Castellane

Overview

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

• GR4 — Traversée du Verdon
• Les Cadières de Brandis
• Sentier Notre-Dame du Roc
• Sentier des Sireniens
• Montagne de Robion (sommet)
• Le Tour de Robion
• Tour des Gorges du Verdon (GRP)

Where to stay in Castellane

Compare and book on the major platforms. Hotels, campsites and gîtes in Castellane will soon have their verified listing on LiveVerdon.

Services & shops in Castellane

EV charging — in the village: Parking Saint Michel (6 points) · Parking de La Boudousque (3 points), network eborn. Also 2 charging stations at campsites. See the map of Verdon charging points →

Fuel: 2 petrol stations in the commune. See live prices →

Food & groceries

• Auchan Supermarché
• Supérette Vival
• Castellane Viandes – Chez Steph
• Maison de Produits de Pays des Gorges du Verdon

Bakery

• Boulangerie Collomp & Fils
• Le Fournil du Verdon
• Le Comptoir à baguettes

Pharmacy

• Pharmacie de Castellane

Fuel

• Station Auchan
• Avia Relais Napoléon

Bank / ATM

• Caisse d'Épargne
• Crédit Agricole
• La Poste

Post office

• place Marcel-Sauvaire

Car garage

• Garage l'Amitié
• Carrosserie du Roc
• Verd'On Road

Spa, massage & wellness

• Spa Castellane

Services verified on 2026-07-06.

What to see, what to do

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.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

Cadières de Brandis

Spectacular dolomitic cliffs/rock formations around 1,500 m, lapiaz. WARNING: trail reported unmarked and closed until further notice (Buena Vista).

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).

Getting to Castellane

• Nearest train station: Saint-André-les-Alpes (25 km, train des Pignes)
• From Nice: about 2 h drive
• From Marseille: about 2.5 h drive

Events & highlights

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.

Vacances à la maison, 6th edition — 14 to 18 September 2026

A week, organised by CAP'Verdon, to make outdoor activities accessible to as many people as possible (seniors, young people, people with disabilities): whitewater on the Verdon, a visit to La Minoterie, a night at the Mont Chiran refuge, and a wellness day at Camping La Ferme de Castellane.

3rd Rétrospective historique automobile (Auto VHC) — 26 to 27 September 2026

Free gathering of historic competition vehicles in Castellane. The exact location and the final poster had not yet been published by the tourist office at the time of verification (27 August). This should be reconfirmed before travelling there.