Peipin: Chapel, Walking Trails and Landscape

Peipin offers travellers several distinct points of interest: a Romanesque chapel, a hill in the centre of the village with views of Montagne de Lure, a walking route and a riding route. Regional produce also plays a part. For your planning, it helps to decide on your main interest first. The two routes differ in how you travel and in their course; the chapel and landscape offer different focal points.

Landscape and views

The remains of the castle are located on the hill in the centre of the village. From there, you can enjoy remarkable views of Montagne de Lure. The hill thus combines a historic connection to the village with a clearly defined landscape view. Two Natura 2000 sites concern the Durance; a third, on the municipal boundary, concerns Montagne de Lure. The Durance and Lure offer distinct landscape settings.

Walking and riding routes

The “La Route Napoléon à Cheval” riding route passes through Peipin and then climbs into the mountains via the GR653D (Chemin de St Jacques de Compostelle). The route also crosses the Pas de Peipin at an altitude of 1,030 metres. The named pass and the ensuing mountain section provide two specific landmarks along the riding route.

The “Des gorges de la Rayée au chemin des Côtes” walk starts at Place du Bon Vent in Peipin. It leads to the charcoal burners’ sites of Lure and to former mountain pastures, where chamois occasionally feed. Its landscape focus therefore differs from the pass and mountain details of the riding route. The starting point, means of travel and the specific landscape features mentioned can help you choose between the two routes based on your travel interests.

Chapel and culture

The Chapelle de Peipin is a 13th-century Romanesque chapel. Its history includes not only its architecture but also a programme of events: since 2018, concerts, performances, dance, theatre, readings, exhibitions and conferences have been held there, among other events. Individual events may change, so check the dates before visiting. This allows you to consider the chapel’s historic significance and its cultural events as two distinct aspects of Peipin.

Regional produce

At Ferme Les Tilleuls in Peipin, goat’s cheese, olive oil, jams and eggs are sold on site. The range also includes farm-raised poultry such as ducks, geese, guinea fowl, capons and turkeys, as well as traditionally raised rabbits. If regional produce is important to your travel plans, this shop offers a specific connection to Peipin. Check the opening arrangements before setting out.

You can choose what suits your travel interests in Peipin without combining the different routes and cultural themes into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Dabisse-Les Mees, Digne-Les-Bains, Lurs, Cruis, La Motte-Du-Caire, Ste.Croix-A-Lauze, Turriers, Beauvezer.

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