Faucon-De-Barcelonnette offers several ways to explore: historic buildings and hiking trails provide distinct points of interest. The Tour de l’Horloge tells the story of several building phases, while the Église Saint-Étienne combines a fresco with year-round public access. If you would like to include some exercise, numerous hiking trails start right in the village. When planning your stay, it is also important to note that guided tower tours are available in summer.
The tower, church, and the story of Jean de Matha
The Tour de l’Horloge was built in the 11th century on the foundations of an older Romanesque church and rebuilt in the 16th century. Its square shape and small round corner turrets give the building a distinctive appearance. The tower is classified as a historic monument; this classification was made by decree on July 22, 1913. The building therefore reflects both the construction phases mentioned and its status as a historic monument.
In summer, the Tour de l’Horloge can be visited as part of guided tours. This is a seasonal offering, so check the current summer schedule before your trip. The tour is therefore a separate, season-dependent activity and should not be confused with year-round guided access.
The Église Saint-Étienne offers another perspective on the village’s history. It was rebuilt in 1872 on the foundations of an earlier Romanesque church. Its apse contains a fresco depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The church is open to the public year-round; check the access information again before you travel. The 19th-century rebuilding and the fresco highlight different aspects: architectural history on the one hand and sacred art inside the church on the other.
Jean de Matha was born in Faucon-De-Barcelonnette in 1160. A statue of the saint stands in the square near the town hall. In the 17th century, his successors founded the Couvent des Trinitaires. The Couvent offers a place for spiritual retreat in a two-hectare garden. Together, these places reflect different connections to Jean de Matha: his birth in the village, his commemoration in a public space, and the later foundation established by his successors. The Couvent complements the architectural sights with an explicitly spiritual focus.
Hiking trails and scenery
The trails offer a different thematic focus. The GR®69 La Routo passes through Faucon-De-Barcelonnette and follows in the footsteps of shepherds and their flocks. Its connection to pastoral tradition distinguishes it from the village’s architectural and church histories. Numerous hiking trails start right in the village and lead, among other places, to Bouzoulières, Bonnet Vert, and Soleil-Bœuf.
The trails cross larch forests, high-altitude pastures, orchards, and scenic ridges. A yellow-marked hiking trail starting from Faucon is 2.7 kilometers long. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The cultural visits have different schedules: the Église Saint-Étienne is open to the public year-round, while guided tours of the Tour de l’Horloge may be available in summer. Check the current schedule for the tower and trail conditions before hiking. This lets you consider architectural history, sacred art, and hiking trails as distinct parts of your stay, rather than assuming the same conditions apply to every activity.
Discover more destinations: Riez, Le Fugeret, Sisteron, Châteauneuf-Val-Saint-Donat, Castellane, Thoard, Saint-Julien-Du-Verdon, Prads-Haute-Bléone.
For the broader travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
