The Alpes de Haute-Provence, between museums and exceptional parks

In the heart of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence welcomes many visitors every year, thanks to its half-wooded territory, its particularly well-preserved natural heritage and its numerous cultural outings. Here is an overview.

Characterized by a low population density, the department has succeeded in controlling its urban activity and enhancing its natural and cultural diversity. The Mercantour National Park, the Luberon and Verdon regional nature parksand the Haute-Provence geological reserve are evidence of this desire to preserve the environment while favouring a balance between man and nature.

The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is also home to a local agriculture focused on quality with typical productions: Banon cheese, spelt, lavender, olive oil among other products and local specialties that can be found in producers' shops or on markets. Finally, you should know that many of the department's communes are involved in quality initiatives to promote their natural, cultural or historical heritage: towns and villages in bloom, green resorts or villages and towns of character are all labels that illustrate this orientation. Thus, beyond the charm of its landscapes and its villages, the department is characterized by its conviviality and its authenticity

Exceptional parks and nature reserves

This is a land of sun, mountains and scrubland, of torrents and gorges, marked by the passage of the Durance and the Verdon, among other rivers, and the presence of massifs of great beauty, at the southern limit of the Alps, from the Chambeyron needle to the Lure mountain. A land of cicadas and woodcocks, which delights hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders and all nature lovers. The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is home to a quarter of the Mercantour national park, but also part of the Luberon regional nature park, part of the Verdon regional nature park and the largest geological nature reserve in Europe. An exceptional natural heritage in short.

The Mercantour National Nature Parkis the mountain area par excellence, with its peaks at over 3,000 m altitude. This park covers 68,500 hectares spread between the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, including the High Valleys of Ubaye and Verdon, a territory almost uninhabited by man. This area protects 2,000 species of plants, hundreds of animal species and grandiose landscapes such as the Lac d'Allos, the largest high altitude lake in Europe. The opportunity to admire the Alpine columbine or the Venus hoof, to observe the gallop of a chamois on the rocky slopes, to hear the whistle of the marmot standing guard. Unique moments in perspective!

In the Luberon Regional Natural Park

, between the Alps and the Vaucluse plain, the Luberon watches over Provence. A soft and harmonious landscape, worked by the man present on this land since the Neolithic. Here, for a long time, farmers have developed a varied agriculture, between orchards, cereals and sheep. Since 1977, the Luberon Regional Nature Park has been protecting and developing a 155,000-hectare territory while respecting the local environment and traditions: reopening trails, rehabilitating the habitat, protecting endangered species, etc. This is an exceptional area to be discovered by mountain bike or by putting on your hiking shoes.

The Verdon regional nature park

was founded 20 years after the Luberon and covers 180,000 hectares surrounding the river of the same name, from Saint-André-les-Alpes to Vinon-sur-Verdon. Straddling the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var, it is a land of contrasts: from the calm horizontality of the Valensole plateau to the abrupt verticality of the Verdon gorges, and to the peaceful expanse of the large lakes of Castillon, Sainte-Croix, Esparron or Quinson. There is plenty to do, such as rafting, swimming, horse riding, quad biking, paragliding, hiking, etc. In short, there is no time to get bored and there is plenty to do for the whole family.

Finally, the Geological Nature Reserve, this transition between the Alps and Provence, is the largest in Europe and is characterized by a diversity of exceptional landscapes where the time of man and geological time come together.

Salagon, museum and gardens, the pleasure of rediscovering beautiful exhibitions this summer

Located in Mane, near Forcalquier, the Salagon museum

, installed in a priory whose foundations date back to the 12th century, presents Haute-Provence in all its diversity, present and past. Exhibitions combining ethnology, contemporary art and archaeology show the evolution of this rural territory.

Around the priory, ethnobotanical gardens

tell the story of the links between societies and plants throughout history and civilizations. In the form of a walk, these gardens also invite you to a sensory discovery.

After this difficult year of health crisis, the Salagon Museum has done everything possible to offer you a year full of rhythm as it has the secret, composed of various events open to all and rich and new exhibitions. Salagon and its gardens await you!

This year 2021 will see two new events for the young public:

The booklet-game "Garance, the time traveller! The booklet-game "Garance, the time traveller"

, in the form of the story of Garance, an imaginary character who invites you to discover Salagon through a series of enigmas, games and questions. Included in the entrance fee from September 2021 / for 8-13 year olds.

The Orienteering course in the gardens

offers a fun, rhythmic visit, as you set off to discover the plants and biodiversity of Salagon. Included in the entrance fee / for all.

The 2021 exhibitions

Archaeology

Traces at the Salagon Priory

New permanent exhibition

The new archaeological trail and its exhibition provide the keys to understanding the long history of Salagon and the successive occupations of the site since the Neolithic period.

