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Place Marcel-Sauvaire in Castellane, with its plane trees and the Roc behind

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence · Middle Verdon

Castellane

Village, Roc and Verdon

At the foot of the Roc and its chapel, on the Route Napoléon, the village where the Verdon canyon begins.

Where to stay
More about Castellane
Population
1472 hab. (INSEE, 2023)
Elevation
722 m
Demonym
Castellanais
Department
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04)
Postcode
04120
Label
Village et cité de caractère
Location
On the Route Napoléon (RD 4085, formerly RN 85, col des Lèques), the upstream gateway to the Gorges du Verdon, between the Alps and the Mediterranean. The Verdon flows through the commune; Lake Castillon and Lake Chaudanne.

Why visit Castellane?

See the must-sees

Photos: Florin Livada

What to do in Castellane?

Discover all activities

Photos: Florin Livada · Sébastien Thébault, CC BY-SA 3.0

The must-sees

See the Verdon map

Photos: Florin Livada

All the heritage of Castellane (23 places)

Details as recorded, with their sources and the points still to be checked.

In the village

Tour Pentagonale
1359, part of the medieval ramparts (14 towers), place Marcel Sauvaire, Jardins de la Tour nearby.
Tour de l'Horloge
Middle Ages, campanile at the top, former gateway into the city, place Marcel Sauvaire.
Porte de l'Annonciade
Vestige of the fortified past (Routard).
Maison Nature & Patrimoines
Former prison, place Marcel Sauvaire. Three exhibition spaces (including the permanent exhibition « Sirènes et fossiles ») + a PNR du Verdon relay point. Closes at 6:30pm (Petit Futé). Rating 4.8/5 (6 Petit Futé reviews).

In the hamlets and countryside

Dolmen des Pierres Blanches
Megalith dated to 2500 BC, near the hamlet of La Baume, at 1,249 m altitude; excavated in 2006; 415 human bones discovered.
Cadières de BrandisClosed
Spectacular dolomitic cliffs/rock formations around 1,500 m, lapiaz. WARNING: trail reported unmarked and closed until further notice (source: Castellane tourist office).
Cadières de Brandis: trail closed and no longer waymarked. The waymarking was removed by the owners of the land the trail crosses; no reopening date has been announced.Source: castellane-verdon.com (office de tourisme, page « Les Cadières de Brandis », modifiée le 05/06/2026) + ici.fr (France Bleu Provence, article du 15/05/2026). Last checked: 6 October 2026.

Elsewhere in the commune

Le Roc and chapel Notre-Dame du Roc
Rocky outcrop 184 m above the village, a listed natural site since 1933. 12th-century chapel (13th century according to voyageavecnous), destroyed/rebuilt several times, a pilgrimage site. 30-45 min on foot from the centre, orientation tables at the summit. Summit altitude ~903 m (AllTrails/Buena Vista).
Archaeological site of Petra Castellana
Fortified medieval village on the Roc: mentioned as Sinaca in 813, Petra Castellana in 965, château in 977; abandoned in the mid-15th century. On the Notre-Dame du Roc trail.
Church of Saint-Victor
12th-13th century (side aisles added in the 15th), listed as a Monument historique, rue Saint-Victor. Restorations since the 1990s. Divergence: 14th century according to the voyageavecnous blog.
Roc bridge
Destroyed in 1390 by Raymond de Turenne, rebuilt in stone in the 15th century.
Church of the Sacré-Cœur
Built in 1876, extended in 1896.
Chapel of Saint-Thyrse de Robion
10th century, hamlet of Robion. Inaccessible (restoration in progress), visible from the car park.
Chapel of Saint-Pons d'Eoulx
Middle Ages, apse and nave walls remaining, difficult access on foot only.
Chapel of Sainte-Trophime (Robion)
18th-century rock-cut chapel above Petit Robion.
Chapel of Saint-Jean (Chasteuil)
Rock-cut chapel clinging to the rock face, hamlet of Chasteuil (GR4).
Museum of the Resistance
Local history of the Second World War, re-enactments of life in the maquis.
Citromuseum
Private museum: 127 post-war Citroën cars in working order, D602. Rating 4.8/5 (25 Petit Futé reviews).
Wall of the sirenians (col des Lèques)
Sirenian fossils (marine mammals) 40 million years old — the Sentier des Siréniens, starting from the col des Lèques.
Lake Castillon
Artificial emerald-green lake at ~900 m altitude, 5-6 km from the village, the 2nd-largest lake in the Verdon. Swimming, fishing, watersports, diving (Cheiron bay). Dam: diverging dates 1945 (mairie) / 1948 (Petit Futé, Wikipédia rattachement) / 1949 (Wikipédia Verdon rivière).
Chaudanne Lake and Dam
Dam from 1952 (mairie, Wikipédia) — 1953 and a 72 m wall according to Petit Futé.
Fountain of the lions
Fountain in the old centre (mairie-castellane.fr).
Wash-houses of La Baume, Taloire and Petit Robion + oratory of Petit Robion
Small rural heritage of the hamlets.
Taulanne and Chasteuil gorges
Limestone clues cited by Wikipédia (geology of the commune).

