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Mane

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Mane - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
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In the rolling hills of the Pays du Forcalquier area, between the Luberon and Lure mountain, lies the delightful village of Mane. A fortified "Cité de Caractère" dominated by its 12-century medieval citadel, Mane is as pretty as a picture with its picturesque, steep, cobbled lanes, mansions and beautiful stone houses. It also offers a magnificent panoramic view from around the citadel over the roofs of the village and surrounding Provence countryside.

At one end of the village nestle two more architectural gems: the 12th-century Romanesque Notre-Dame de Salagon priory and the 18th-century Château de Sauvan. The priory, a listed historic monument, houses the Haute-Provence departmental museum of ethnology, with permanent and temporary exhibitions, and possesses an ethnobotanical garden. The château, located not far from the priory, is known as the "Petit Trianon of Provence". Its grounds feature a French-style formal garden, while the superb classical building contains beautiful furnished rooms.

Additional information
Mane

Mane is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, a few kilometers southwest of Forcalquier.

Its territory of 22 km² oscillates from 386 to 868 m above sea level, between the Lure mountain to the north and the Lubéron to the south.

Crossed by the course of the Laye, the locality has hilly landscapes, typical of Provence, between plateaus and hills. Covered by forests (30% of its surface area), agricultural land (30%) but also natural areas where scrubland and shrubs alternate (34%), its lavender fields and olive groves fully contribute to its charm.

Made up of a town and several hamlets, such as Châteauneuf and La Laye, to the west, Mane was already occupied during prehistory.

During Antiquity, a village developed at the crossroads of the Via Domitia (which connects Italy to the Iberian Peninsula) and a secondary road.

Once part of the domain of the king of the Ostrogoths (6th century), the village is mentioned at the beginning of the 12th century. The Saint-André abbey of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon has a priory and churches there but on the feudal level, Mane falls under the county of Forcalquier. Later, the fortified stronghold passed to different families until the Revolution. Once renowned for its earthenware and its wines, the town then became known for its olive oil production and its “organic” crops.

With nearly 1,400 inhabitants, Mane has preserved an exceptional heritage. Labeled "village of character", it is visible in the village but also in its hamlets surrounded by lavender fields and olive groves.

A step is essential!

Things to see and do

When you arrive at the village, especially from Forcalquier, in terms of heritage, the citadel of Mane reveals itself to be the most impressive site. Built in local stone from the 12th century, composed of a double fortification protecting different built elements, it has 11 m high walls which ensured its security even in the most troubled times. At the top of a safre mound (clay-sandy rock), it housed the residence of the lords, belonging first to the Counts of Toulouse, then of Forcalquier, and then to different noble families. The citadel of Mane is one of the best preserved in the region. The 16th century residence housed there is still private. Although you can observe the fortified complex from the outside, the citadel as such cannot be visited.

The village developed in a circular manner around the citadel. Along the alleys and calades (alleys covered with cobblestones), you can admire a number of religious or civil sites. This is the case of the Saint-André church, which dates mainly from the 17th century and whose Florentine-style portal is in itself a marvel. Inside, a Carrara marble Virgin, a polychrome marble altar and stalls decorated with acanthus from the 17th century are preserved, classified as objects. It should also be noted that the bell tower rebuilt in 1667 is made up of a 30 meter high tower crowned with pilasters and a balustrade. At its base, a Renaissance niche protects a ceramic piece by Henri Petrus. From Christmas onwards and for several weeks, an exceptional nativity scene is set up, whose figures, around twenty in number, date from 1837.

Still in the village, you can see the hospital built in 1710, two floors high, with its arched windows, the Miravail private mansion with its 16th century Renaissance facade, some windows of which were remodeled in the 18th century, and which contains a fireplace with rich decorations (gypsumwork) or the former convent of the Minimes from the 17th century, example of classical style, with its finely carved friezes.

The chapel of the White Penitents dates from the same period. We note that the nave is capped but that the facade has a pediment and is topped by a bell tower.

The Saint-Laurent chapel, for its part, of Romanesque origin (12th century), and which served a priory founded by the abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, has been transformed into accommodation.

In another register, during this same journey, the numerous beautifully crafted fountains testify to the prosperity of the city. Note that of the hospital, formerly equipped with a bronze bust and extended by a wash house, that of the Center, or the New Fountain, to the north of the village and that of Marseille, to the south.

We then leave the village by heading southwest towards the priory of Salagon, making a detour via the Romanesque bridge which spans the Laye. Built in the 12th century, it initially had only one arch then was enlarged in the 17th century.

Then here is the priory of Salagon. Made up of a Romanesque church (12th century) and a building with towers and outbuildings from the Renaissance period, this former monastery and place of pilgrimage run by Benedictines has today become an extraordinary museum space. We visit medieval gardens with medicinal plants and highlighting their ethnological aspect, which explains how over the centuries gardens were a reflection of society, on both a "utilitarian" and ornamental level. The ethnobotanical museum brings together around 1700 species of plants and a collection of more than 15,000 objects. It is labeled Remarkable Garden. The priory site also presents an exhibition retracing the history of the place. Finally, in the Romanesque church, it is worth admiring the contemporary stained glass windows designed by Aurélie Nemours, the installation of which concluded the restoration of the premises initiated in the 1990s. Open every day except from December 15 to the end of January. Price: from 6 and 8 euros. Information on +33 4 92 75 70 50.

We continue with the priory of Châteauneuf, to the west of the town, of Romanesque basis then occupied by the Templars from 1306 and then ravaged by Raimond de Turenne then at war against the county of Provence. What remains is a hermitage rebuilt in the 16th century and a chapel whose walls retain Templar painted crosses and geometric patterns. Information for a visit on +33 4 92 75 04 13.

In the south-east of the territory, this time, this heritage trail ends with the Château de Sauvan. Also protected as historical monuments like all the previous sites, nicknamed the "Petit Trianon de Provence", it was erected from 1719 for Joseph Palamède de Forbin-Janson. An example of classic style, its majesty is accentuated by the color of the sun-gilded cut stones on the facade. One of them is reflected in a body of water. Note that to respect the original design and harmony, several windows were left in their "trompe-l'oeil" state. Spared during the Revolution, it has preserved inside decorations, paintings, furniture and dishes acquired over time by the different owners. The park is to match. The castle and its exteriors are open to visitors on public holidays in May and June, every day except Tuesday in July and August, every day except Tuesday and Wednesday in September and finally on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from October 1 to November 15. Price: from 4 euros (park only) and 5 and 11.50 euros (castle and exteriors). Information on +33 6 70 03 27 04.

To discover all this wealth, marked hiking trails have been designed in the area, dedicated to heritage, without omitting the conical dry stone sheds which served as shelter for the farmers, but also to the cultivation of lavender and the biodiversity of the Provencal countryside surrounding the village.

Maps and information on +33 4 92 72 19 40.

Places of interest

Leisure centres
Monuments

Events and festivities

Photos

Village and castle
Village and castle
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Village of Mane
Village of Mane
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Mane by night
Mane by night
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Spring panorama (© Jean Espirat)
Spring panorama (© Jean Espirat)
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Path of plane trees
Path of plane trees
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
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