Discover Beauvezer: Verdon, nature and heritage

Beauvezer combines its location in the Upper Verdon Valley with options for nature, sports and culture enthusiasts. At an altitude of around 1,200 m and at the gateway to the Parc National du Mercantour, the village offers various starting points for planning a stay. You can explore waymarked trails and sports facilities, as well as chapels, the history of the wool industry and regional products.

Trails and activities around Beauvezer

The Sentier du Patrimoine is a waymarked trail of approximately 4.5 km. It starts in the village centre and runs above the Verdon. Information panels and two benches are provided along the route. This makes the trail a manageable distance, with opportunities to learn about the village and its surroundings along the way.

For trail running, the Espace trail de Beauvezer offers routes of 12 km and 35 km. The different distances give you a choice between two longer runs. Check local conditions before setting out.

The Bike Park de Beauvezer offers another way to stay active. The Bike Park de Beauvezer features jumps of increasing difficulty, obstacles to cross and balance on, and a skills area.

The Parc Arbre Aventure extends across 7 hectares of woodland. Activities take place at heights of 4 to 11 m, and one zip line is more than 100 m long. If you plan to visit, check the operator’s latest information in advance, as conditions may change.

The Gorges de Saint-Pierre near Beauvezer are also a feature of the area’s natural attractions: the gorge runs alongside the Saint-Pierre torrent between steep rock faces. This landscape includes hiking trails, an extensive conifer forest, forest huts and a chapel. Alongside the designated sports activities, the gorge and forest offer distinct themes to consider when planning your trip.

Chapels and the history of the wool industry

The Chapelle Saint-Joseph dates back at least to the 17th century. Until 1865, it was the parish church of Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth. It was fully restored during renovation work in the last quarter of the 20th century. Its history thus combines an early religious function with a later restoration.

The Chapelle Saint-Pierre dates from before 1665 and lies on the mountainside east of Villars-Heyssier. Its rectangular floor plan comprises a porch, a nave and a semicircular apse. A painting depicting Saints Peter and Paul bears the year 1665; the work is documented in the chapel in 1708. The architecture and painting offer different clues to the history of this building.

The filature de laine Chalve wool mill near Notre-Dame is also part of the heritage of the 19th-century wool industry. Plans to establish the mill date back at least to 1838. The water intake was authorised in December 1853. These dates mark two specific stages in industrial development: the planning of a wool mill and the subsequent approval of water use.

Regional food and crafts

The Maison de Produits de Pays des Alpes du Verdon in Beauvezer offers regional food and local crafts. Its range includes cheese, honey, charcuterie, jams, syrups and herbal products, as well as wool, pottery and ceramics, and woodwork. The selection combines food products with handcrafted goods; the range may change.

The different highlights may help guide your choice: the Sentier du Patrimoine starts in the village centre and runs above the Verdon, while trail running, the bike park and the Parc Arbre Aventure each offer their own sports activities. The chapels and wool industry add architectural history and the region’s past to these experiences.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maime, Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, Mezel, Sigonce, La Motte-Du-Caire, Niozelles, La Palud, Saint-Étienne-Les-Orgues.

For the broader travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.