Castellane in pictures

  • Castellane and the Verdon valley seen from the Roc
    Castellane from the Roc
  • A square in the centre of Castellane, below a bell tower
    A square in the old town
  • Rue Nationale, in the centre of Castellane
    Rue Nationale
  • A square in the centre of Castellane, between a bell tower and the Roc
    The bell tower and the Roc
  • The centre of Castellane on an event day, below the Roc
    An event day
  • Inside the chapel of Notre-Dame du Roc, with its votive offerings
    Votive offerings at Notre-Dame du Roc
  • Castellane and the Verdon seen through the trees
    The village and the Verdon

Photos: Florin Livada

Choose your Castellane

According to what you enjoy, with no set length of stay.

Where to stay in Castellane

See the 98 places to stay in Castellane

Hotels, campsites and gîtes in Castellane, with their actual rating where one exists.

Listings marked “Ad” (LiveVerdon plan) or “Recommended by the publisher” are ranked ahead of the others: plans first, then the publisher’s clients, then addresses recommended with no commercial link. How listings are ranked

Also compare on the main platforms:

Booking → Airbnb → Gîtes de France →

Where to eat in Castellane

See all restaurants in Castellane

A selection of restaurants from the LiveVerdon directory.

Editor’s selection. The full ranking, based on reviews, is just below. How listings are ranked

Ranking of Castellane restaurants (26 rated restaurants)

Restaurants ranked by the quality of their Google and Tripadvisor reviews, the number of reviews behind them and how closely the two platforms agree.

  1. Côté FontaineFrench€€-€€€ (dish of the day €13–23) 4.6 823 Google reviews 4.7 463 Tripadvisor reviews
  2. Restaurant Lac du CastillonFrench€€-€€€ 4.7 377 Google reviews 4.5 142 Tripadvisor reviews
  3. Le BardotFrench and Belgian, revisitedà la carte from €13 to €28 4.6 293 Google reviews 4.8 140 Tripadvisor reviews
  4. Le Dix-BisHome-style family cookingà la carte from €9.50 to €21.50 4.7 306 Google reviews
  5. The Road HouseFrench 4.8 186 Google reviews 4.7 15 Tripadvisor reviews
  6. O DélicesFrench€€-€€€ 4.7 413 Google reviews 4.4 310 Tripadvisor reviews
  7. Restaurant de l'Hôtel du CommerceFrench€€-€€€ 4.6 363 Google reviews 5 8 Tripadvisor reviews
  8. Restaurant des Alpes - Chez TINAFrench€€-€€€ 4.4 873 Google reviews 4.5 425 Tripadvisor reviews
  9. La Guinguette à Pauletteguinguette 4.7 73 Google reviews
  10. Chez AugustineFrench€ 4.3 229 Google reviews 4.5 35 Tripadvisor reviews
  11. Le Bistrot du ColRegional and Belgian€€-€€€ 4.2 238 Google reviews 4.4 207 Tripadvisor reviews
  12. Café du TourismeBar 4.5 72 Google reviews 4.5 2 Tripadvisor reviews
  13. Hôtel Restaurant La ForgeFrench€€-€€€ 4.4 557 Google reviews 4.1 345 Tripadvisor reviews
  14. Rôtisserie MarieRotisserieà la carte from €3.50 to €18.50 4.9 33 Google reviews
  15. Aux Délices du Verdon€ 4.3 73 Google reviews 4.9 10 Tripadvisor reviews
  16. Nature CaféSalads€€-€€€ 4.1 359 Google reviews 4.3 226 Tripadvisor reviews
  17. L'IDÉALFrench€ 4.2 498 Google reviews 4 145 Tripadvisor reviews
  18. Chez SauveurItalianà la carte from €6 to €17.50 4.1 180 Google reviews 4.6 14 Tripadvisor reviews
  19. Ma Petite AubergeFrench€€-€€€ (TripAdvisor) / €€ (Petit Futé) 4.4 527 Google reviews 3.8 285 Tripadvisor reviews
  20. Snack Siroccosnack bar 4.1 201 Google reviews

