Forcalquier: a beautiful stopover on your Provence lavender walking holiday
Forcalquier is a pretty, historic town built on a slope of a hill in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, between the Alps and Aix en Provence. The town was first occupied by the Celts during the 10th century and then colonised by the romans with the Cathedral on the main square and the Cordelier Convent standing witness to this period. Today it is a thriving and bustling place with a very cultural lifestyle with many writers, artists and sculptors having chosen to make Forcalquier their home.
A walking tour in Provence through one of the sunniest places in France!
The town enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is one of the sunniest places in France with the clearest skies. So clear in fact, that in the 1920’s a centre of astronomy was built in the nearby village of Saint Michel l’Obervatoire. Walking through the medieval citadel of Forcalquier, you can admire the small cobbled streets, the squares adorned with fountains and mansions dating back to the 13th and 18th century. From the top of the citadel, you can enjoy stunning views over the rooftops and surrounding mountain peaks. Monday is market day in Forclaquier and not to be missed on your self-guided Provence walking tour! The colourful stalls overflow with fruit and vegetables, olive oil and a local award-winning Banon goat’s cheese wrapped in a chestnut leaf. You can also sample the « Baudouin » pastis - a popular Provençal aperitif. The factory is located nearby. Forcalquier is also the home of the “L’Occitane” perfumes and natural cosmetics.
A walking stay in France, in the heart of rural Provence
We offer a self-drive tour of this part of rural Provence, with daily hikes in the countryside around Forcalquier. Our trails lead you through a garrigue vegetation of aromatic herbs, wild thyme and sparse oak and pine trees. Just a few kilometres outside of the town is the Valensole plateau, famous for its picture-perfect rolling hills of purple lavender. Indeed, our itinerary is lavender themed, with beautiful walks through the Provence lavender fields.
