Forcalquier: Old Town, Museums and Monday Market

Forcalquier brings together a medieval centre with religious and civic cultural sites, a long-established Monday market and the natural area of Les Mourres. If you are looking for a hotel in Forcalquier, you can start by considering which of these facets of the town you want to shape your trip: architecture, museum collections, market life or the unusual limestone formations. The following topics offer some specific points to help you decide.

Old Town and Architectural History

The medieval centre includes cobbled lanes, fountains, notable historic townhouses and sunny squares. The Concathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Bourguet was built between the 12th and 16th centuries and combines Romanesque and Gothic elements. It continues to host highlights of the religious life of Forcalquier’s residents, as well as organ and vocal concerts and conferences. Architectural and religious history therefore meet at this site in a cultural programme that also includes music and talks.

Other historical landmarks include the Citadelle and the Couvent des Cordeliers. The Citadelle de Forcalquier stands on the site of the former castle of the Counts of Forcalquier. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Provence, an octagonal chapel in the Neo-Byzantine style built in 1875, is located at the Citadelle. The Couvent des Cordeliers was founded in the 13th century on the site of a former Benedictine priory. The former count’s residence, chapel and monastic foundation represent different chapters in the town’s history.

Museums and Their Collections

The municipal museum’s permanent exhibition spans the period from prehistory to the 1980s. Its collections include archaeology, fine art, everyday objects and religious artefacts, as well as Lucien Henry’s contemporary art collection. Its subject matter thus ranges from early periods and everyday objects to art from the more recent past.

The Artemisia Museum has a different focus. It is located in the Couvent des Cordeliers, and its permanent exhibition covers more than 250 m². Workshops on edible herbs, perfumery and the secrets of essential oils are offered there throughout the year; dates may vary. If you are particularly interested in herbs, fragrance or essential oils, these workshops offer a distinct thematic experience alongside the municipal museum’s collections.

Monday Market in the Town Centre

The Monday market in Forcalquier has been documented since the 12th century. Items on offer include regional produce, textiles and terracotta goods; individual vendors may vary. The market stretches through the town centre and Old Town as far as the artisans’ courtyard. Its size and variety of goods make it a distinctive feature alongside the town’s architectural and museum history. If the market is important to your trip, include Monday in your plans and check the relevant dates in advance.

Les Mourres and Themed Walking Tours

Les Mourres is classified by the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Department as an Espace Naturel Sensible (sensitive natural area). The site consists of unusual limestone formations, some of which resemble faces. Its classification as a natural area and its striking appearance are two distinct aspects of this destination: one describes its status, the other the distinctive formations that define it.

The themed walking tours also each have their own focus. Le lectionnaire enchanté de Forcalquier features twelve display panels made of enamelled lava and tactile drawings. Derrière les portes secrètes de Forcalquier is a tour of the town’s old doors; twelve resin wall panels reproduce notable doors from the Old Town. This lets you choose between a tour featuring tactile drawings and enamelled panels and one focused on the doors of the Old Town.

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Return to the main travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.