From the gates of Haute Provence to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Our tour begins in Digne-les-Bains, tucked between alpine scenery and scents of wild thyme. The town awakens slowly, cradled by the murmur of the river Bléone and warm light caressing the surrounding peaks.

We recommend starting your day with a peaceful walk along the river’s edge to a personality-packed site: the house of Alexandra David-Neel. This intrepid explorer, writer and pioneer spent her final days in Digne. Now converted into a museum, her former home offers a fascinating window onto her travels through Asia, instilled with spirituality, freedom and a quest for meaning. The tour, prompting hushed tones, invites visitors to delve into the story of this exceptional woman.

After the tour, we popped over the road to the Nusa Café, an insider’s address steeped in an intimate, bohemian atmosphere. You’ll find colourful, creative, tasty and 100% vegetarian dishes served there, perfect for a healthy lunch.

In the afternoon, we left the town centre in slow mode on the Sentier Caguenard, a signposted trail winding its way through woods and rocks. The trails leads upwards to the Musée-Promenade, a unique venue where art, geology and nature strike up a fascinating outdoor conversation. Offering a seductive blend of ancient fossils, contemporary installations and belvederes over the landscapes of Digne, this interpretation centre – part of the UNESCO Global Geopark network – is an ode to contemplation and discovery.

→ You’ll find the GPX track for our Digne tour here.

Welcome to Manosque, the homeland of Jean Giono, where our day kicked off with a wander round the little old lanes snaking their way through the town centre, shaded from the already-baking sunshine. We decided to follow the “Manosque et son histoire” trail, one of the delightful tours curated by the Manosque Tourist Office, to make sure we didn’t miss any of the town’s must-see sights. Among them, Porte Soubeyran, the only remainder of the ancient ramparts, proudly stands guard over the town. Further on, Eglise Saint-Sauveur tempted us to linger longer inside its cool stone walls before heading on to the Médiathèque d’Herbès media library tucked inside a former 18th-century mansion, for a relaxing literary break.

After our morning in town, we hopped on bus number 14 at the Saint-Charles bus stop to the L’Occitane en Provence factory, situated on the outskirts of town (you can cycle there if you’re feeling sporty!). The immersive, sensory tour offers a deep dive into the wings of this iconic cosmetics brand, including the story of its founder, its artisan expertise, Mediterranean garden and fascinating insights into how the various products – all inspired by regional plants – are made.

As the day drew to a close, it was time to continue our journey to Aix-en-Provence on bus number 65 from Manosque coach station. The timing was perfect: we dropped off our luggage before settling down for a relaxing drink at one of the many terraces lining the town’s little squares. We were spoilt for choice: Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, Place des Augustins… What a great start to the evening!

→ You’ll find the GPX track for Day 2 here.

Aix-en-Provence’s elegant architecture, refreshing fountains and discreetly animated little squares offered a dazzling start to the day. As we walked in the footsteps of Cezanne, the town unveiled its discreet charm, overflowing with artists’ studios, shaded terraces and fragrant markets. The air seems lighter here, as if borne on a breath of art and sunshine. We wandered from the elegant Cours Mirabeau lined with plane trees to the town’s other iconic squares and hidden gems, including the unmissable Pavillon de Vendôme gardens…

Sie sind zum ersten Mal in Aix? Dann haben wir folgende Vorschläge für einen Besuch der „Stadt der 1000 Brunnen“:

Visiting Aix-en-Provence for the first time? Here’s our list of tour suggestions for the “town of a thousand fountains”, according to your taste:

1.    Sightseeing tour of Aix-en-Provence’s historic quarter on foot. You can go it alone (just pick up a map from the Tourist Office) or opt for a specialist-interest tour – whatever takes your fancy. For example, how about an arts & crafts discovery tour or dipping into the latest exhibitions?

2.    If you’re a foodie who enjoys discovering places through local goodies and culinary specialities, opt for a 1.5-hour gourmet stroll with Thomas (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays at 9 am) or a longer, 3.5-hour stroll (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11 am). Find out more.

3.    Did you know that the hills surrounding Aix-en-Provence harbour some of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region’s finest vineyards? Enjoy an accessible Wine & Vine electric bicycle tour (18 km – 2.5 hours) winding up in the best possible way – with wine tasting!

After our discovery day in Aix-en-Provence we headed back to the coach station to catch bus number 67 to Gréoux, for the next stage of our slow trip.

→ You’ll find the GPX track for our Aix tour here.

Set clinging to ornately sculpted cliffs, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie resembles a mineral gem suspended over the stunning Verdon Canyon. With its ochre rooftops and steep lanes, the village appears to have stepped straight out of another era, poised like a gift rewarding the end of our journey.

In the morning, we suggest following in our footsteps with a visit to the Musée de la Faïence, retracing the history of the exceptional craft expertise at the origin of the village’s renown from the 17th century onwards. The museum showcases ancient, intricately worked objects, as well as more modern creations testifying to Moustiers’ dedication to upholding its traditions. And of course, you’ll find a myriad of little earthenware shops in the village centre.

If you fancy taking to the heights, we suggest two walks. The first, short but intense, leads up to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel, along a steep, cobbled path (that can get a bit slippery) offering sublime panoramic vistas over the village rooftops. Seasoned walkers will definitely want to tackle the Sentier Botanique de Tréguier botanical footpath (around 2 hours return) for a deep dive into the local flora and fauna. The viewpoint at the end of the path unveils breathtaking views over the vast, turquoise expanse of Sainte-Croix lake sparkling in the distance.

Keep your eyes peeled – you might even spot a colony of griffon cultures nesting in the dizzy cliffs. What better way to wrap up your stay in style?

As the day draws to a close, take time to just sit and savour the moment as you gaze out over the vast Verdon before heading back to the village for your last evening. Pure magic!

→ You’ll find the GPX track for our Moustiers tour here.