Provence Alps (Alpes de Haute Provence)

Provence Alps is on of the largest department of France, with an area of 6 935 km2, and only 139 600 inhabitants,

The climate of the Alpes de Haute Provence is Mediterranean, characterized by dry summers, high temperatures and strong sunshine.

In the east, you will find the Upper Verdon known as the Val d'Allos, which is also called Colorado by the french.

To the south, the famous Gorges du Verdon offer scenery of lakes, canyons as well as breath taking views of the plateau de Valensole.

To the west, the area of Forcalquier offers a provencal atmosphere. The climate is milder. You will find hills and vineyards. The valley of the Durance offers fruits and vegetables, with Manosque and the end of the Luberon, they form the hub of tourism department.

Puimichel

As its name suggests, the village is perched on a site, 700 m altitude. The municipality is crossed by the torrent Rancure.

The village's name as it appears the first time in verse 1180-1190 (podio Michaelis), comes from the local Occitan fishing hill, and the personal name Michel, who were then Anglicized.

A bit of history

The town is first mentioned in the charts in the twelfth century (Michaelis Podium). During this same century, the church Saint-Firmin belonged to the abbey of Saint-André of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, which brought revenues.

The village suffered a lot in the sixteenth century plague, passage of the Catholic and Huguenot armies during the wars of religion.

During the Revolution, the town has a patriotic society, founded in the summer of 1792.

Monuments

Dany Cardoen, Belgian astronomer came to Puimichel in 1982 to built an astronomical observatory with the largest amateur telescope in the world (at the time: 102 cm). Through this observatory, the name of Puimichel became famous in the world of amateur astronomers, including Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada.

On the village square, is a manor house dating from the eighteenth century. The town hall, built against the church, the central wedge of the door is adorned with a heart in relief, the building dates from 1683.

The church Notre-Dame du Serre was built in 1547, consists of a nave of two bays, and a third one, lower, home to the rostrum. Above the podium, is the bell tower. His baptismal font, iron nineteenth century, are classified as historic monuments.

The chapel of Saint-Elzéar is at the top of the village. Built around the 1700s.

In the hamlet of Bronzetti, the Chapel of St. Joseph was built in the eighteenth century. It is capped and has a porch and a tower wall on the western façade.

Othe town worth the visit::

Oraison, Forcalquier, Manosque, Digne-les-bains, Greoux-les-bains
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Sisteron, Castellane, Entrevaux, Riez, Les Mees, Lurs and many more...

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