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Sisteron

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

Sisteron - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
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Known as the "Pearl of Upper Provence", the town of Sisteron is located on the Napoleon Road (Route Napoléon) on the banks of the Durance river opposite Baume rock and is dominated by its imposing hilltop citadel. The historic centre of this Provençal medieval fortified town is very picturesque and contains much built heritage of interest to walkers, including the Romanesque Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers cathedral, fortification towers, narrow streets lined with old houses and little squares decorated with charming fountains. The interesting Musée Terre et Temps (Earth and Time Museum), housed in the former Visitandines chapel near the cathedral, explores the history of time telling and measuring the passing of time in nature through a magnificent collection of rare and unusual objects. This museum is also the departure point for the Route du Temps, a fantastic waymarked time trail across the Haute-Provence geological reserve.

Towering above the Durance valley on top of a rocky spur is the citadel of Sisteron. Built in the 11th century and remodelled in the 13th, 16th and 19th centuries, it enjoys a strategic location between the Alps and the Mediterranean. This listed historic monument and former stronghold of the Counts of Provence today houses a museum devoted to Napoleon and an exhibition of horse-drawn carriages. Sisteron citadel also offers a superb view of Baume rock, the town rooftops, the river banks and surrounding mountains.

From mid-July to mid-August, the Nuits de la Citadelle festival offers a programme of culture, music, theatre and dance against the imposing backdrop of the fortress ramparts. Also not to be missed is Sisteron's Fête de l'Agneau (lamb festival), held every Ascension weekend.

Additional information
Sisteron

On the Napoleon Road, along the Durance, Sisteron is a necessary stop between the Alps and the sea within one country ends, another begins' and marks the transition between Provence and Dauphine. It is a picturesque walled town because its natural location along the gorge of the Durance attracts and retains the look.

It has a wonderful climate, with an annual average of 300 days of sunshine and blue skies of incomparable purity.

City flower of about 8,000 inhabitants, 485 meters above sea level, 130 km from Marseille and Grenoble, 180 km from Nice, the birthplace of poet Paul Arena (1843-1896), coupled with Herbolzheim (Germany), Oliva (Spain), Fidenza (Italy). Labeled "Most Beautiful Detours in France", "green holiday resort" flower city three flowers and Town and Crafts in 2015.

