Where Luberon, Haute Provence and Verdon meet

TOURIST INFORMATION

• Val de Durance Tourist Office: Tel. 04.92.64.02.64.
• See also : Sisteron, Les Mées, Cruis, Digne-les-Bains.

List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district of CHATEAU ARNOUX.

List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district of  l'ESCALE.

List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district of  VOLONNE.

List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district of  PEYRUIS.

 List of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district of MALIJAI.

MORE ABOUT THE VAL DE DURANCE

THE 7 VILLAGES OF VAL DE DURANCE

• Château-Arnoux/Saint-Auban : on the right bank of the Durance, upstream of its confluence with the Bléone, a district divided into two towns : the old town, Château-Arnoux, which occupied the Villevieille site on the hill in the Middle Ages before developing lower down around the new castle ; and the new town, Saint-Auban, born of the creation of an industrial and chemical site in 1915.
  
• L’Escale : a big river port in Gallo-roman times, keen birdwatchers can watch around 200 species of bird on the banks of the lake.
•  Malijai : on the banks of the Bléone on the Digne-Sisteron route, its history follows the history of its castle.
  
• Mallefougasse : at the foot of the Montagne de Lure, this little village follows the seasons.
• Peipin : between the wooded slopes of the Montagne de Lure and the Durance plain, the village is huddled at the foot of a knoll overlooked by the romantic ruins of a medieval castle.
  
• Peyruis : on the right bank of the Durance, at the foot of densely wooded hills and the ruins of a castle which hosts the Festival Classik in July.
  
• Volonne : Volonne is known as a « village de crèche » because it is nesteld at the foot of a rocky spur in front of a wooded hill, and is also known as the « Petit Nice des Alpes » because of its sunny south-west exposure.

HERITAGE

• Castle of Chateau-Arnoux : built between 1510 and 1530, magnificent spiral staircase listed Historical Monument in the hexagonal tower, town council hall with a magnificent French ceiling and a park through which runs a bridle path, listed Natural sites and Monuments.
  
• Chapel  of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Château-Arnoux : built in 1667.
  
• Ferme de Font-Robert in Château-Arnoux : former farm of the XVIth century castle, home of the TO, the services of the Communauté de Communes and the open-air theatre.
• Pigeonnier de l’Escale : XIXth century dovecote, recently restored.
  
• Chapel of l’Immaculée Conception in l’Escale : built in 1869-1870, houses a painting school.
• Château de Malijai :  XVIIIth century, classical style, Napoleon slept here one night in March 1815 on his return from the island of Elba. Rooms listed Historical Monument, beautiful collection of Louis XV et Louis XVI plaster sculptures.
•  Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Mallefougasse : listed in the inventory of Historical Monuments.
• Former feudal fortress in Peipin.
  
• Medieval bridge over the Jabron in Peipin.
  
• Chapel of Saint-Roch in Peyruis : built in 1720 and 1721 in homage to the saint who saved the village from the plague in 1720. Fountains in Peyruis : there are many and the oldest  is the Parlatan fountain, restored in 1814 but put in service several centuries before.
  
• Statue in faïence of Marseille in Peipin : in the church, a virgin and child made in 1730 byJoseph Fauchier.
  
• Plaster sculptures of the staircase of Volonne Castle : listed Historical Monument
• Church of Saint-Martin in Volonne : listed Historical Monument, primary Romanesque art.
  
• church of Notre-Dame des Salles ine Volonne : XVth century, some Gothic style fragments.
• The two Towers in Volonne : dominating the village, the highest is an old watch-tower which dates back to XIIIth century, the other has borne the « relogi » (town clock) since the end of XVIth century.
  
• Former oil mill in Volonne : located in the old « béalage » quarter, it was fed by the waters of a canal. Restored, it is a tourist office in summer.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

• Bathing lake in Saint-Auban : an innovative concept which is unique in France ! In a gree landscape, a 600 m² artificial lake with filtered and heated water just like in a swimming pool, a grassy leisure area with a barbecue, a big 4 channel water chute, a massaging bench,  a fast river and water cannons, toilets, hot showers. Entrance free.
  
