Pays de Forcalquier

The Pays de Forcalquier awaits you between the Lure mountain to the north and the Luberon to the south. This Haute-Provence region comprises 39 municipalities covering nearly 310 km². Here you will discover hilltop villages, colorful markets, and landscapes that inspired Giono.

The inland Mediterranean climate offers hot, dry summers, while winters remain cool with frequent frosts. The sun shines more than 300 days a year. The inhabitants have been growing lavender, aromatic plants, and olive trees here for centuries.

Forcalquier, the central town, has a population of around 5,100. It is located 23 km north of Manosque and 80 km from Aix-en-Provence. The area is part of the Luberon Regional Nature Park.

This part of Provence specializes in aromas and flavors, notably with Banon AOC cheese and other local products. During your stay, you can go hiking, visit historic monuments, and sample the specialties of the South.

The most beautiful villages in the Pays de Forcalquier

Here are the must-see villages for your vacation in the Forcalquier region.

Lurs

The village of Lurs stands at an altitude of 600 meters above the Durance valley. It has one of the five most beautiful olive groves in Provence. Historians attribute the founding of Lurs to Charlemagne in the early 9th century.

You can follow the Chemin des Écritures, an original trail dedicated to the history of writing. The Promenade des Évêques, lined with fifteen oratories, leads to the Notre-Dame de Vie chapel. The village is part of the Way of St. James.

The clock tower, with its wrought-iron campanile, marks the entrance to old Lurs. The pale stone houses stretch along the cobbled streets. The view from the village extends to the Lure mountain and the Luberon.

Simiane-la-Rotonde

The castle of Simiane-la-Rotonde dominates the village with its famous rotunda, a 12th-century keep. This heritage site, listed as a Historic Monument, houses a spectacular ceremonial hall. The village is classified as a “city of character” and is located between the Forcalquier region and the Luberon.

Lavender fields surround Simiane in summer. The village is home to France's largest lavender and lavandin cooperative. The 16th-century covered market halls bear witness to the town's past prosperity.

A classical music festival, Les Riches Heures Musicales de la Rotonde, is held every August in the rotunda. Renaissance mansions line the narrow streets of the historic center. The view from the top takes in the Lure mountain and the valley.

Banon

Banon is located between the Forcalquier region and the Luberon Regional Nature Park. The village is famous for its AOP goat cheese. Banon is a soft cheese made from raw goat's milk, wrapped in chestnut leaves.

The 19th-century machicolated gate marks the entrance to the old fortified town. You will discover 16th-century houses and arcaded streets. The Le Bleuet bookshop attracts book lovers.

The Cheese Festival is held every year in May. The Tuesday morning market offers local products from the region. Fields of lavender color the surrounding area in July.

Mane

The village of Mane is dominated by a perfectly preserved 12th-century feudal citadel. It is located a few miles south of Forcalquier. Cobbled streets wind between the stone houses.

The Benedictine priory of Salagon, a 12th-century historic monument, is home to themed gardens rich in plant species. Here you can discover the history of medicinal and aromatic plants. The gardens are laid out in terraces around the priory.

The village offers unobstructed views of the Durance valley. The Renaissance facades bear witness to its past prosperity. Mane is a peaceful place to stay while exploring the Pays de Forcalquier.

Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire

Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire reveals itself with its old ramparts, its former oil mill, and its colorful facades. The village has about 600 inhabitants. It is located in the Luberon Regional Nature Park.

The Haute-Provence CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) is located here, as well as the Astro Center and Planetarium. The plateau benefits from a sky with low light pollution. You can observe the stars during evening discovery sessions with telescopes.

The quiet streets are lined with traditional stone houses. The astronomical observatory overlooks the village from above. The gentle Provençal way of life reigns supreme in this corner of the Alpes de Haute-Provence.