Things to see and do

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

Photos

The Marres lake
The Marres lake
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South side of the Saint-Marcel chapel
South side of the Saint-Marcel chapel
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Citadel of Sisteron, view from La Baume (© JE)
Citadel of Sisteron, view from La Baume (© JE)
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The town seen from the bank of the Durance
The town seen from the bank of the Durance
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Old abbey Saint-Dominique at La Baume (© JE)
Old abbey Saint-Dominique at La Baume (© JE)
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Cliff and village of La Baume, seen from Sisteron (© JE)
Cliff and village of La Baume, seen from Sisteron (© JE)
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South side view of Saint-Dominique church
South side view of Saint-Dominique church
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The walkway seen from the keep of the citadel (© JE)
The walkway seen from the keep of the citadel (© JE)
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South panorama, from the fortress (© Jean Espirat)
South panorama, from the fortress (© Jean Espirat)
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Adjacent towers
Adjacent towers
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Walkway of the fortress (© Jean Espirat)
Walkway of the fortress (© Jean Espirat)
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Sisteron lake
Sisteron lake
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Gallo-Roman Archaeological Museum
Gallo-Roman Archaeological Museum
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In front of the Tourist Office
In front of the Tourist Office
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Notre-Dame and Saint-Thyrse Cathedral
Notre-Dame and Saint-Thyrse Cathedral
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Place de l'Horloge
Place de l'Horloge
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Drinking Fountain
Drinking Fountain
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The Long Andrône
The Long Andrône
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View of the Durance and the Clue
View of the Durance and the Clue
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View of the roofs of the city
View of the roofs of the city
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Ecomuseum of the Sisteron region
Ecomuseum of the Sisteron region
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Earth and Time Museum
Earth and Time Museum
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Provençal market Wednesday and Saturday morning
Provençal market Wednesday and Saturday morning
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Old door
Old door
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Alley or andrône
Alley or andrône
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Nocturne
Nocturne
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Lamb festival in even years
Lamb festival in even years
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Rocher de la Baume, the Clue and the Durance
Rocher de la Baume, the Clue and the Durance
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Streets celebrate twice in summer
Streets celebrate twice in summer
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Medieval festival in even years
Medieval festival in even years
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Market in Christmas
Market in Christmas
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Paul Arène, poet from Sisteron
Paul Arène, poet from Sisteron
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Porte d'Ornano 16th century
Porte d'Ornano 16th century
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Placette J.Giono and the wine vat
Placette J.Giono and the wine vat
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Rue du Glissoir
Rue du Glissoir
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Tour de la Médisance
Tour de la Médisance
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Festival of the agneau aux Marres
Festival of the agneau aux Marres
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Medieval festival jousting
Medieval festival jousting
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Spring panorama (© Jean Espirat)
Spring panorama (© Jean Espirat)
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North-East panorama, from the keep of the fortress (© JE)
North-East panorama, from the keep of the fortress (© JE)
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One of the old gates of the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
One of the old gates of the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
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Alley in the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
Alley in the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
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Another gate of the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
Another gate of the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
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The round fountain (© Jean Espirat)
The round fountain (© Jean Espirat)
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An andrône (© Jean Espirat)
An andrône (© Jean Espirat)
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Andrône (© Jean Espirat)
Andrône (© Jean Espirat)
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Andrône (© Jean Espirat)
Andrône (© Jean Espirat)
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Andrône (© Jean Espirat)
Andrône (© Jean Espirat)
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Slide gate (© Jean Espirat)
Slide gate (© Jean Espirat)
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Medieval tower (© Jean Espirat)
Medieval tower (© Jean Espirat)
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Medieval tower (© Jean Espirat)
Medieval tower (© Jean Espirat)
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Medieval tower (© Jean Espirat)
Medieval tower (© Jean Espirat)
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Facade of the cathedral (© Jean Espirat)
Facade of the cathedral (© Jean Espirat)
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Rear view of the cathedral (© Jean Espirat)
Rear view of the cathedral (© Jean Espirat)
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Tower of the clock (© Jean Espirat)
Tower of the clock (© Jean Espirat)
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First threshold of entry into the fortress (© Jean Espirat)
First threshold of entry into the fortress (© Jean Espirat)
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Walkway of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
Walkway of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
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Bell of the keep of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
Bell of the keep of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
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The large underground staircase of the citadel (© JE)
The large underground staircase of the citadel (© JE)
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The keep overlooks the wall of the citadel (© JE)
The keep overlooks the wall of the citadel (© JE)
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North rampart of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
North rampart of the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
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The cluse and the Devil's Tower (© Jean Espirat)
The cluse and the Devil's Tower (© Jean Espirat)
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View of the cluse from the top of the ramparts (© Jean Espirat)
View of the cluse from the top of the ramparts (© Jean Espirat)
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Tree climbing in the pines
Tree climbing in the pines
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Sisteron seen from the campsite (© Jean Espirat)
Sisteron seen from the campsite (© Jean Espirat)
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Walk on the ramparts of Sisteron (© Jean Espirat)
Walk on the ramparts of Sisteron (© Jean Espirat)
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Spring panorama (© Jean Espirat)
Spring panorama (© Jean Espirat)
See photo
Clock tower (© Jean Espirat)
Clock tower (© Jean Espirat)
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Gateway to the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
Gateway to the lower town (© Jean Espirat)
See photo
Another view of the cluse, from the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
Another view of the cluse, from the citadel (© Jean Espirat)
See photo
The cluse seen from the keep of the citadel (© JE)
The cluse seen from the keep of the citadel (© JE)
See photo
Apse of the Saint-Marcel chapel
Apse of the Saint-Marcel chapel
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Saint-Dominique church
Saint-Dominique church
See photo
Sisteron and the citadel, seen from La Baume (© JE)
Sisteron and the citadel, seen from La Baume (© JE)
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Sisteron surmounted by its citadel, seen from La Baume (© JE)
Sisteron surmounted by its citadel, seen from La Baume (© JE)
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Sisteron and its citadel, seen from La Baume (© JE))
Sisteron and its citadel, seen from La Baume (© JE))
See photo
Former Saint-Dominique abbey, at La Baume (© JE)
Former Saint-Dominique abbey, at La Baume (© JE)
See photo
Saint-Marcel chapel, at La Baume (© JE)
Saint-Marcel chapel, at La Baume (© JE)
See photo
Bell tower of the former Saint-Dominique abbey, at La Baume (© JE)
Bell tower of the former Saint-Dominique abbey, at La Baume (© JE)
See photo
Facade of the Saint-Marcel chapel, at La Baume (© JE)
Facade of the Saint-Marcel chapel, at La Baume (© JE)
See photo
La Baume cliff (© JE)
La Baume cliff (© JE)
See photo
La Baume cliff (© JE)
La Baume cliff (© JE)
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La Baume cliff (© JE)
La Baume cliff (© JE)
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La Baume cliff and village, seen from Sisteron (© JE)
La Baume cliff and village, seen from Sisteron (© JE)
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La Baume district, overlooked by the La Baume cliff (© JE)
La Baume district, overlooked by the La Baume cliff (© JE)
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La Baume district, seen from the bottom of the town of Sisteron (© JE)
La Baume district, seen from the bottom of the town of Sisteron (© JE)
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Baptistry of the cathedral of Sisteron (© JE)
Baptistry of the cathedral of Sisteron (© JE)
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Nave of the cathedral (© JE)
Nave of the cathedral (© JE)
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Organ of the cathedral (© JE)
Organ of the cathedral (© JE)
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Painted ceiling of the cathedral choir (© JE)
Painted ceiling of the cathedral choir (© JE)
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Altarpiece in the cathedral (© JE)
Altarpiece in the cathedral (© JE)
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Golden statue in the cathedral (© JE)
Golden statue in the cathedral (© JE)
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View of the Rocher de la Baume
View of the Rocher de la Baume
See photo

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

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Hotels

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