the road to the col de Fontbelle, an agricultural village in the middle of pastures and lavender fields. Worth a visit : national forest of Fontbelle, hamlet of Melan, Saint-Vincent cave. List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
- Les Hautes-Duyes : little farming hamlets along the banks of the Duyes. List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district.
|
OTHER INFORMATION |
- Altitude : 765 m.
- Population : 702 inhabitants.
- To get here :
- by road : A 51 motorway Peyruis exit then RN 85 to Mallemoisson and D 17.
- by coach : ligne Digne-Thoard. Tel. 04.92.31.50.00.
- by train : Digne-les-Bains SNCF station. Tel. 04.92.31.00.67.
|
|
|
|
Gites de France accommodation options
The Self-Catering Gites
Annot
