Early Summer in Haute Provence
We took advantage of the first warm days of April and set off on a small adventure into Haute Provence.
Our journey began in Sisteron — a place that feels almost unreal at first sight. Below, the lagoon-green Durance flows quietly, while above it, dramatic rock formations rise sharply, with houses clinging to their edges as if suspended in time.
From there, we continued to Forcalquier, where we arrived on the cathedral square just as a local organic market was in full swing. There is something about this town — its cafés, small shops, and easy rhythm — that invites you to stay. Many have come as visitors and never left. We understand why. And in Forcalquier, among books and small discoveries, we found something unexpected: a Petite Encyclopédie from 1909 — a quiet treasure, and the beginning of new ideas for our oyster collages.
We briefly visited Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, often called one of the most beautiful villages in France. A jewel at the edge of the Verdon. And yet, after wandering its narrow streets, we found ourselves drawn back to Forcalquier. Perhaps Moustiers felt a little too discovered, too admired. Or perhaps it was simply that Forcalquier, in its quiet authenticity, felt closer to us.
The road between the two was a journey in itself — vast fields in lush green and blooming yellow, early lavender, and in the distance, mountains still capped with snow.
Our favorite moment came at Lac de Sainte-Croix — a perfect picnic by water so clear and turquoise it almost felt like the Caribbean.
Nearby, the Verdon Gorge revealed just a glimpse of its scale and beauty. We didn’t have time to follow it further this time, but we already know: we will return. And next time, we will stay longer.
