Summer Activities in Haute Provence

Summer in Haute Provence

Summer is hot, the air is clear and the skies blue. The mountains and valleys are in full bloom and are primed for you to enjoy life in the fresh air whether it be exciting, rewarding, relaxing or exhausting! The choice is yours. Here are a few examples of what is available.

Sightseeing & Activities in Haute Provence

Sightseeing

Lac d’Allos: The highest glacial lake in Europe is easily accessed on foot from a car park situated about 30 minutes from the lake itself. In a move to protect this wonderful environment from overcrowding, it is necessary to book a car parking slot at the Tourist Information in Allos. In summer, a small restaurant opens alongside the walking route which leads around the perimeter of the lake. The lake is unsafe for swimming due to its depth and temperature. Several hiking routes pass through here. It is possible to hike to the lake from Les Hirondelles which will take around 4 hours depending on level of fitness.
Grand Canyon du Verdon: The deepest canyon in western Europe and is just 40 mins away near the town of Castellane. Take the circular Route de Crete to access viewing points from the highest parts of the canyon. It can get busy during the height of summer.
Colmars les Alpes: The village has an excellent small museum explaining the history of the medieval walled town. It’s a lovely little place to explore with narrow streets, small squares and pretty freshwater fountains. The Fort de Savoie can be visited and often holds several events during the summer. A stroll around the twice weekly Provencal market is a must. The Fete Medieval is also an event not to be missed. Held over a weekend in early August you’ll find yourself amidst some lively street entertainers, market stalls, parades, jugglers and many other attractions. It finishes on Sunday night with a spectacular firework display. A full programme of summer events can be obtained from the Tourist Information Office.
The Train de Pigne: This single gauge railway, constructed in the late 1800s, runs between Nice and Digne les Bains, the capital of Provence. On the route down to Nice it passes through some interesting and pretty little villages. Annot and Entrevaux are definitely worth and visit. You can catch the train from the station at Thorame Haute, just 15 minutes from Les Hirondelles. Timetables are available online or from the station.
The Scenery: Walking and hiking will enable you to experience the best of the stunning scenery, the wild flowers, the butterflies and may be a chamois or marmot. Walks are well marked and graded according to difficulty. An easy walk from Colmars les Alpes will take you to the Cascade de la Lance, at its best in spring after the snow melt. A chair lift (open in July and August) will ferry you from Seignus up the mountain with some wonderful walks back down. The Gorges de St Pierre are something to experience, but be aware that it is unwise to follow this route if the weather is bad. The footpath is narrow with vertiginous drops. Information on all walks and hiking trails are available from the Tourist Information Office.
Exploring further afield: A car is essential if staying at Les Hirondelles to enable access to all that the area has to offer. The area is also very popular with motorcyclists who adore the twists and turns of the mountain roads.

Activities

Road Cycling: The Tour de France went through the valley in 2015 and over the Col d’Allos, which sits at a height of 2250 metres, and continued to Pra Loup a ski resort just above the town of Barcelonnette in the Ubaye valley. This route is closed to traffic one morning a week in summer to allow amateurs the opportunity to have the road to themselves without the need to avoid cars and camper vans! There are a multitude of opportunities for road cycling across the whole area, whether you have a desire for the challenging or the need for a more gentle excursion.
Mountain Biking: In the resort of Seignus, starting in July (check dates), you and your bike can be whisked to the top of the mountain using the chairlifts. The area has purpose built descents and is used for some high ranking competitions. No bike of your own? No problem. Seignus has a couple of mountain bike rental shops.
The Parc de Loisir (Activity Park): This is situated in the village of Allos and is a wonderful place to spend a day with or without children. A very reasonable entrance fee will allow the whole family access to dozens of activities, all free of charge. The main highlight is the huge swimming lake with a water slide and diving platform. Canoes and pedallos are also available. Swimming is safe with life guards on duty. A small restaurant, picnic tables and plenty of grassy areas, with trees to give shade, help keep everyone cool and comfortable when lunchtime arrives.
Swimming: Apart from the above, Lac Castillon has two beaches, one near St Andre and another on the route to Castellane. Both have snack bar, kayaks, pedallos and canoes for hire with the St Andre beach having the added attraction of an inflatable floating activity centre for those who like to bounce, slide or jump into the water. Life jackets are provided. Colmars les Alpes has a water splash park and Beauvezer an outdoor pool, but there is always the river Verdon to cool off in.
Parascending: The centre at St Andre has hosted the World Championships. If you’re not scared of heights and want to give it go, tandem experiences are available from the centre near the lake.
Tree Top Adventure: This is located on the main road out of Colmars les Alpes. The course is exciting and participants are kitted out with safety harnesses and an instructor will supervise. A snack bar is available on site.
Photography and Painting: Around every corner is a view in need of capturing on film or canvas in this stunning part of the world. All seasons bring with it that certain light and clarity which photographers and artists love. Creating an image that will adorn a wall, will also provide a lasting memory of a time well spent.
Horse riding is available from just outside the Parc Loisir.
Tourist Information Offices are available in Colmars les Alpes, Allos and La Foux.
Ride the Verdon Express at La Foux d’Allos. A twisty, steep run down in a sledge on rails. Thrills for adults and children.

The spectacular firework display as seen from Les Hirondelles balcony.

A hand-painted trompe l'oeil fountain basin. Colmars les Alpes

Autumn Colour

Autumn is a wonderful time to be at Les Hirondelles if you want to soak up the peace and tranquility. The tourists will have disappeared, some restaurants may have closed, but you will never be short of somewhere to eat out. Events still happen, especially the transhumance (also known as the Revendron), when the sheep are taken from the mountains to lower pastures, but the best and most spectacular of all are nature’s display of autumn colours.