Sisteron and the Méouge: The Citadel, the Underground Stair and the Gorge Pools
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
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250
XP
+100 France
= 350 total
2 days
Sisteron and the Méouge: The Citadel, the Underground Stair and the Gorge Pools
250 + 100 XP
Sisteron's citadel sits at 500 m on a rock spur above the town and the Durance, at the gateway between the Dauphiné and Provence: Henri IV's engineer Jean Errard built the bastions, Vauban drew up a new plan for it in 1692, and the 19th century carried much of that plan out. Napoleon passed beneath it on 5 March 1815 on his march from Elba. To the north-west, the Méouge has cut a gorge full of swimming holes, crossed by a medieval bridge at Châteauneuf-de-Chabre.
Required Activities
1
of 3
Climb through the citadel of Sisteron to the stone guérite du Diable on the wall, then into the 14th-century chapel of Notre-Dame du Château, three-quarters destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt with windows by Claude Courageux, and pick out the banding of golden Bevons sandstone against grey Chambrancon limestone; in the keep, find the reconstructed cell where Richelieu held the future king of Poland, Jan Casimir Vasa
2
of 3
Walk down the underground staircase cut through the rock between 1842 and 1860 to link the citadel with the rebuilt north gate of the town, and count the steps on the way
3
of 3
Before leaving Sisteron, stand on the Durance bridges the Allied bombers were aiming for on 15 August 1944, when more than 300 townspeople were killed and much of the town flattened, then drive north-west to swim in a pool of the Gorges de la Méouge and cross the medieval bridge at Châteauneuf-de-Chabre
Climb through the citadel of Sisteron to the stone guérite du Diable on the wall, then into the 14th-century chapel of Notre-Dame du Château, three-quarters destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt with windows by Claude Courageux, and pick out the banding of golden Bevons sandstone against grey Chambrancon limestone; in the keep, find the reconstructed cell where Richelieu held the future king of Poland, Jan Casimir Vasa
Walk down the underground staircase cut through the rock between 1842 and 1860 to link the citadel with the rebuilt north gate of the town, and count the steps on the way
Before leaving Sisteron, stand on the Durance bridges the Allied bombers were aiming for on 15 August 1944, when more than 300 townspeople were killed and much of the town flattened, then drive north-west to swim in a pool of the Gorges de la Méouge and cross the medieval bridge at Châteauneuf-de-Chabre
Before you go
The citadel opens from late March to mid-November and is shut through the winter; the ticket office closes an hour before the site does, and the visit is a long climb on uneven steps and ramps. The Gorges de la Méouge pools are unsupervised wild swimming with rock ledges and cold water, and the river rises fast after rain.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
350 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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