+ 6 other rated restaurants in Castellane.

Reviews collected on 2026-07-04: Google and Tripadvisor shown separately, never merged into a single score.

Other places in Castellane

  • L'Oustaou — traditional restaurant · Provençal cooking, chemin des Hautes Listes
  • Bistrot Augustine — bistro · tapas and cocktails, rue du Mitan
  • La Bodega — tapas bar · Spanish charcuterie and wines, rue du Mitan
  • Bar l'Étape — bar and restaurant · place Marcel-Sauvaire
  • La Pause Gourmande — ice-cream parlour · artisan Italian-style ice cream, rue du Mitan

Services and shops in Castellane

The essentials for your stay. Addresses open under each tile.

Live webcam — Le Verdon à Castellane, sa berge boisée et une falaise See the live webcam →

For a wider choice : Castellane est la ville-services du moyen Verdon : une trentaine de restaurants au total (snacks, pizzerias, cuisine provençale, tables plus soignées) selon l'office de tourisme. La liste ci-dessus retient les commerces essentiels et quelques adresses notables ; elle n'est pas exhaustive.

Services checked on 6 July 2026.

Castellane in practice

Getting here, finding information, going out: the essentials to prepare your visit.

Market days

  • Wednesday morning : food marketPlace Marcel-Sauvaire, all year round
  • Saturday morning : large Provençal market (producers, craftspeople, non-food)Place Marcel-Sauvaire, all year round
Culture, markets and festivals →

Tourist office

  • Office de Tourisme Castellane Verdon
  • 2 boulevard Saint-Michel, 04120 Castellane
  • 04 92 72 59 12
  • July and August: every day, 9am to 6.30pm, without a breakOpening hours recorded on 20 September 2026.
Castellane and the Verdon valley seen from the Roc

Map of Castellane

Find the places, activities and services of Castellane on the interactive map of the Verdon.

See the interactive map

Today in Castellane

Today’s alerts (access to forest massifs, swimming, water restrictions, roads): data updated live when the page opens, from risque-prevention-incendie.fr, baignades.sante.gouv.fr and VigiEau, as well as the recorded roadworks schedule. If JavaScript is disabled, please consult these official sources directly.

Weather in Castellane

Forecast updated live when the page opens. If JavaScript is disabled, please consult Météo-France.

See the full agenda for Castellane →

News from Castellane

All news →

Town hall news

News from the town hall

Titles: source language (French)

Official town hall website →(opens in a new tab)Town hall Facebook page →(opens in a new tab)

Health in Castellane: practitioners and facilities

Health in Castellane

Official Annuaire Santé directory, file dated 1 October 2026: health professionals in private practice or in a health centre. No ranking, no reviews.

Doctors
7
Pharmacists
1
Dentists
2
Midwives
1
Nurses
5
Physiotherapists
5
Physiotherapists and osteopaths
1
Osteopaths
1
Speech and language therapists
2

Health establishments and facilities

  • EHPAD de l’EPS DuceliaResidential care for older peoplePhone:04 92 83 98 00
  • EPS Ducelia de CastellanePublic healthcare institutionPhone:04 92 83 98 00

See the detailed list for Castellane →

Emergency numbers, on-duty pharmacy, hospitals: Health and medical emergencies →

Overview

Show details

Sub-prefecture and historic gateway to the Grand Canyon du Verdon. The Notre-Dame du Roc chapel perched on its rocky outcrop (184 m above the town), a medieval old town, and the area's largest hub for services and whitewater activities (rafting, canyoning).

