Saint-Julien-Du-Verdon on Lake Castillon

In Saint-Julien-Du-Verdon, three distinct aspects of the destination take centre stage: Lake Castillon and its water activities, hikes with stated walking times, and a route exploring local buildings and traditions. For planning, it is useful to keep these highlights separate: options range from bathing areas and water sports to hikes to viewpoints and an easy cultural walk.

Lake Castillon and activities on the water

Lake Castillon is an artificial reservoir created in 1948 during the construction of the dam. It is about 10 km long and around 100 m deep. On the shore near Saint-Julien-du-Verdon, you can swim in supervised bathing areas. Sailing, canoeing, pedal boating, paddling and fishing are also possible.

The Base nautique du Touron is located in Touron Bay on the shore of Lake Castillon. The bay is also a viewpoint on the Les Champons hike.

Hikes with different durations

The Les Champons hike takes about one hour, is considered suitable for families and offers views of Saint-Julien-du-Verdon and Touron Bay. The route to the Belvédère du Pidanoux requires a different time commitment: it is 7.6 km long and takes about three hours. The route starts and ends in the village square of Saint-Julien-du-Verdon and leads to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Castillon and the village.

The two hikes can therefore be compared by their approximate duration: about one hour for Les Champons, compared with around three hours for the Belvédère du Pidanoux. The views also differ: Les Champons focuses on the village and Touron Bay, while the Belvédère overlooks the lake and Saint-Julien-du-Verdon. The route to the Belvédère lies within the protected natural area of the Parc naturel régional du Verdon and is included in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departmental hiking plan.

Local history and heritage

The heritage trail is an easy walking loop that is open every day throughout the year and free to access. It is 0.83 km long and takes about one hour. Among the trail’s features is a traditionally restored plum-drying shed dating from the second half of the 19th century. It is considered the last testament to the importance of local plum growing.

The village’s history dates back to the 5th century, when monks from Lérins Abbey built a small priory on the summit of what is now Saint-Julien-du-Verdon. The Chapelle Notre-Dame was once the village church; its current form dates from the 17th century. A cemetery lies nearby.

Two 19th-century buildings also offer their own historical highlights. The present-day Église Saint-Roch was built at the end of the 19th century on the site of a sanctuary dedicated to Saint Roch. The communal bread oven dates from 1905. It is used again every year at Pentecost, for the patron saint’s feast and on other festive occasions. In this way, the visible and living connections to the village extend from the early priory to a recurring local tradition.

Discover more destinations: Oraison, Turriers, Mane, Valernes, Faucon-De-Barcelonnette, Pierrevert, Montagnac-Montpezat, Roumoules.

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