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.

The citadel:

Listed as a Historic Monument, it is the centerpiece of the city (11th - 13th - 16th - 19th centuries) Jehan Sarrazin, military engineer of Henri IV, then Sébastien Vauban marked it with their seal.
Inside, horse-drawn museum and Napoleonic epic. Video "Citadel ship of men".
Open from the end of March to November 11.
Signposted, audio or guided tour, tours organized for groups on request.
Information: Tel. +33 4 92 61 27 57 or +33 4 92 61 06 00.

Notre-Dame and St-Thyrse cathedral:

Masterpiece of Lombard-Provençal art (12th century). Altarpiece by N. Mignard, paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Tours organized for groups on request. Information on +33 4 92 61 36 50.
Open from Easter to early October.

The fortification towers:

Remains of the 14th century enclosure., the ramparts damaged in 1562 during the wars of religion, were razed in the 19th century.
We owe the conservation of the 5 towers (including that of Medisance) to the writer Prosper Mérimée.

The old town and the Earth and Time circuit:

Time travel from the museum: religious, civil, relative, cyclical, absolute, military time will be evoked along an itinerary pedestrian.
A signposted circuit will guide you through the maze of alleys, small squares and andrônes (covered passages that thread their way under the houses).
Start to the right of the cathedral. Duration 1 hour.
During the summer free guided tour.
Information: Tel. +33 4 92 61 61 30 - Email: service-culture@sisteron.fr

The Gallo-Roman archaeological museum:

Classified "Museum of France".
The permanent exhibition offers a thematic itinerary on funerary practices in Antiquity. Lapidary objects, metal, glass, ceramic, as well as coins are highlighted to explain to the public the cult of the dead among the Gallo-Romans.
Among the collections presented, an exceptional set from a mausoleum, late 1st-early 2nd century, built by a wealthy Gallo-Roman family who lived in Sisteron in the Upper Empire. Also on display, the archaeological furniture from the excavations of the mausoleum of Bevons (on loan from the State - SRA DRAC PACA).
A beautiful 100 m² room completes this cultural space. It hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to art throughout the year (painting, sculpture, photographs, etc.). A bookshop completes the offer.
Opening: Tel. : +33 4 92 61 58 40
Prices: free.
Located at 8 rue Saunerie.
Tel. : +33 4 92 61 58 40.

The Earth and Time museum:

Rare and unusual objects to understand the mechanisms of time. Human time (calendars, sundials) and earth time (fossils, meteorites...). Exceptional: a Foucault pendulum and a water clock with automata. The exhibition is set in the 17th century Visitandines chapel., fully restored. FREE ENTRANCE.
Information: Tel. +33 4 92 61 61 31 - Email: service-culture@sisteron.fr

The Scouting Museum:

Living memory and permanent exhibition of 90 years of scouting.
Free entry.
Open in July and August.
Information: Tel. +33 6 89 86 66 85 - Email: museescout.sisteron@wanadoo.fr

The Ecomuseum of the Pays Sisteronais:

So that rural heritage does not fall into oblivion, hundreds of objects of daily life, objects of craftsmanship and trades of yesteryear, agricultural tools, are kept in a spirit of discovery and appropriation of the habits and customs of the Sisteron country. Plus temporary exhibition.
Free entry.
Open from mid-June to Heritage Days.
Information: Tel. : +33 4 92 61 09 41.

Randoland:

Circuit sheets suitable for children from 4 to 12 years old to discover the city in a fun and educational way in the footsteps of the "rando" inspector.
On sale for €1 at the Tourist Office.

La Baume: On the left bank of the Durance, leaning against the rock cut out with vertical strata, the St-Marcel chapel (12th century) and the St-Dominique cloister (15th century) classified as historical monuments host cultural events.
The Marres lake:

5000 m² devoted to swimming, supervised in July and August.
Free access.
On site, barbecues, playgrounds, fitness trail, skate park, mountain bike circuit for children, entertainment in summer.

The citadel's little train:

Every day, from June to September, return trip to the citadel with commented tour of the city. From May to September, possibilities of reservation for the groups (round trip citadel and old city). Visits organized for groups on request.
OT group service: Tel. : +33 4 92 61 36 50.

Tree climbing course under the citadel:

From 3 years old kid's course then discovery, sensation, adventure or extreme for the older ones. Secure lifeline, equipment provided, initiation and supervision.
Open from Easter to All Saints' Day.
Information: Tel. : +33 6 63 48 36 10.

Information points	Tourist Office of Sisteron
Leisure centres	Gallo-Roman Museum of Sisteron
Monuments	Cathedral Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers Chapel Saint-Marcel Church Saint-Dominique Citadel of Sisteron Convent of La Visitation
Performance halls	Salle de l'Alcazar
Transport	Train station of Sisteron

Festival Nights of the Citadel: Music, theater, dance, form a trilogy which, thanks to the magic of the places and the quality of its interpreters, gathers an ever more fervent public. Information: Tel. : +33 4 92 61 06 00 - Email: atm.sisteron@wanadoo.fr
Passage of the Fort: Medieval Festival in the Citadel (August even years).
Festival of the Lamb: Transhumance in the city, demonstrations, animations and meals on the theme of the lamb.
Other events:

Carnival and Corso in February.
Puppet Festival in April.
European Days of Crafts in April.
Museum Night in May.
Feast of Pentecost.
National Days of Archeology.
Music festival.
Festival Off in July.
Festival of Nights of the Citadel: theater, dance and music from mid-July to mid-August.
Streets in July and August.
Book fair in summer.
Heritage Days in September.
Provencal autumn in September.
Fair Exhibition in October.
Take hikes in October.
Pierre Magnan news contest in November.
Week of Taste in November.
Christmas market in December.
Exhibition of santons and cribs in December.

The hilltop villages: This walk of about 85 km you will see 7 small villages and benefiting thus an often breathtaking panorama. From Sisteron, follow the D4075 to Mison, the D622, to go to Upaix, the D942 and Ventavon and its pretty castle, then the D104 with Claret, the D304, for Sigoyer and Thèze the D4 Valernes and back your starting point by the D951.
Time Road: This road trip arranged from the Earth Museum and Time of the Geological connects Sisteron in Authon via picturesque country roads through St. Geniez, the municipalities crossed undoubtedly contain some of the best views and cultural sites of the department: Pierre written slab of ammonites to Fontbelle rock whale, limestone pavements, plant fossils, sundials, clocks public...
In the land of rocks that talk: The tales of the trail is a set of nine cars and pedestrian adventures that take you from village to village in the medieval world of Templars, monks, pilgrims, nobles and other brigands who roamed the highlands Provence. In a natural setting, with a magic booklet, you will, through your wisdom, solve puzzles at each stop before a superb view and find your way to another rock with a sound terminal. This concept was awarded the tourism initiative in 2002. Booklets available at the Tourist Office Sisteron.
The Road to Lavender: You have the opportunity, following the tours offered by the Tourist Office to discover the fragrant plant which gave its name to the eponymous color, visit a distillery, purchase of 'AOC lavender essential oil from Haute Provence for medicinal and intense perfume, make bouquets to embalm your cabinets. You learn to distinguish the true lavender lavender. The best time of flowering is from late June to late July or August depending on variety and climate.
The road to Saint Jacques de Compostela and Rome: This route takes the hiking trail GR653D, is based on the route of the Via Domitia used by pilgrims and linking Montgenevre in Arles. Topo guide on sale at the Tourist Office.
The walking and riding trails GR406 on Napoleon's footsteps. De Grasse Sisteron.
Botanical Molard Trail: Walk and explore the forest, viewpoint, picnic area, viewpoint. 2h30. risk of closure in summer (fire). More choice 30 walks in the area. Plugs and topos available at the Tourist Office.
Animal Park St. Geniez: "The wild valley" 13 km from Sisteron, allows the discovery of the mountains of animals in a large wooded park of 15 hectares in an exceptional site. Open April to All Saints from 10h to 19h. Information: Tel. : +33 4 92 61 52 85.
Domaine d'Aragon in Entrepierres, 7 km, agroecological educational open all year and offers a museum of the donkey trail and an organic garden, a movie, snacks at the farm, walks with donkeys, homemade products. Such. : +33 4 92 62 80 35.
Gliding Club: 12 km, open all year, first flights and training. It has exceptional upper air.

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