ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE IN 4 DAYS

Enjoy a scenic ride on the Train des Pignes from Nice to the medieval city of Entrevaux. Cross the ancient stone bridge over the River Var and explore the maze of narrow twisting streets. Don’t miss the town’s cathedral, which has a wonderfully ornate Baroque interior. Then climb 150m to the 17th-century citadel for spellbinding views.

Discover France’s answer to the Grand Canyon on a rafting trip along the azure waters of the Verdon Gorge, starting in the pretty village of Castellane. Get a bird’s eye view of the gorge with a drive along the Corniche Sublime, a vertiginous road with hair-raising panoramas. Continue on to the Valensole Plateau, which transforms into a sea of lavender during the summer.

Do like the Romans did and immerse yourself in the natural hot springs of Dignes-les-Bains. The waters bubble at temperatures of up to 33°C and have been used for centuries to treat a range of ailments. Follow the Parcours de l’Eau walk through town and then jump on two wheels for a bike ride along the easy-going Sentier des Trois-Chapelles in the surrounding countryside.

Drive to Sisteron along the route that Napoleon took when he escaped his exile on Elba Island and marched on Paris in 1915. Explore this magnificent medieval village, which has a citadel that was once tasked with protecting the Kingdom of France. Step inside the Musée Terre et Temps to learn how humans have measured time through the years, then finish with a hike up the imposing Rocher de la Baume for views over the citadel and Durance River. ⊲

A deep cut (this page; clockwise from top left) The Verdan Gorge is the largest canyon in Europe and home to nesting griffon and cinereous vultures, which you can see riding the morning thermals from the nearby village of Rougon; one of many sandy shores found along the Verdon River; the citadel of Sisteron perches dramatically on a rocky spur above the Durance River