Experience the best of Castellane

Castellane lies in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence at the head of the Verdon gorge, beneath the Roc, a limestone crag of about 180 metres topped by the chapel of Notre-Dame du Roc. The old town below has a clock tower and a market square, and the Route Napoléon, the road Napoleon followed in 1815 on his march from Elba, runs through it.

The Grand Canyon du Verdon begins to the west of town, its pale limestone walls dropping as much as 700 metres to a green river, with the Point Sublime viewpoint near its eastern entrance and riverside paths below. Lac de Castillon, a reservoir to the north, and Lac de Sainte-Croix at the canyon's far end have turquoise water for boating. The lavender fields of the Valensole plateau spread further west.

Lavender honey, lamb, goat's cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves from Banon, and truffles from the Var make up the local pantry. Kayaks and paddle boats crowd the lakes in July and August, while spring and early autumn are kinder for walking the canyon paths.