vélo sisteron
A contemplative break at Lac de Mison
sisteron citadel

Sisteron-Buëch

A land of light, flavours and scents

Massif des Monges et du Buëch
Département et Région : Alpes de Haute-Provence et Hautes-Alpes / Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Principal passes: col de la Pigière, Signal de Lure, col de Fontbelle
Stops on P'tites Routes du Soleil® : Salerans / Sisteron, Sisteron / Digne-les-Bains

Summary

Suggestions of cycling loops around Sisteron

Our grands cols

  • Col de Fontbelle : In the heart of the UNESCO Geoparc de Haute-Provence, the Col de Fontbelle links Sisteron to Digne les Bains. Culminating at 130m, it's a cyclist's paradise right in the heart of nature.
  • Montée de Chabre: Culminating at an altitude of 1300 m, the Montée de Chabre is a cyclotourist's paradise with a gradient of around 12% in places! The climb covers a distance of 12 km, with a difference in altitude of 690 m between the gorge road and the tarmac limit. Magnificent panoramic views of the Ventoux, Écrins and Montagne de Lure
  • Col du Perty: The Col de Perty offers incomparable panoramic views of Mont Ventoux and the Alps
  • Col Saint-Jean: The Col Saint-Jean links the Gorges de la Méouge from Lachau and Eygalayes to the village of Laborel, on the Route des Princes d'Orange. Its ascent and views over the Provençal Baronnies are particularly popular with cyclists! This little mountain road is very seldom used: a real paradise for cycle touring enthusiasts!
  • Col de Carabès: Located at an altitude of 1,261m, the Col de Carabès links the Drôme and Hautes-Alpes regions.
  • Col de Pommerol / La Fromagère: The Col de Pommerol, or Col de la Fromagère, is a crossing point between the Hautes-Alpes and Drôme departments. It is accessible via the Crête du Suquet and Crête de Raton trails. The pass overlooks the Eygues state forest.
  • Col des Tourettes: The Col des Tourettes gives access to the Haute Vallée de l'Oule, a patchwork of intensive farming, traditional winegrowing, lime trees and orchards of unrivalled quality.
vélo à Sisteron
Cycling events in Sisteron

Cycling events in Sisteron

Cycling in Sisteron

Cycling in Sisteron

Two-wheeled enthusiasts, welcome to a true cycling paradise! MTB, road, gravel, VAE... here, everything is possible. Strap on your bike and set off to explore wild valleys, fragrant passes and landscapes between the Durance and the Provencal Baronnies.

Routes for all levels, between sporting challenges on roads closed to traffic, accessible routes for families and shared routes for gentle discovery

Emblematic passes, such as Fontbelle, Chabre, Perty, Saint-Jean, Carabès, Pommerol / La Fromagère, Tourettes...

Great cyclo routes:
La Durance à vélo (V862): 438 km between Briançon and Avignon.
Les P'tites Routes du Soleil®: 900 km through the Pre-Alps, all the way to the Mediterranean.

Espace Cyclosport FFC
Marked routes, dedicated services and a warm welcome for a cycling experience that's 100% pleasure.

Wash stations and recharging
After effort, time for maintenance: wash stations in Sisteron, Authon and Clamensane.
Need to recharge your VAE? Free Bosch charging stations are available in Sisteron, Laragne-Montéglin and Orpierre.

More info

Summer in Sisteron

Summer in Sisteron

Nestled in Haute-Provence, Sisteron is an ideal summer destination to recharge your batteries. Between hiking, cultural discoveries and gourmet pleasures, the town offers a sunny interlude for all visitors. Nature lovers will enjoy the many marked trails, including the famous Trou de l'Argent, and activities such as rock climbing on the Rocher de la Baume, accrobranche at the foot of the Citadelle or a visit to the Domaine d'Aimel. The Marres lake, within walking distance of the town center, offers a welcome cool break.

All summer long, Sisteron comes alive with must-see events such as the Festival des Nuits de la Citadelle and Rues en fête. Wednesday and Saturday markets plunge visitors into the Provencal atmosphere, with local produce and sun-drenched scents.

As for heritage, the Citadelle overlooks the valley, offering a grandiose panorama. The town's historic center and three museums invite you to explore, as does the free augmented reality application "Sisteron Buëch - découverte virtuelle". Local flavors, such as Sisteron lamb and market produce, delight the taste buds. And on the outskirts of the town, the Méouge Gorges, hilltop villages and the Monges Massif are the perfect complement to your stay.

Coming back in the off-season

Sisteron, nestled between the Alps and Provence, reveals itself in a different light during the spring and autumn seasons. Far from the hustle and bustle of summer, this period offers a serenity and authenticity conducive to discovering this historic town.

In spring, the first rays of sunshine illuminate the majestic citadel (open from late March to mid-November) perched on its rock, overlooking the Durance valley. Gardens bloom, dotting the town with vivid colors and intoxicating fragrances. Alleys and squares slowly come to life, café terraces fill with locals and visitors enjoying the mild climate. It's the perfect time to explore the surrounding circuits, such as the Col de Fontbelle, which offers panoramic views over the Route du Temps.

In autumn, nature is adorned in golden and coppery hues, creating an enchanting tableau as in the Gorges de la Méouge. The surrounding fields adopt warm colors, while the soft autumn light magnifies the old stones of the citadel and the old town. Local markets abound with seasonal produce, mushrooms and other autumn delights. It's also the ideal season for hiking, whether on foot, bike, mountain bike or horseback.

Sisteron, in the off-season, is a veritable showcase of tranquility and beauty. Whether in spring or autumn, every visitor can find a unique charm here, a perfect blend of nature, history and Provencal culture.

Cyclist in front of the'église de Montmorin

Services

Office de Tourisme Sisteron Buëch
1 place de la République
04200 Sisteron
04 92 61 36 50

  • Bureau de Sisteron
  • Bureau de Laragne-Montéglin
  • Bureau de Serres
  • Bureau d'Orpierre
  • Bureau de Rosans

Open year-round and marked Accueil vélo : dedicated guide L'aventure en roue libre, repair kit and topos/guide sales in our 5 offices, Bosch battery chargers in Sisteron, Laragne-Montéglin and Orpierre.

Bike boxes at Sisteron, Laragne-Montéglin and Serres SNCF stations.

Charging/inflation stations:
- Sisteron
- Authon/Col de Fontbelle
- Clamensane

Further information: accommodation and restaurants

The map

The map

Salérans / Sisteron

15 Salérans / Sisteron

28 km
1 h 50 min
Medium
There are two marvels to relish on this stage of the P'tites routes du Soleil®: the descent through the bottom of the Gorges de la Méouge; and the citadel at Sisteron, dramatically guarding the Durance Valley. The way along the Gorges de la Méouge is gentle and delightful, providing a lovely way of exploring this marvel of the Hautes-Alpes. Charms include unspoilt local flora, a three-arched Roman bridge, and the often lively torrent itself. You climb out of these gorges by tackling a low pass to reach Sisteron via the Chemin de la Marquise. At the end of this stage, explore Sisteron’s citadel, dominating its stretch of the Durance Valley.
Sisteron / Digne-les-Bains

16 Sisteron / Digne-les-Bains

61 km
5 h 00 min
Medium
From Sisteron, embark on one of the longest climbs along the whole P’tites Routes du Soleil® cycle route. Why not use it as an excuse to go and visit the animal park at Saint-Geniez or to stop for a bite there or in Authon. After riding along close to the Monges Range and crossing the Col de Font-Belle (a pass at 1,304m), you’ll discover the Duyes Valley. Enjoy the lovely views both from the Col d’Hysope (1,236m), which you come to on a descent, and all along the road leading down to Thoard and then Digne-les-Bains. Note that there is a short but quite lovely climb to the Pas de Bonnet (886m) a short distance before arriving at the town of Digne.
pédalage face à la citadelle de sisteron

Témoignages

Excellent welcome at Sisteron Tourist Office. The office has the "accueil vélo" label, and we were able to leave our bikes and panniers in a safe place for the day while we visited the town. Excellent point for all bikepackers passing through Sisteron! Bastien Guillot

Gorges de la Méouge. A refreshing change from the well-known Gorges du Verdon.
Beautiful sky-blue colors, a magnificent waterfall! @nono_ninette

Welcome to Sisteron, a beautiful town in Southern France If you're in Aix this is a perfect day trip as you can take a direct train or bus here and it's about an hour away ;) @mia.in.france

cycling in the Sisteron countryside

FAQ

  • What is Sisteron's gastronomic specialty? L'agneau label Rouge !
  • In what year was Sisteron the arrival and departure city of the Tour de France? 2020
  • What major itinerary was inaugurated in 2023 in Sisteron? La Durance à vélo

Access

Autoroutes A51: north and south exit at Sisteron

SNCF train stations
Sisteron
Laragne-Montéglin
Serres

Bus stops
Sisteron (bus station)
Laragne-Montéglin
Serres

Road access
from Aix-en-Provence, freeway A51 direction Gap exit n°22 (Sisteron-Sud) or n°23 (Sisteron-Nord)
from Grenoble, Route Napoléon RN 85 or RN 75

Contacts

logo sisteron buëch

Sisteron Buëch

☎ 04 92 61 36 50 www.sisteron-buech.fr


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