Curbans: A village overlooking the Durance

Curbans is a hilltop village overlooking the Durance. Lac de Curbans lies in the bed of the Durance River and within the territory of the communes of Curbans and La Saulce. The village and lake offer different perspectives on the river to help you plan your trip: in the village, oratories, a chapel and a church reflect its cultural history; at the lake, seasonal bird migration and fishing, with specific exceptions, are important considerations. A route adds concrete time and distance details to these local and natural features.

The village and its architectural history

The Oratoire Sainte-Anne stands at the top of the village, on a raised, flower-surrounded square where the roads to Tallard and Urtis meet. The Oratoire Sainte Barbe overlooks the lake. The two oratories therefore differ in location: Sainte-Anne is situated in the upper village by the roads, while Sainte Barbe is associated with views of the lake.

At the foot of the village stands the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, a Romanesque building whose earliest traces date back to the 11th century. The description as a Romanesque building complements the dating: it characterizes the architectural style, while the 11th century provides the earliest chronological reference. A restoration leaflet from January 2026 notes that the chapel has been closed since the 1990s; before visiting, check whether access has changed following the restoration work. The village church became the parish church in the 17th century, replacing the church of Saint-Pierre during its reconstruction. The dates thus span the chapel’s earliest traces through to the later reorganization of parish functions in the 17th century.

Lac de Curbans: nature and fishing

The lake is also a seasonal natural attraction: during bird migration, naturalists watch migratory birds there through telescopes. This connection matters when planning your travel dates, as the observations are tied to the migration season. The village’s architectural history, by contrast, is a place-based feature you can explore independently of this natural seasonal window.

Fishing is permitted at Lac de Curbans, except in the areas 300 metres upstream and 300 metres downstream of the La Saulce dam on both banks. The prohibited sections are on both sides of the dam; check local rules before fishing. While birdwatching is seasonal and tied to migration, fishing depends on the location of the restricted areas along the banks.

Routes around Curbans

Aventure No. 5, “Les ordres monastiques, au nom du Père” (“The Monastic Orders, in the Name of the Father”), is a one-day, 90-kilometre route travelled on foot and by car. The day-long schedule, distance and combination of transport modes are practical details for planning; check the route information before setting out. Two routes on the Sentier des Contes start at the Curbans-La Saulce bridge. The route options therefore offer different points of reference: for Aventure No. 5, these are the time, distance and transport; for the Sentier des Contes, the shared starting point and the number of routes.

Discover more destinations: La Bréole, Pra Loup, La Brillanne, Pierrevert, Céreste, Les Omergues, Clamensane, Mallemoisson

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