A mountain village on the edge of the Verdon, Colmars-les-Alpes is characterized above all by its classical military architecture, a consequence of its role as the keystone of the French defensive system at the time when the border was just a stone's throw from the village.
A bit of History...
In the Middle Ages, Colmars-les-Alpes was a prosperous community with a communal franchise status. The drapery industry that would make the Upper Verdon Valley famous until the end of the 19th century was flourishing.
In 1388, Allos and Barcelonnette passed to Savoy and Colmars-les-Alpes became a border town. It is then protected by a first medieval wall whose defensive system will be improved by François 1st during his wars against Charles V.
It is especially at the end of the XIVth century that the village will be endowed with a more developed set of fortifications which will give it its current aspect. With Victor-Amédée's accession to the League of Augsburg in 1690, war was declared between France and Savoy.
Louis XIV then commissioned Vauban to study a defense system to reinforce the border, with priority given to the construction of two redoubts to watch over the bridges: a simple square redoubt to the south, the Fort de France, and a much larger Fort de Savoie to the north.
A military past, but not just a military past...
Colmars-les-Alpes will undergo some transformations around 1691-1692 with the construction of bastioned towers, but will remain without great changes from the 18th century. Inside the enclosure, powder magazine, Place d'Armes, remains of crenellated towers, still testify to the military past of the village.
Since the Middle Ages, a whole people of peasants, shepherds, craftsmen and merchants lived within the walls, marking with their daily activities the architecture of the town with three or four-storey high houses, larch shingle roofs, streets paved with Verdon pebbles.
The intense religious life of the city has also left many testimonies of great interest and in particular the pretty ironwork campanile of the Chapel Notre Dame des Grâces, surmounting a bell tower of glazed tiles which reminds us that this mountain village is indeed Provencal.
To see in Colmars les Alpes
First of all, during your visit, on the ramparts, you must visit the Maison musée du Chemin de Ronde and the Fort de Savoie. It is also necessary to see the Saint-Martin church and its altarpieces of the XVIIth century), the Saint-Joseph Chapel.
You should also follow the "Memory of the streets" trail made of enamelled lava panels revealing the richness of traditions and customs and the interpretation trail "In the footsteps of the soldier Carlon", starting from the tourist office, which allows you to discover the architectural and environmental heritage of Colmars les Alpes.
In the surrounding area, you won't forget the Cascade de la Lance, a listed natural site, the hikes in the heart of the Mercantour National Park and the outdoor activities site in Ratery (mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing)...
Colmars les Alpes is also worth a visit for its Medieval Festival on the second Sunday of August and the previous Saturday;
Verdon Tourism Colmars les Alpes
Old Flowered Inn
04370 Colmars-Les-Alpes
Tel. 04 92 83 41 92
https://www.tourisme-alpes-haute-provence.com/colmars-les-alpes/
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
(free version)