Contemporary art

Silent garden by Marinette Cueco

Church, February^1st to September 30th

Discover the poetic works of this artist: herbariums, interlacing and plant carpets will be exhibited in the church of Salagon. For the first time, an exhibition showing all the diversity of Marinette Cueco's works.

Ethnology

Living, habitats, inhabitants

September to December 2021

What impact have the urban changes of the 20th century had on the forms of housing in a territory marked by rurality? Urban sprawl, housing estates, eco-construction, building sites and participative housing...: all themes that are addressed in this exhibition which gives the floor to the inhabitants

Practical information

The museum is open from 10 am to 7 pm every day from May to September, from 10 am to 6 pm from February to April and from¹ October to 15 December, and at night on Thursdays until 10 pm in July and August. Annual closure from 16 December to 31 January.
Weekly closure on Tuesdays from 01/10 to 30/04 except during the school holidays in zone B.
Single rate of €4 per person for all (free under 6 years) for this year 2021. Online ticketing
Hydro-alcohol gel is available at the entrance to the museum, and masks must be worn in the buildings and during social interaction. Reminder to respect barrier measures and social distancing.

Guided tours of the gardens are offered from July^1st

onwards by reservation (groups of 10 people maximum). Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays at 5pm by reservation. Evening guided tour of the scented garden every Thursday evening in July and August by reservation.

For each school holiday, Salagon organizes different workshops

on gardens, history or know-how.

Consult the programme online www.musee-de-salagon.com

The Verdon Gorge Prehistory Museum, a reference

20 years ago, theVerdon Gorge Prehistory Museum

was inaugurated in Quinson, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and is now considered one of the largest prehistory museums in Europe. Built by the architect Norman Foster, it presents the results of over 50 years of archaeological excavations in the Verdon.

A museum that tells the story of Man in Provence: witness the evolution of lifestyles as you walk through the permanent exhibition, punctuated by scenes of prehistoric life, multimedia and interactive animations, original archaeological objects ... and the unusual herd of life-size prehistoric animals!

In its 20 years of operation, the museum has welcomed over 1,500,000 visitors.

To celebrate this event, an exceptional program awaits you!

Young public and family

The discovery booklet, the mediation team has designed a discovery booklet to immerse you in the exploration of the History of Man in Provence in a fun and instructive way with Lucas, Max and Apple! Games, riddles and enigmas give you the keys to the museum!

Available free of charge at the entrance to the museum - booklet for 4/7 year olds and 8/12 year olds.

Orientation race in the prehistoric village, with the help of the leaflet available free of charge at the museum reception desk: take part in this dynamic orientation race which will take you straight to the reconstructed prehistoric village to go back in time in search of the different stages of prehistory.

The 2021 exhibitions

Welcome to the prehistos

From February^1st to December 15th 2021

This exhibition allows visitors to discover the prehistoric daily life of the Prehistos family through an immersive and original setting.

Prehisto'Art of the Verdon

From¹ February to 30 September 2021

Discover a selection of contemporary artistic works created as part of the departmental event l'Art de Mai around prehistory. 20 years of original creations inspired by the museum and its collections.

From the museum to the excavation - 10 years of the archaeology department 04

From June^1st to December 15th 2021

Through numerous archaeological sites, the Departmental Archaeology Service of the 04 has been participating for 10 years in the development of knowledge about the past of the territory, from Prehistory to modern times. The exhibition presents this research work, highlighting some of the most important archaeological discoveries which provide a new perspective on the ancient history of the Alpes de Haute-Provence.

Practical information

The museum is open from 10am to 8pm every day from July to August, from 10am to 7pm in April, May, June and September and from 10am to 6pm from February to March and from October to December. Annual closure from 16 December to 31 January.
Weekly closure on Tuesdays except during the school holidays in zone B.
Price of 8 € (free under 6 years) with a family pass of 22 € (2 adults + 2 children). Online ticketing.
Hydro-alcoholic gel available at the museum entrance, masks must be worn. Reminder of the respect of barrier measures and social distancing.

Guided tours of the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions are available from¹

July onwards by prior arrangement (groups of up to 10 people). On reservation.

Dive into prehistory at the prehistoric village: the museum offers workshops to help you discover prehistoric lifestyles in reconstructed prehistoric habitats. By reservation only.

Go on an expedition to the Baume Bonne cave

: accompanied by a Museum mediator, learn all the secrets of this cave. An

exceptional 400,000-year-old archaeological site overlooking the Verdon and classified as a historical monument.

Consult the program on line : www.museeprehistoire.com

Useful information

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Useful.

To best prepare your getaway.

LES ALPES DE HAUTE-PROVENCE TOURISME - More information on the site

MUSEUM OF SALAGON - More information on the site

MUSEUM OF PREHISTORY OF THE GORGES DU VERDON - More information on the siteBook

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