Sub-prefecture of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (created in 1800) — presented by Petit Futé as the least populated sub-prefecture in France

Hikes starting from Castellane

  • Cadières de Brandis: trail closed and no longer waymarked. The waymarking was removed by the owners of the land the trail crosses; no reopening date has been announced. See the trail page →Source: castellane-verdon.com (office de tourisme, page « Les Cadières de Brandis », modifiée le 05/06/2026) + ici.fr (France Bleu Provence, article du 15/05/2026). Last checked: 6 October 2026.
See the full list (7 hikes)

White-water sports in Castellane

  • Swimming: two stretches of the Verdon are closed by municipal order. Two municipal orders ban swimming from below the wastewater treatment plant to the Taloire bridge, then from the Taloire bridge to the Soleils bridge. Where to swim in the Verdon →Source: Castellane municipal orders no. 35/92 and no. 51/94 bis, provided by the town hall. Last checked: 22 October 2026.
  • rafting(14)
  • canyoning(10)
  • aqua-hiking(9)
  • hydrospeed(5)
  • kayak(5)
  • cano-raft(4)
See the full list (19 providers)
  • Buena Vista Rafting — rafting, canoe, hydrospeed, aqua-hiking, packraft, canyoning
  • Aboard Rafting — rafting, cano-raft, air-boat, hydrospeed, aqua-hiking, canyoning
  • Montagne et Rivière — rafting, canyoning, hydrospeed, aqua-hiking, cano-raft, kayak, paddleboard
  • Raft Session — rafting, canoe-kayak, aqua-hiking, canyoning, floating
  • Raoul Rafting — rafting, aqua-hiking, canoe, paddleboard
  • Aloha Verdon — rafting, kayak, whitewater
  • Aqua Verdon — canyoning, whitewater, via cordata
  • Secret River — rafting, whitewater
  • Azur Rafting — rafting, canyoning, kayak
  • Yéti Rafting — rafting, aqua-hiking
  • Le Sirocco — rafting, hydrospeed, cano-raft, kayak, canyoning, aqua-hiking
  • Action Aventure (Bruno Jouzel) — rafting, cano-raft, hydrospeed, aqua-hiking, canyoning, caving
  • Easy Rafting — rafting
  • Roman 'Eau Rafting — rafting
  • Terrakayak — kayak
  • Rivr Rider — whitewater
  • Ride the Verdon — rafting, canoe-kayak, aqua-hiking
  • La Maison du Canyoning et de l'Escalade — canyoning, climbing
  • Le Bureau des Guides de Canyon (ProCanyon) — canyoning, via ferrata, climbing, abseiling

Rafting, canyoning, canoeing: the Verdon white-water guide →

Culture, markets & festivals in Castellane

Show details

Market days

  • Wednesday morning — food market · Place Marcel-Sauvaire
  • Saturday morning — large Provençal market (producers, craftspeople, non-food) · Place Marcel-Sauvaire
  • Day to be confirmed — producers’ market (Maison de Produits de Pays des Gorges du Verdon) · Boulevard Saint-Michel (to check)

Festivals & events

Fête du Pétardier (Pétardiers) — last Sunday in January or first Sunday in February
Historical re-enactment in costume of the town’s victorious defence during the Wars of Religion (31 January 1586); one of the oldest traditions in the area.
Fête de la Transhumance — mid-June
Pastoral celebration around the ascent of the flocks; parade and festivities in the town centre.
Fête de la Montagne — late June
Festive gathering around the mountains and the terroir.
Marché Artisanat et Saveurs des Alpes du Sud — spring
Fair of regional craftspeople and producers, Place Marcel-Sauvaire. Dates vary from year to year.
Marché de Noël — December
Year-end market run by the traders’ association.

