Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Hautes-Alpes

This Provencal village perched in the heart of the Baronnies, in a preserved valley. Among other things, you can contemplate the imposing square tower of the th century, built with gigantic diamond-shaped stones, classified as a historic monument and commonly called "Century tower". At the turn of the streets you will discover a medieval village, reflecting its still present. Crossed through the Acute and Lidane rivers, you will also have the opportunity to initiate memorable trout fishing. The ramparts and porte gate (xiv), the castle of the th century, the church of St. Jacques (th), the Protestant temple (th), and the ecomuseum are also to visit.

This trail from Ville-Vieux is designed to discover a particular environment of the Southern Alps, the dry lande at astragalus. The aim is to make it discover, but also to draw attention to the fragility of this environment, which is unbalanced by changes in mountain farming. This lawn reveals to those who bother to pay sufficient attention to it, a large number of endemic and protected plants: renard queue, épi campanula, Austrian astragalus, black nonnée, la sainfrain.

Two important ensembles of around ladies - also known as the fées cheminées - are located on the Assaillous mountain overlooking the village in the north. These stunning natural formations - several dozen on the site - come from rain erosion, which over time has widened the thick layer of clay-clay soils and moraine blocks deposited by glaciers covering mountain flanks. Century after century, the rock blocks, which protected the ground just below, and the dongas, thus gradually releasing the surrounding area, were the origin of these high columns covered by their rock. You will easily reach it within a few minutes by taking the road that is set up: from Saint Peter Square, take the Rue de l'Église to its end north of the village. You will have a magnificent view of the village and its valley.

The Village is the heart of the old village. You will discover its narrow and pentues streets, which wind between the austere and high facades of stones built "hot and sand". Some of them still show turrets or old doors with stone lintels decorated and dated. Once a country of wine, these facades contain many old and low doors, dominating huge cellars. It was built on several levels of vaults of tufa, urged and aging here of famous wines. The fluent plots and fountains in the basins dug in the stone and somewhat aerate this hardened place. Seemingly modest, it took excessive efforts to bring water - precious and rare - to the heart of the village from sources on the mountain. To visit the town is to get closer to the soul of the old village, while reconnecting with its rich past. But at the same time, we appreciate the efforts of development and restoration, which today allow life to develop in these historic places, without making it just a museum village.

Commonly known as "dinosaurs of Dinosaurs", this geological curiosity resulting from a sandstone bench from the South of France, is met in various areas adjacent to Rosans and surrounding areas. These balls and the layer of sandstone contain the same material. The only difference is the degree of cementation of the balls (calcareous cement, accompanied by silica which is deposited around the quartz grains to the point of welding them).

Attention, access to the first site is not indicated on the road. Go gently, and you will see on the right a small road road to follow over a hundred meters. After a steep descent, just follow the path (not take the yaw) straight straight in the woods. A discreet yellow markup on a tree will serve as a marker at the entrance to the path.

The appearance of new agricultural techniques (chemical fertilizers used for the fertilization of soils, the disappearance of fallow land for the benefit of artificial meadows, among others) towards the end of the th century has somewhat forced the increase in production, with a view to the marketing of meat, particularly that of sheep. Savournon then became a place of lamb, with a local race adapted to the mountain and considered fertile, good dairy and capable of feeding its lambs quickly. In order to improve the efficiency of performance, the producers selected at the end of the 1940 s, animals leading to the creation of a unified breed, refer to the «Alps of the South», bringing together the local races of Savournon, Sahuné and Quint. In spite of a great reputation for its flesh, which is undoubtedly influenced by land, climate and altitude, the lamb of Savournon has left a place for this race of the Alps, whose main centre now remains Sisteron. It was a centre which unfortunately prevented the arrival of foreign lambs, because there was no real label.

A very good excuse for combining culture and walking on foot! This Miners'Trail invites you to return to the footsteps of the peasant-miners and their hard work. Coal used to be used in the manufacture of heating balls; today, some traces of its exploitation are still visible. After you are committed to the "Coal Trail", at the end of approximately 2 kilometres, note, among other things, rail carts rails: they report the presence of two former mines.

Tariff: free.

Distance: 8 km.

Difficulty: pretty easy.

Markup: yellow.

From Savins to Gap, 700 m after Prunières Bridge, lake side parking just before an area of information on the region. Many tourists in summer who practise naturism and sometimes come to many in the woods all around. Presence of a few trade couples.