Thoard

Discover the small village of Thoard in Alpes de Haute Provence, near Digne les Bains

The commune of Thoard has a long and rich history, having been occupied by Celtic populations since ancient times. Still surrounded by ramparts, the village is a fine example of a medieval settlement with a defensive appearance, squeezed onto a narrow rocky platform.

Tourism: a charming medieval village

There's so much to see here, it's well worth a long, in-depth visit: start out on the rue de la “Grande débauche”, where you can admire the ramshackle facades and ancient gates, before soon reaching the village heights and the remains of its medieval ramparts.

An impressive church with its bell tower

You're sure to be fascinated by the enormous grey stone church, with its impressive, somewhat overwhelming 12th-century bell tower.

It's so huge that it's hard to get around it, interwoven as it is with the surrounding houses. From up there, in addition to a marvellous view of the old tiled roofs and the countryside, you'll no doubt be seized by a curious impression of intimacy and protection, well sheltered behind these ramparts and high, massive walls!

Ancient streets and charming houses

Lose yourself in the maze of narrow, winding streets and staircases, and you'll forget what time it is, transported into the past and captured by the medieval atmosphere that reigns in the old town of Thoard, with its high stone houses eroded by time, low doorways, covered passageways and ancestral washhouses.

Art of living and local charcuterie!

But Thoard is also a typical Provencal market town, with its large boulistes square shaded by century-old plane trees, its café terraces and imposing fountain, its sleeping dogs. And don't forget to sample the local specialties, such as Thoard's pure pork sausage, juniper-flavored pâté, daube, andouillette or goat's cheese.

A good restaurant: La Beluguette or Pizzeria La Grupi

If you're looking for a good meal in Thoard, we have two addresses to recommend. Firstly, “La Beluguette” for its tasty, inventive home cooking, and secondly “La Grupi” for its fine pizzas. The people of Thoard will speak very highly of it!

Numerous hiking trails

Numerous hiking trails lead from the village of Thoard to nearby lakes or the charming Chapelle Sainte Madeleine. Each one offers magnificent panoramas not to be missed by lovers of nature and beautiful views.

Our map of Thoard

To find your way around Thoard , you can use our interactive map of the commune of Thoard, which you'll find on this page. We've included the village's points of interest, as well as our recommendations for accommodation in the commune. This will help you locate them before you book your stay in this pretty village in the Alpes de Haute Provence.