Culture & living heritage

The Roc and the Notre-Dame du Roc chapel — heritage
Rocky spur overlooking the town, topped by its chapel; a landmark of Castellane and a viewpoint over the Verdon.
Local crafts (soap makers, honey producers, pottery, glass) — craftsmanship
Craftspeople’s workshops open in the town centre and the surrounding area.

Shows & festivals

Les Mercredis en musique — summer
Weekly summer music evenings.

Local tips & secrets in Castellane

Show details
  • access/parking To walk up to the Notre-Dame du Roc chapel, there are two starting points: opposite the Saint-Michel car park near the fire station (a gentler climb), or from the church square in the centre by a steeper path to the left of the Sacré-Cœur church. — maisonducanyoning.fr
  • to avoid Allow about 30 minutes for the climb from the centre, 1 h to 1 h 30 min for the full return trip: good shoes are advised, and access is on foot only. See the full page on the Notre-Dame du Roc trail for the detailed route. — Tourist office
  • local tip The most spectacular pilgrimage to Notre-Dame du Roc takes place on the evening of 14 August with a torchlight vigil: worth experiencing, but expect large crowds that evening. — mairie-castellane.fr
  • swimming For swimming, the nearby Lake Castillon is wilder and less busy than Sainte-Croix: an authentic mountain setting for swimming, picnics and canoeing. Choose the designated beaches (some are supervised in July and August) and check the swimming rules on site for the spot you pick. — ailements.fr
  • little-known spot The “Plage du Plan” water sports centre in Saint-André-les-Alpes, on the shore of Lake Castillon, is a good alternative for water activities away from the heart of the gorges. — ailements.fr

Events & highlights

Show details
Fête du Pétardier (Pétardiers) — around 31 January (mairie) / last weekend of January (Wikipédia)
Costumed commemoration of the town's defence against the Huguenot attack of 1586 (Judith Andrau).
Musical Wednesdays — every Wednesday in July-August
Open-air concerts.
Lively Tuesdays — Tuesdays in summer
Shopkeepers' late-night openings.
National Day + doubles pétanque competition — 14 July
EUR 200 in prizes.

Addresses in Castellane

Activities, leisure and services listed on LiveVerdon — an independent Verdon directory.

Listings marked “Ad” (LiveVerdon plan) or “Recommended by the publisher” are ranked ahead of the others: plans first, then the publisher’s clients, then addresses recommended with no commercial link. How listings are ranked

Activities & leisure in Castellane

Managing one of these businesses? Your Google reviews, managed and boosted by Livada Cockpit.

Near Castellane

Show details

Hikes in the area

Mourre de Chanier →Gorges de Trévans →

Other communes in the Moyen Verdon / Castellane area

Allons →Angles →Blieux →Demandolx →La Garde →La Mure-Argens →Lambruisse →Majastres →Moriez →Peyroules →Saint-André-les-Alpes →Saint-Julien-du-Verdon →
Administrative details
  • INSEE code: 04039
  • Postcode: 04120
  • Area: 117.79 km²
  • Hamlets: La Baume, Taloire, Robion, Eoulx, Chasteuil, La Palud (hameau de Castellane), Sionne, Le Cheiron, Villars-Brandis, Taulanne, Castillon

Frequently asked questions

What are the market days in Castellane?

Food market: Wednesday morning, Place Marcel-Sauvaire; Large Provençal market (producers, craftspeople, non-food): Saturday morning, Place Marcel-Sauvaire; Producers’ market (Maison de Produits de Pays des Gorges du Verdon), Boulevard Saint-Michel.

What festivals and events take place in Castellane?

Fête du Pétardier (Pétardiers) (last Sunday in January or first Sunday in February); Fête de la Transhumance (mid-June); Fête de la Montagne (late June); Marché Artisanat et Saveurs des Alpes du Sud (spring); Marché de Noël (December).

Sources and data freshness

Data verified on .
Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castellane · https://www.mairie-castellane.fr/ · https://www.castellane-verdon.com/ · https://www.petitfute.com/v32757-castellane-04120/ · https://www.routard.com/fr/guide/france/provence/alpes-de-haute-provence/castellane · https://www.buenavistarafting.com/blog/les-plus-belles-balades-et-randos-a-faire-autour-de-castellane

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