From Séouve to Sainte-Magdeleine

Le château d’Esparron, classé monument historique, entre dans la famille de Castellane au XIII° siècle et y est resté depuis lors. Son fier donjon, son monumental escalier à vis et sa cour d’honneur sont particulièrement remarquables. Charlotte Anne et Bernard de Castellane ont restauré leur demeure familiale en prenant soin de préserver son atmosphère et son style. Le lac d’Esparron à un jet de trébuchet du château vous invite à la baignade dans son eau turquoise.

Located below the castle of Esparron-de-Verdon, the Vière area, historic heart of the village, did not resist the rural exodus and was abandoned by its inhabitants. It is now in ruins, nature has reasserted itself. After rehabilitation, the site is revived and is now accessible, secured and landscaped. This is an area for strolls, between vegetation and ruins, their stones being a remembrance, which offers magnificent views of the village and the lake.

The memory of Boniface VI of Castellane, a fierce baron and impetuous troubadour who lived in the 13th century, still hangs over Esparron-de-Verdon, and more particularly in the renowned dungeon of his castle. Because this mighty building with its massive battlements reflects the ardour of Boniface, who challenged the new Count of Provence, Charles of Anjou, whom he called scornfully "franciot" (little Frenchman).

A l'origine un donjon construit au XIIIe siècle pour surveiller le Verdon et percevoir des péages, un corps de logis vient s'ajouter au XVe. Mais c'est au XVIIe siècle, avec un autre corps de logis et la réfection de sa façade, que la bâtisse prend l'aspect d'une belle résidence de la Renaissance. Possession des Castellane, seigneurs d'Esparron au Moyen Age, le château est resté dans la même famille, presque sans interruption, jusqu'à nos jours. Les actuels héritiers ont transformé le château en chambres d'hôte de prestige.

It was easy to cross Verdon to Esparron, the waters were calmer at the mouth of the lower gorges. A bridge, nowadays submerged by the waters of the lake, was built there in 1725. The village had therefore define an important route between Var and Haute-Provence. Its function itself is specified in its name. The medieval "Espar" is a lock. And what is this town locking? The great path, which of course, it is carefully monitoring at this period.

La fritillaire est une plante globalement rare mais localement abondante sur le territoire. Elle est règlementée en cueillette. Sa forme ainsi que diverses anecdotes en font un emblème de la persécution. Elle a été introduite en Angleterre par des huguenots français ayant échappé au massacre de la Saint-Barthélemy. Son bulbe est très toxique, équivalent à de la ciguë.

The viewpoint indicator map located 498m high provides views of the lake and the port of the town of Esparron du Verdon. In the distance, we can see the massif of Luberon and the Lure mountain

It is the second Mediterranean juniper that immediately differs from its cousin, the Cade, by its innumerable ramules covered with tiny tortoiseshell leaves. Its range is also less extensive. Very xerophile, he likes the poorest scrubland, cracks of rocks and even limestone cliffs where his red brick balls defy the most insane sunshine and aridity almost absolute.

Point de vue sur le plateau de Valensole et les sommets des Alpes du sud. “Alpes” dérivent de la racine linguistique : alm-, alp ou alb que l’on rattache à l’idée de “montagne”. Plus précisément il semble que les mots composés à partir de cette racine désignent initialement une plaine ou un plateau enserrés entre des chaînes de montagnes. On pense immédiatement à la définition d’un “alpage”.

The Séuve (or Séouve, depending on spellings) occupies a large area east of the village. The word refers to the forest in the Middle Ages. It comes from the Latin term "silva" giving Sylvie, Sylvain, Sylvestre and sylviculture (forestry). This forest which stretches between Quinson and Esparron is therefore at least a millennium old. This forest heritage was partly destroyed in 2005 following a fire. 20 years after, nature has reasserted itself and an abundant growth of trees made this beautiful landscape green again.