Lagrand / Sisteron

At Lagrand, we opted to go around the Montagne de Chabre, via Orpierre and the Col Saint-Jean (1159 m), to then follow the Méouge gorges. The ascent to the Col Saint-Jean, short but often close to 7%, takes you back into the Drôme and onto the P'tites Routes du Soleil® route. At the summit, you'll find a lovely oratory and, above all, a magnificent view. After the pass, descend to Ballons, then cross the Col de la Croisette (927 m), and follow the Gorges de la Méouge. The Méouge winds its way through deep, winding gorges. The river winds through magnificent landscapes created by erosion. Huge boulders with ivory-colored strata, chaotic cliffs and scree, limestone tuffs make for an unforgettable visual experience. After the Méouge joins the Buëch, head south-east towards Ribiers. From Ribiers, head for Sisteron on the Chemin de la Marquise path, which leads to the Sisteron citadel.

Don't miss

• Lagrand : perched on a plateau overlooking the Buëch valley, Lagrand offers magnificent panoramic views. It's a "Petite cité de caractère" with its beautiful calade lanes, arcaded houses and 12th-century Romanesque church of Notre-Dame de la Nativité, listed as a Monument Historique.
• Orpierre : a charming village in the Provencal Baronnies, located in the Céans valley in the southern Hautes-Alpes. Set against the mountains, Orpierre is world-renowned for its cliffs and climbing routes!
• Gorges de la Méouge : in the heart of the Parc naturel régional des Baronnies provençales, the Gorges de la Méouge, an exceptional natural site classified Natura 2000, link the Drôme provençale to the Hautes-Alpes via a small road that winds for around ten kilometers between Barret sur Méouge and Châteauneuf de Chabre.
• Sisteron: 8 centuries of architecture and history, epitomized by the famous citadel, whose keep, enclosures and bastions dominate the Durance.