Page 184 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

182  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

1Sisteron
Road map D2. * 7,664. £ @
n 1 pl de la République (04 92 61
36 50). ( Wed & Sat. ∑ sisteron-
tourisme.fr
Approaching Sisteron from the
north or south, it is easy to see
its strategic importance. The
town calls itself the “gateway
to Provence”, sitting in a narrow
valley on the left bank of
the Durance river. It is a lively
town, protected by the most
impressive fortifications in
Provence. However, it has A traditional Provençal farmhouse just outside the village of Seyne
suffered for its ideal military
position, most recently in heavy Provençal Romanesque school, 2Seyne-les-Alpes
Allied bombardment in 1944. dating from 1160. At its east Road map D2. * 1,460. @ n Place
The citadelle, originally built end, the 17th­century Chapelle d’Armes (04 92 35 11 00). ( Tue & Fri.
in the 12th century, dominates des Visitandines houses the ∑ seynelesalpes.fr
the town and gives superb Musée Terre et Temps. In the
views down over the Durance. Old Town, small boutiques, The small mountain village of
These defences, though incom­ cafés and bars line the narrow Seyne dominates the Vallée de la
plete, are a solid assembly of alleyways called andrônes. Blanche, sitting 1,260 m (4,134 ft)
keep, dungeon, chapel, towers Rocher de la Baume on above sea level. Horses and
and ramparts, and offer a the opposite bank is a popular mules graze in the nearby fields,
fine setting for the Nuits de la practice spot for mountaineers. and there is a celebrated annual
Citadelle, the summer festival horse and mule fair in August.
of music, theatre and dance. + La Citadelle Beside the main road is Notre-
The cathedral in the main Pl de la Citadelle, 04200 Sisteron. Dame de Nazareth, a 13th­
square, Notre-Dame et Tel 04 92 61 27 57. Open Apr–11 Nov: century Romanesque church
St-Thyrse, is an example of the daily. & ∑ citadelledesisteron.fr with Gothic portals, sundial
and large rose window. The
path by the church leads up
to the citadelle, built by Vauban
in 1693, which encloses the
still­standing 12th­century
watchtower. The town is also
a centre for winter sports, with
facilities nearby at St­Jean,
Le Grand Puy and Chabanon.

3Barcelonnette
Road map E2. * 2,860. @
n Pl Frédéric Mistral (04 92 81
04 71). ( Wed & Sat am only.
∑ barcelonnette.com
In the remote Ubaye Valley,
surrounded by a demi­halo
of snowy peaks, lies Provence’s
northernmost town. It is a flat,
open town of cobbled streets,
smart cafés and restaurants and
quaint gift shops, selling spec­
ialities such as raspberry and
juniper liqueurs. The town was
named in 1231 by its founder
Raymond­Bérenger V, Count of
Barcelona and Provence, whose
great­grandfather of the same
Sisteron citadel, strategically positioned high above the Durance valley name married into the House
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p201 and pp216–17