Nestled in the Ubaye Valley of the French Alps, Barcelonnette is a historic town dating back to 1231. It’s clustered with Baroque villas inspired by Italian and Tyrolean architectural styles and serves as a gateway for exploring the mountainous hiking trails and sparkling lakes of Mercantour National Park.
Things to do in Barcelonnette
Stroll through the heart of Barcelonnette to admire its 17th-century buildings and the Neoclassical-style gendarmerie overlooking Place Manuel. An image of the politician Jacques-Antoine Manuel (after whom the square is named) is featured on the central fountain. Also of note is the 1930s town hall and the Eglise Saint Pierre with its 13th-century bell tower.
At the Musee de la Vallee, you can immerse yourself in the cultural history of the area and learn about Barcelonnette’s links to Mexico. The museum occupies a villa built in 1878 by Alexandre Reynaud following his return from the Americas. In addition to exhibits detailing the valley’s earliest settlers, there are paintings, photographic works and archaeological findings on display.
In the winter months, you can hit the ski slopes of Pra-Loup, which lies south-west of Barcelonnette and has been attracting snow enthusiasts since the 1960s. Framed by larch forests, the resort boasts around 180 kilometres of runs to explore, as well as a toboggan hill, an ice-skating rink and snowshoeing trails. You can soak up the views during a tandem paragliding flight or be pampered at the on-site spa.
Getting around Barcelonnette
Barcelonnette is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Marseille and Marseille-Provence Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect to Barcelonnette and the town centre is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.