Brunet combines its setting on the northern slope of the Valensole Plateau with hiking trails and a Romanesque church. The village can be explored from two perspectives: the landscape along the Asse and traces of its history. Several trails invite you to go for a walk; the Église Saint-Martin adds its own ecclesiastical history. If you are considering a stay, you can weigh up whether you want to travel to Brunet primarily for the landscape, the village’s history, or both.

Brunet’s Location on the Asse and Valensole

Brunet is a village at an elevation of 425 metres on the left bank of the Asse, built on the northern slope of the Valensole Plateau. Above the Valensole plain, the village offers an unobstructed view of the Asse River. The riverbank, hillside and elevation provide concrete points of reference for the landscape. The view of the Asse and the location above the plain complement each other: one looks towards the river, the other towards the plateau and its surroundings. If the landscape is a priority when choosing a destination, Brunet’s riverside setting and elevation give it a distinct landscape profile.

Hiking with a Historic Destination

Several hiking trails in Brunet invite you to go for a walk. One of the trails leads to a tall wall, a remnant of a feudal castle. This gives the walk a specific historical connection. That makes a difference when choosing what to do: you can focus on the hiking trails or consider the route to the wall as a way to combine exercise with local history. This gives hiking in Brunet a named destination connected with the feudal past, as well as a connection to the landscape.

The Église Saint-Martin

The Église Saint-Martin is a Romanesque church with a flat-ended apse. The apse is the end of the church interior at the choir; its flat form differs from a semicircular end. This gives the general classification of the church as Romanesque a specific architectural feature. Its ecclesiastical history is also dated: the Saint-Martin church was once a priory chapel established by Montmajour, before belonging to the Cathedral of Riez in 1204. Since 1713, it has housed relics of Saint Christine. The architectural form, former affiliation and relics offer different ways of approaching the same building. If you are interested in cultural history, Brunet’s church can be understood through its architecture, institutional past and religious heritage.

Further Traces of the Past

Roman remains were unearthed in Brunet in the 1950s. In addition, a presumed ancient road is said to have passed through the village. The two clues have different statuses: the discovery of the remains is dated, while the road’s route is explicitly conjectural. Brunet’s agriculture is also part of its historical profile: the village was long known for its peach production. The historical themes therefore extend beyond the church and castle wall to include archaeological evidence and a former agricultural tradition.

Which Aspect Suits Your Trip?

There are different points of interest within the cultural theme: the church brings together a Romanesque building and a dated ecclesiastical history; the wall is a remnant of a feudal castle and the destination of a hiking trail. If you would like to focus on a building and its history, the church offers several specific points of interest. If you want to combine exercise with a historical destination, one of the trails leads to the wall.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Vincent-sur-Jabron, Oraison, Entrevaux, Revest-du-Bion, Saint-Étienne-Les-Orgues, Clamensane, Annot, Vachères.

See the overview of destinations: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.