Forcalquier and its fortress

Description

A stroll in the heart of the characterful town, to discover its rich heritage and its troubled history! "Forcalquier, a true citizen crossroads with its lively markets, bubbling shops, narrow streets where every street corner reveals its history. I love this "flagship" city built around the slopes of a steep conical hill and lined up from the fortress pointing skyward. From the spur which dominates the agricultural plain, you can witness a panoramic view of the Luberon in the south and the Alps to the north." Françoise Delville - Landscape market researcher at the Luberon RNP. With your back towards the tourist office, take a right, pass in front of the Notre-Dame du Bourget gate and go into the Rue Mercière. 1 - Turn left and then right unto Rue Passère. Continue on Rue Saint-Mary to the right. Climb the calade (cobblestone path), pass 3 curves and leave the Chemin de Croix to engage in front on long walks on the plateau. Pass another 3 switchbacks and go into highest chamber to the left. Walk around, come back out and turn left. At 1st intersection, continue straight down, through the gate and below the calade, do not miss the entrance of the narrow passage to the left. 2 - Take a sharp left and reach the St John church. Retrace your steps to point 2, then continue straight on the Rue Saint-Jean. At the corner of the Esplanade Marius Debout, turn left on Rue du Collège. Come out at the Jeanne-d'Arc fountain to the right. 3 - Go to the left and reach a little further to the right, the former Recollects Convent. Retrace your steps to point 3, then continue straight on the Rue Marius Debout and the Rue Grande. Turn right and reach to the left the Place du Palais. Continue on the Rue du Palais, reach the Place Saint-Michel and its great fountain, then turn right on Rue Eugène Planchud. 1 - Take again the Rue des Cordeliers, continue straight down and after two curves, cross the Porte des Cordiers. A little further down, turn left. 4 - Cross the street and step into the underpass of the Grand Carré. Go into the convent's cloister. Come out through a small door, on the opposite side to the left. Once in the garden, turn left to come out on the Impasse des Cordeliers (dead end). Return to point 4. From there, turn right on the Boulevard des Martyrs de la Résistance, then turn left on Rue des Lices, and go immediately to the right on the small cobblestone street. Go straight, cross a narrow archway and come out behind the Notre-Dame du Bourget church. Go along the enclosure to return to the starting point of the route.

Difficulty

Official rating: very easy, by Parcs naturels régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Before you go

• Do not panic from the start; the rise is severe!
• Caution with your ankles on the cobblestone areas.

Getting there

Start: Office de tourisme, Forcalquier, Forcalquier (04).

Sources

• Track: Parcs naturels régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Chemins des Parcs), Licence Ouverte 2.0, Licence Ouverte 2.0 (Etalab) (www.cheminsdesparcs.fr/trek/36651-FORCALQUIER---Des-ruelles-a-la-citadelle). Time estimated by GPX Path with the Mac app rule, breaks not included.
• Official elevation gain: 100 m, Parcs naturels régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur