Page 188 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

186  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

Durance. The centre has 13th-
and 14th-century gates, Porte
Soubeyran and Porte Saunerie.
The perfume shop in rue Grande
was once the atelier of writer Jean
Giono’s mother and the second
floor belonged to his father
(see p32). The Centre Jean Giono
tells the story of his life. The town’s
adoptive son is the painter Jean
Carzou, who decorated the
interior of the Couvent de la
Présentation with apocalyptic
allegories of modern life.
Scenic view of Forcalquier, the former capital of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence P Centre Jean Giono
3 blvd E Bourges. Tel 04 92 70 54 54.
9Forcalquier a study in the 1930s to find the Open Tue–Sat (Oct–Mar: pm only).
town with the cleanest air. The Closed public hols, 25 Dec–2 Jan.
Road map C3. * 4,875. @ & = ∑ centrejeangiono.com
n 13 pl du Bourguet (04 92 75 10 02). Centre d’Astronomie nearby is
( Mon, Thu. ∑ haute-provence- a must for star-gazers. P Couvent de la Présentation
tourisme.com 9 blvd Elémir Bourges. Tel 04 92 87 40
E Musée Départemental 49. Open Apr–Oct: 10am–12:30pm &
Crowned by a ruined castle and Ethnologique 2–6pm Tue–Sat; Nov–Mar: 2–6pm
domed chapel of the 19th-century N100, Mane. Tel 04 92 75 70 50. Wed–Sat. Closed Sun, public hols,
Notre-Dame-de-Provence, this Open Feb–Apr & Oct–mid-Dec: Wed– 23 Dec–2 Jan. &
town – once an independent Mon; May–Sep: daily. Closed 24, 25 &
state and the capital of the 31 Dec. & 8 for groups. =
region – is now a shadow of its P Observatoire de Haute qGréoux-les-Bains
former self. Although the weekly Provence Road map D3. * 2,640. @ n 7 pl
market is a lively affair, drawing St-Michel l’Observatoire. Tel 04 92 70 Hôtel de Ville (04 92 78 01 08). ( Tue
local artists and artisans. 64 00. Open Easter–1 Nov: Wed pm. & Thu. ∑ greouxlesbains.com
There are some fine façades & from the Office de tourisme.
in the old town, but only one 8 only. ∑ obs-hp.fr The thermal waters of this spa
remaining gate, the Porte des town have been enjoyed since
Cordeliers. The Couvent des antiquity, when baths were
Cordeliers (closed to visitors) 0Manosque built by the Romans in the 1st
dates from 1236, and is where the Road map C3. * 22,825. £ @ century AD. Gréoux flourished
local lords have been entombed. n Pl du Docteur Joubert (04 92 72 in the 19th century, and the
The Musée Départemental 16 00). ( Sat. ∑ ville-manosque.fr waters can still be enjoyed at
Ethnologique in nearby Mane the Etablissement Thermal,
preserves the history of the France’s national nuclear research on the east side of the village,
people and culture of Haute- centre, Cadarache, has brought on Avenue du Verdon, where
Provence. The Observatoire de prosperity to Manosque, a town bubbling, sulphurous water
Haute Provence to the south which has sprawled beyond arrives at the rate of 100,000
of the town was sited here after its original hill site above the litres (22,000 gallons) an hour.
Lavender and Lavendin
The famous flower of Provence colours the
Plateau de Valensole every July. Lavender
began to be cultivated in the region in the
19th century and provides the world with
around 80 per cent of its needs. Harvesting
continues until September and is mostly
mechanized although, in some areas, it is
still collected in cloth sacks slung over the
back. After two or three days’ drying it is
sent to a distillery.
These days the cultivation of a hybrid
called lavendin has overtaken traditional
lavender. Lavender is now used mainly
for perfumes and cosmetics, lavendin
for soaps. Harvesting the abundant lavender in Haute Provence

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p201 and pp216–17