• 350 km of marked trails : Here the natural environment is not highly equipped and efforts are being made to enhance it by hiking and outdoor activities. An unsuspected wild natural environment a stone's throw from the motorway and accommodation.
  
  • on mountain-bikes :  FFCT base, 300 km of trails on 15 marked secure itineraries, 5 to 60 km loops, all difficulties.
    
  • on foot : 19 marked PR itineraries, mostly loops, from 1h1/4 to 5h1/2 for an average walker.
    
  • topos guides, maps and practical information at the TO. Tel. 04.92.64.02.64.
    
• Pony-trekking. Les Ecuries du Val de Durance. Tel. 04.92.62.88.27.
• Climbing rocks in Château-Arnoux. Tel. 04.92.75.45.74.
  
• Sports centre, fitness, squash and body-building. Tel. 04.92.64.43.74.
  
• Summer swimming pool in Peyruis.
  
• Archery trail.
  
• Fitness trail in Malijai, Peyruis, Saint-Auban et Volonne.
  
• Tennis courts in all districts.
  
• Simone Signoret cultural centre : le Cinématographe cinema: two air-conditioned cinemas ( 100 and 200 seats, one « Art et Essai » and « Recherche », digital sound, festivals, meetings with the film-directors, film analysis courses, cine-club.
  
• Médiathèque (Media library)  Louis Joseph : over 40.000 documents.
  

SISTERON AERODROME

• Centre National de Vol à Voile : training centre and training site for the French teams. www.cnvv.net - Association Vélivole de Château-Arnoux/Saint-Auban : initiation flights, pilot training, personalized courses. Tel. 04.92.64.54.70.
  
• Centre Météo France départemental. (Department Weather Centre) Tel. 08.92.68.02.04. - Aéro-club de Haute-Provence. Tel. 04.92.62.66.09.

FOR THE FAMILY

• Day centre/crèche : 3 months to 6 years old.
  
  • les Petits Plus in Château-Arnoux. Tel. 04.92.64.25.21.
    
  • les Pitchounets in Mallefougasse. Tel.04.92.34.79.79.
    
  • les Petits Calins in Peyruis. Tel. 04.92.68.13.51.
    
  • les Canaillous in Volonne. Tel. 04.92.62.67.60.
    
• Day camp : 4 to 12.
  
  • Château-Arnoux. Tel. 04.92.64.38.24.
    
  • Malijai. Tel. 06.75.22.02.78.
    
  • Peipin. Tel. 04.92.62.44.17.
    
  • Peyruis. Tel. 04.92.33.21.00.
    
  • Volonne. Tel. 06.33.64.29.75.
    
• Children's games areas : in all the villages.

MAIN EVENTS

• Rencontres photo : the most important photography event in the department, in April in Château-Arnoux.
  
• La Jarlandine : mountain-bike rides, in May in Château-Arnoux.
  
• Festives de Font-Robert : two exceptional sites for evenings under the stars, in July in Château-Arnoux and Peyruis.
  
• Fête de l’Abricot (Apricot Fair) : food and crafts fair, in July in l’Escale.
  
• Medieval Festival : street theatre, medieval dancing, juggling and medieval fights, processions and shows, odd years in July in Volonne.
  
• Salon de l’Auto (Car Show) : 2 000 m², in September in Château-Arnoux.
  
• Festival du livre et de l’écriture : writers, illustrators, publishers, calligraphers, exhibitions, conferences, show, in October in Volonne.
  
• Festival du Jeu : festival of games and toys to try on the spot, in November in Peipin.
• Rencontres d’arts plastiques : painting, sculpture, engraving, drawing, in November in Château-Arnoux.
  
• Marché paysan de Noël (Christmas peasant market) : a number of exhibitors, in December in Malijai

A WEALTH OF ORNITHOLOGY

OTHER INFORMATION

• Altitude : 450 m.
  
• Population : 13.000 inhabitants.
  
• To get here :
  
  • by route : A 51 motorway Peyruis exit.
    
  • by train : Saint-Auban SNCF station. Tel. 04.92.33.95.06.