We had seen stunning pictures of Sisteron, especially its magnificent mountain wall, Rocher de la Baume, rising on the opposite side of the river, so we just had to see it for ourselves. Sisteron, known as the “Gateway to Provence,” is a small town located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It’s one of France’s best-preserved medieval towns.
First, we went to see the main attraction: the mountain on the other side of the river. It was just as breathtaking as in the pictures. We drove over the bridge to the foot of the cliff, where we found a parking lot. We walked to a cave-like hole between the rocky cliffs. It was small, but the towering walls were impressive. The place seemed to be a popular rock climbing spot with its smooth walls, and we spotted a few climbers on the slope. From this side of the river, we also had a good view of another landmark of the city, the Citadelle de Sisteron, or the Sisteron Citadel, perched atop a hill.
Exploring the Old Town
We continued walking across the bridge to the city side, where we reached a viewpoint terrace. From there, we could admire the unique mountain landscape of Rocher de la Baume. It was also a great starting point to explore the city center, which was right next to us. The center is filled with old, beautifully adorned houses and lots of flowers. The city has put a lot of effort into its appearance, with plantings, flower arrangements, and nicely shaped bushes. Sisteron is truly beautiful, and exploring it warrants plenty of time. Of course, there’s also the beautiful and ancient Sisteron Cathedral to visit.
The city has various walking routes marked out, guiding visitors to different attractions. One of the routes leads up to the Citadelle de Sisteron, offering magnificent views over the city. However, the castle itself was closed when we were here, so we focused on enjoying the scenery. From up there, you couldn’t quite see the entire castle, so if you don’t plan to visit it, the best view of it is from below. Nevertheless, the views over the city are stunning from up there.
Sisteron is definitely worth a visit, whether for a day or two. In the next post, we’ll be walking across a suspension bridge that’s over 200 meters long.
