A stay in L'Escale can be planned around several local highlights: the weekly market, trails with historical connections and the landscape of Lac de l'Escale. To choose a theme, consider the specific differences: a regular weekly event, a marked circular route and sites from different historical periods.
Weekly Market on Place du Bourguet
A market featuring vegetables, cheese and grilled dishes is held every Friday morning on Place du Bourguet. If you would like to include the market in your stay, plan for Friday morning and check that it is being held before you travel. This gives the market a specific place in your itinerary, rather than making it just a general visit to the area.
Trails and Historic Traces of the Village
A botanical trail connects the present-day village with the former medieval village of Vière. Vière is also known as Vieil Escale. Fountains, calades (cobbled lanes) and old masonry define the old village and reveal its history. The trail thus links the present-day village with the former medieval settlement.
Trail n°1 - Chabanas is a marked circular route, 5.2 kilometres long. It starts at the car park by the church in the town centre. The Balcons de la Durance route starts at the primary school on Rue des écoles. This gives you different points of reference when choosing a route: the botanical trail focuses on the connection with Vière, Chabanas on its circular route and length, and Balcons on its starting point at the primary school.
Lac de l'Escale and Views of the Landscape
Lac de l'Escale is a 200-hectare reservoir on the Durance, extending across L'Escale, Château-Arnoux and Volonne. Its area and extent provide two different points of reference: the figure in hectares describes the size of the body of water, while the three municipalities indicate its geographical setting. The lake is home to one of the largest wetlands in Provence.
The Panorama du Lac de l'Escale is a landscape interpretation site within the Géoparc de Haute Provence. Above the village, a viewpoint offers panoramic views. The Tour du Lac has six discovery areas, observation terraces along the Durance and around twenty information panels. This offers different ways to take in the landscape: the panoramic view from above the village, and the areas, terraces and panels along the Tour du Lac.
Le Bourguet and the Earlier History of the Area
The archaeological site of Le Bourguet lies one kilometre north of the village of L'Escale. In Gallo-Roman times, it was an important settlement centre. Its historical period differs from that of medieval Vière: Le Bourguet represents Gallo-Roman settlement history, while Vière is a former village whose fountains, calades and masonry reveal its past. Together, the sites showcase two distinct historical highlights of L'Escale.
Discover more destinations: La Condamine-Châtelard, Chaudon-Norante, Aubenas-Les-Alpes, Mane, Le Vernet, Enchastrayes, Saumane, Pierrevert
For the regional travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
