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May > October

Château d'Esparron
  • Bed & Breakfast
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  • The castle
    • Some history…
    • What the reviews says
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  • Activities
    • Things to do
    • What to see
    • Where to eat
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May > October

Château d'Esparron
  • Bed & Breakfast
  • Apartment
  • Booking
    • Secure Payment
    • Availability and booking
  • The castle
    • Some history…
    • What the reviews says
    • Access map
  • Activities
    • Things to do
    • What to see
    • Where to eat
  • Contact
  • Important
  • Français
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  • What to see
Esparron sur Verdon

What to see

moustiersThe countryside as a whole around the Verdon is beautiful, but the most remarkable spot is of course the spectacular Verdon Canyon or Gorges du Verdon which most people like to visit at least once. The entrance to the Canyon is about 45 minutes’ drive from us, near the picturesque little town of Moustiers Sainte Marie, worth a visit not just for its famous porcelain but for its pretty streets and chapel perched in the crags above the village.

Esparron-de-Verdon is situated to the south of the Valensole plateau, the largest plateau in Europe, and famous for its lavender fields. From the plateau on clear days you can see over the purple of the lavender fields as far as the Sainte Victoire mountain by Aix and the Mont Ventoux and Montagne de Lure mountains to the west.

To the south of Esparron, Quinson is an especially pretty and well-preserved village, as well as being home to the fascinating Musée de la préhistoire, good for a (happily rare) day of bad weather, though too interesting to save for a rainy day! Once over the bridge which crosses the Verdon to the south of Quinson you find yourself in the Haut Var; again there are many picturesque villages worth visiting such as Fox-Amphoux, Cotignac and Sillans-la-Cascade to name but a few.

gorges-verdonThere are many picturesque little towns and villages on or around the plateau, one of the most interesting being Riez, 25 minutes’ drive from Esparron. This little known market town boasts a Roman heritage at least as important as that of Vaison la Romaine, and archaeologists are constantly making new discoveries, some of which are on view to the public. The town is also home to some remarkable crumbling renaissance buildings tucked away in the maze of old streets, though one, the exceptional Hotel de Mazan, housing extraordinary plasterwork, or gypserie, has been impeccably restored and will open as a museum.

A great attraction in Riez is the Wednesday and Saturday morning market selling delicious local produce, soaps, fabrics, lavender products and so on, ideal for buying provisions for a picnic or simply sitting in a café and watching the world go by. You can taste creamy goat’s cheese from the Mistral farm, succulent strawberries from Allemagne-en-Provence, and Rafaela’s special jam from Albiosc and stock up with reasonably priced wine from Jardivin on the road towards Puimoisson. To the north-east of Puimoisson the tiny village of St Jurs (provençal for Georges) nestled in the hills overlooking the plateau is our favourite place for picnics and has views for miles over the whole plateau.

45 minutes away to the west is the largest local town, Manosque. Also known as the birthplace of writer Jean Giono, the town centre is pretty once you get past the multitude of supermarkets and DIY shops, and the Jean Giono Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2012. The scenery beyond Manosque is lovely, too, with villages such as St Michel l’Observatoire and Banon, and if you continue westwards you will find yourself in the gently rolling countryside of the Luberon.

Beautiful Aix-en-Provence is only a good hour’s drive away, so it is quite possible to take a day trip there from Esparron, and we love to visit vibrant  Marseille, slightly further afield at an hour and a half’s drive.

The village of Esparron de Verdon itself with pretty, winding streets and fountains is worth exploring, and the Ecomusée museum houses a fascinating collection of old tools, clothes and household implements.

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Tripadvisor 2022

Bed and Breakfast
Self catering apartments
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From May to October
Bernard & Charlotte Anne de Castellane
04800 Esparron de Verdon, France
+33 (0)6 64 65 17 00
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  • Château d’Esparron is neither a palazzo nor a luxury hotel: simply put, it’s a beautiful and authentic Provençal castle, home to its original family and full of its original furniture.
    Amongst other things, there are no televisions or minibars in the rooms, although there is a communal fridge at your disposal. The rooms are en-suite, equipped with bathtubs but not stand-up showers. There is no air conditioning in the room, but as long as you keep your windows closed during the daytime and open them at night, the meter-thick medieval stonewalls will keep the room at a very agreeable temperature. A contumacious Wi-Fi network is one of the few hints of the modern world. You will get the chance to admire and ascend the monumental stone spiral staircase, but, without the help of a lift, getting to your room is a fitness challenge in itself. Each room looks out onto the same bucolic view of the countryside (not the lake).
    It is a mistake to think that the countryside is silent at night. Nocturnal noises simply emanate from different sources than in the city. For instance, the church bell tolls throughout the night and you might be awoken by the occasional whistle of an owl. The yellow and pearl rooms are closest to one of the village fountains, and you will be able to hear the gentle sound of running water from the bedroom unless you opt for another room.
    Furthermore, although the castle is fairly close to the gorges du Verdon canyon, it still is 50 minutes away by car, but the road there crosses the Valensole plateau and we can assure you that it is absolutely stunning. Finally, we regret to say that we do not allow pets in the house. That doesn’t mean that you need to leave yours at home, as you can always let yours sleep in the car or intrust it to one of our neighbors who provides a dog sitting service (06 71 54 26 42).
    If you aren’t put off by the above, we will do our best to ensure that you have an unforgettable stay with us.

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