| PLATEAU DE VALENSOLE |
|
|
PLATEAU DE VALENSOLE
|
PLATEAU DE VALENSOLE
|
|
|
| This is the image of Provence that one imagines and one that Jean Giono, born in Manosque, described. This immense plateau of lavender punctuated with almond trees puts on a spectacular display in spring and summer. |
| Valensole, situated in the middle of the plateau surrounded by fields of lavender, has conserved all the character and charm of the Haute Provence villages. This town is one of the major producers of lavender and in summer the perfume from the lavender and thyme embalms the air. Riez is an ancient village where one can see Roman traces of significant importance. In the Middle Ages the village was a prosperous diocese. During the Renaissance the village refound its splendour with the revival of |
culture, art and architecture. These two periods contributed to an exceptional historic and architectural patrimony.
TO SEE:
The 14th century Ayguiere gate featuring a sundial and the Sanson gate dating from the same era, the traces of the ramparts, and the Roman ruins of a temple dedicated to Apollo. Manosque, close to Bas Verdon and the Plateau de Valensole, is the most populated of the region and an excellent point of departure for discovering the region. This thousand-year old town with its rich past is one of the Provencal towns that has preserved its charm. If you climb to the top of Mont d’Or you will discover both the beauty of the surrounding nature and the magnificent panorama view over the town.
A must are the 14th century Sauverie and 13th century Soubeyan fortified gates, both remarkable for their architecture. Of interest is the 14th century Saint-Sauveur church, and in particular, the Notre-Dame-de-Romigier church, destroyed in 900 by the Sarrasins, and rebuilt around the 10th century. Inside you will find a sarcophagus sculptured out of Carrara marble from the 5th century and the black Virgin dating somewhere around the 5th or 6th century.
At the Jean Giono Center you will find both permanent and temporary exhibitions dedicated to the writer. The Center organises literary promenades to the various sites that nourished Giono’s imagination. |
|
|
