Discover Soleilhas

If you’re looking for a hotel in Soleilhas, first consider whether your trip will focus mainly on hiking, chapels and architectural history, or winter sports. Soleilhas is nestled on the valley floor, where the Estéron rises. The hiking trails and historic buildings offer concrete points of reference to help you choose the focus of your stay.

Hiking and scenery in Soleilhas

The circular hiking route to the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, les Colettes, begins and ends at the car park in the town centre. Along the way, it passes through meadows and woodland with Scots pines. A trail overview board is located in the car park by the village community hall. This gives you an overview of the hiking options on site, while the circular route itself has a clearly defined start and end point.

The GR4 crosses the Vauplane valley. Vauplane is a good place to stop and have a picnic. Another hike goes around the Défens des Colettes to former gypsum quarries near travertine waterfalls. On the way back, you pass oratories lining the pilgrims’ path to the Chapelle Saint-Pierre. This offers two different hiking options: a circular route starting and ending in the town centre, and a route featuring historic wayside shrines and landscape highlights.

Chapels, church and architectural history

The Chapelle Saint-Pierre dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. Notre-Dame-du-Plan has a different history: it was once the parish church and is now a chapel. It stands at the foot of a hill crowned by a ruined castle settlement; its apse shows Romanesque features. Those interested in religious buildings can trace both architectural styles and changes in the building’s ecclesiastical function here.

The Chapelle Saint-Barnabé was probably built in the 13th century. A funerary stele from the early 1st century was reused in its altar slab. The chapel stands on the pass separating the Verdon and Estéron valleys. Soleilhas parish church is also part of the village’s architectural history: it was built in 1668. Traditional buildings in Soleilhas feature locally quarried marl limestone rubble bonded with lime mortar.

Farm visit and winter profile

At La Saoume farm, super-fatted soaps made with donkey and goat milk are produced using the cold-process method. If you’re specifically looking for these soaps, check their availability in advance. You can meet the donkeys by appointment, so arrange your visit ahead of time.

Col Saint-Barnabé lies at an altitude of 1,365 metres between Demandolx and Soleilhas, at the junction with the road to the former Vauplane ski resort. Soleilhas-Vauplane snow area is part of the winter offering and is geared towards families. It is particularly suited to beginners, cross-country skiers, ski tourers and snowshoers. If winter sports are the reason for your trip, check the current operating dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Martin-De-Brômes, Beynes, Aiglun, Vachères, Montsalier, Le Lauzet-Ubaye, Saint-Andrè-Les-Alpes, Volx.

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