© SeeProvence
© _SeeProvence
© _SeeProvence
© _SeeProvence
Sisteron
Traditional rural town in the foothills of the Alps
One of the most scenic routes through Provence is the tail end of autoroute 81 and its continuation to national route 75, which finally ends in Grenoble. Just at the junction where the four-lane highway becomes a two-lane local road, the medieval citadel of Sisteron towers over the town beneath on the slopes towards the Durance river.
In summer, Sisteron is quite busy with tourists, searching out the water sports on the Durance and beyond. The bridges that cross the Durance river offer spectacular views of both the town, the medieval walls and buildings and the rocky cliffs that seem to explode out of the ground around the town.
Leaving Sisteron, we recommend the route nationale 75 heading north to Grenoble. The road is spectacular with vistas towards the snow-capped peaks of the lower Alps.
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History & Culture in [locality]
As so often with a location that seems too good to be true, Sisteron has lived through ages of being a fortress of ultimate defense to a target of ferocious attacks. Since its existence in Roman times, the town has been regularly sacked, burned, and bombed, most recently by the allied forces in World War II, and stubbornly rebuilt.
Despite all the damaging attacks, there is still some of the old to be admired in Sisteron. You can wander through the narrow winding streets and alleys of Old Sisteron, a small part in the centre of the town, or admire the medieval towers still standing, although the old walls in between are long gone.
Sights & Attractions in [locality]
Close by these towers and the old part of the town is the 12th century Cathedral of Notre Dame des Pommiers, an attractive medieval Provençal church, whose name is deceiving. "Pommiers" here does not mean apple trees, as it does in everyday French, but comes from the Latin 'pomoerii', meaning between the walls of the town - a wisdom we found in the Guide Michelin.
Still, Pommiers (as in apple trees) would be an apt designation for a major church in Sisteron. In the valleys beyond the town you can see vast stretches of fruit orchards, no doubt some of them with sparkling apples. Fruits aside, Sisteron is famous for its local lamb. Everywhere in France, a gigot (leg of lamb) from Sisteron is an indication of sumptuous quality.
Things to do in [locality]
The local market (Wednesday and Saturday) is bustling and fun, as so many are in Provence. Why spend your euros in a restaurant when you can assemble a treasure from what's available at the market, some cheese, a sausage, roasted chicken, a loaf of bread and a basket of fruit? Then head down to the banks of the Durance for a sun-filled picnic.
