Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

180  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

This remote and rugged area in the north
of Provence covers 6,944 sq km (2,697 sq miles)
of mountainous landscape. Its main artery is
the Durance river which is dotted with dams,
gorges and lakes – a haven for mountaineers
and canoeists. One tributary is the Verdon, which
runs through the stunning Gorges du Verdon,
Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon. The scenery
becomes wilder and more rugged in the northeast,
with Mont Pelat at the heart of the Parc National
du Mercantour. Further south lie the plains of Fields of lavender on the Valensole plains
Valensole, which colour the landscape in July when
the abundant lavender blossoms. Tallard
Sights at a Glance Key
1 Sisteron Motorway
2 Seyne-les-Alpes Major road La Motte-
3 Barcelonnette du-Caire
4 Mont Pelat Minor road Grenoble
5 Colmars Scenic route
6 Digne-les-Bains Minor railway
7 Les Pénitents des Mées International border
8 Lurs Regional border Buëch
c
9 Forcalquier Summit ch
0 Manosque Ribiers
q Gréoux-les-Bains SISTERON
w Valensole
e Riez Noyers-s-
Jabron
t Moustiers-Ste-Marie
y Castellane Volonne
M o n t a g n e d e L u r e
u St-André-les-Alpes Château-Arnoux
i Annot Plateau de
o Entrevaux Saint Christal Saint-Étienne- Malijai
les-Orgues
r
Les Mées
rg
Tour Peyruis
Largue
r Gorges du Verdon pp188–9 Banon LES PÉNITENTS
DES MÉES
LURS
FORCALQUIER
La Brillanne
MANOSQUE VALENSOLE
Verdo
V rd d
Ste-Tulle Verdon
GRÉOUX-
LES-BAINS
Aix-en-Provence
Quinson
Barjols

A quiet Provençal-style bar in the mountain town of Castellane,
situated in the picturesque old quarter
For additional map symbols see back flap