Colmars Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04370) Population: 370 Altitude: 1250 m Nearby: [ Allos | Beauvezer | Parc du Mercantour ] Photos: 1 A larger view of the Fort de Savoie (19 k) 2 Looking down across the village, the Fort de France below (19 k) 3 The outside village walls and the Eglise St-Martin (21 k) 4 Another view of the Fort de Savoie (22 k) Below: [ History | Hiking | lodging ] Colmars is a magnificent fortified village, tightly circled by a complex of stone defensive walls, completely intact today. The walls are complete with roofed towers and walkways for the bowmen. If you walk along the grassy ridge just inside the wall along the rushing Verdon, the sound of the river comes through each arrow slit with the rhythm of your walking as you pass, and sounds like the waves at the seaside. Inside the walled village you won't be disappointed. The narrow streets and old houses are completely in character with the Medieval atmosphere. Although some of the commerce has "gone outside the walls", as one disapproving resident expressed it, the center still contains the post office, Office du Tourisme, bakery, cafés, restaurants and a few other shops. There's also a lovely fountain from 1803 in one square. Two Protecting Forts. The Fort de Savoie sits on a hill above the village, guarding the bridge and protecting from attack down the valley. From the village's Porte de Savoie, a walled stone walkway goes up the hill to the fort. The Fort de France sits on a small hill just bellow the village, with a dominating view down the valley (and now over the top of the Gendarmerie) and guarding the lowerbridge. Square and plain, the Fort de France has more canon slits than arrow slits, and a walled roadway leading up the hillside from the town to the fort. Colmars is located where the rushing Lance river joins the Verdon. The surrounding mountains are thickly forested with pine and larch (mélèze), streams, lakes and waterfalls. The region, including the nearby Parc National du Mercantour, has a great variety of alpine flora and fauna, and exceptional butterflies. A lovely big grassy park is located outside the walls, with swings, teeter-totters, slides and merry-go-round for the kiddies, and space for relaxing and picnicking. One interesting ride is a giant "hamster wheel", where your kids (or you) can run in place like a two-legged gerbil. If you're heading north from Colmars, over the mountains toward Barcelonnette, this is the last place to get gas/petrol. Name First record, 1040: de Collo Martio. The name came from the Romans, for a hill dedicated to the god Mars. History Medieval: An original primitive village was located on a hill top before being moved to its current location beside the Verdon river, a swift mountain stream at this point. In 1388, Colmars became a border town when Allos and Barcelonnette were acquired by Savoy. It was protected then by a wall, but in 1390, Raymond de Turenne took the town and razed it. In 1583, Catier (an "adventurer") captured Colmars and held it for ransom. During the Wars of Religion there was a certain amount of conflict with La Ligue: the town was sacked more than once, and burnt in 1672. In 1693, Colmars was fortified by Vauban. It was maintained as a fortified town until 1921, and much of the fortifications are beautifully intact today. Dates, Numbers Market day: Tuesday, Friday Foire: 22 Sept Fête de la St. Jean: 24 June International folklore festival: last week July Office de Tourisme - tel: (33) 492 83 41 92 Mairie - tel: (33) 492 83 43 21 Gite dEtape open all year; tel: (33) 492 83 42 25 Sports "Ratery 1700" (tel: (33) 492 83 40 92) offers ski de fond, VTT and equitation. Swimming Pool (Piscine Municipale) Open every day during the summer,until 11 Sept; 10h-18h 12F adults; 6F children Camping Hiking Maps: IGN (1:25,000) 3540 ouest "Allos" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #1 "Alpes de Provence" There are many hiking trails through the forested mountains all around the town, including one trail that goes east to Ratery (1714 m) and then northeast over the Col de l'Encombrette (2527 m) to the lovely Lac d'Allos (2230 m). Lodging Listing available