Volonne Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04290) Population: 1390 Altitude: 450 m Nearby: [ Salignac 7 km | Sisteron 12 | Digne-les-Bains 28 | Champtercier Observatory ] [ Lac de l'Escale | Durance river |Route Napoléon ] Photos: Church and Bell Tower (18k) The route national N85 running along the west side of the Durance between Sisteron, Château-Arnoux and Manosque is thick with rushing traffic during the summer. One km away, on the east side (left bank) of the river, the village of Volonne and the surrounding countryside is calm and natural and beautiful. The village of Volonne (only 13 km south of Sisteron and 27 km west of Digne-les-Bains) is set in the foothills of 1400-m high mountains that slope down to the Durance. Napoléon passed through here on the 5th of March, 1815, on his way to Sisteron, Grenoble, and destiny. The 17th century chateau is in beautiful condition, and is used today as the hôtel de ville (the city hall). For "sites", Volonne also has the Eglise Saint-Martin, the remains of an 11th-century romanesque church. The ancient ruins on the rocky hill above the village are visible to the rushing traffic across the river to the west. Lac de l'Escale. This lake, formed by a dam on the Durance river, is about 4 km long between Volonne and the tiny village of L'escale. Sports See also the Sisteron-Sports section. The lake, Plan d'eau des Buissonnades at Oraison, 30 km south, offers: swimming, pedalos, wind surfing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing. The lake, Plan d'eau des Vannades, at Manosque, 40 km south along the autoroute, offers: swimming, pedalos, wind surfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, boat rentals. Hiking Maps: IGN (1:25,000) 3340 est, 3340 ouest; Didier Richard (1:50,000) #28 "Montagne de Lure". Campsites