Towards the paths of art

Between Provence and the Alps, discovering landscapes wild and mysterious. Hiking and visits to the mountain art collection of the Gassendi Museum and the Alexandra David-Neel House. Stay accompanied by a certified mountain art guide.

Hiking and cultural discoveries in Haute-Provence. Program and itinerary, day by day:

Day 1: Meet at 14 p.m. at Villa Gaïa (Digne-les-Bains) then climb the “Philosophers’ Summit”. Transfer by private vehicle: 20 mins. there, 20 mins back. Hike: approximately 1 hours of walking. Total elevation gain: + 30 m / – 150 m. Distance: 150 km.
Dinner and evening at Villa Gaia.

Day 2: The Roche Rousse sanctuary. Head towards the Bès valley, not far from the village of Esclangon. Climb up a path on the right bank of Bès. We cross forests of black pine and oaks then come out onto a rocky ridge overlooking the valley. We then enter the sacred wood, an inspired forest, named by Herman de Vries, which houses his red rock sanctuary. We then arrive near a tiny Orthodox hermitage, an ideal place for a picnic. On the way down, we pass at the foot of the fine blade of Facibelle, a dizzying geological formation rising towards the sky. On the way back, we will stop at the “dalle aux ammonites” which is like a striking photograph of a seabed 200 million years ago. Transfer by private vehicle: 25 mins there / 25 mins back. Hiking: Approximately 4 hours. Total elevation gain: +420 m / – 380 m. Distance: 5 km.
Dinner and evening at Villa Gaia.

Day 3: Old Esclangon art refuge and visit of the house
Alexandra David Néel This time, we set off for a walk on the left bank of the Bès. The walk then becomes a fascinating time machine: we tread the reddish bed of an ancient tropical lagoon, among palm trees, dwarf rhinoceroses and large wading birds that populated the region twenty million years ago… The Vieil Esclangon art refuge, the work of Andy Goldsworthy, is a striking evocation of this climb. Then, a short climb takes us to a viewpoint over the velodrome, a monumental delta of a river that flowed here into a sea that was not yet our Mediterranean. Picnic next to the art refuge. On the way back, we search in the ruins of the old village of Esclangon for the gold-leafed traces of Herman de Vries. A descent across the field allows us to reach our vehicles. A stop in the Bès Valley will allow us to discover a sentinel by Andy Goldsworthy and other works. On the way back, we will visit the house of the explorer and writer Alexandra David Néel, recently restored as well as the adjoining Asian art museum. Return across the field to the Villa Gaïa. Transfer by private vehicle: 25 mins there / 25 mins back. Hiking: Approximately 3 hours. Total elevation gain: +280 m / – 330 m. Distance: 5,6 km. Dinner and evening at the Villa Gaia.

Day 4: Bellon Farm Art Refuge and visit to the Gassendi Museum
After returning our rooms to the Villa Gaïa, we will set off to discover one last work by Andy Goldsworthy: the art refuge of the Bellon farm, in Draix, where we will have a picnic. The hike takes place through a stunning landscape, along the edge of canyons dug into the black marl. Afternoon: visit the Gassendi Museum, the beating heart of the mountain art collection. This fascinating cabinet of curiosities is rich in a thousand treasures: a monumental work by Andy Goldsworthy, strange hydropithecus fossils, a herbarium in the shape of a work of art and a cabinet
stones that shake up established categories… Transfer by private vehicle: 25 mins there / 25 mins back. Hike: Approximately 3 hours. Total elevation gain: +150 m / – 150 m. Distance: 4 km.
End of stay: 16 p.m. at Villa Gaïa.

Warning: Based on poor weather forecast, of significant group fatigue, degraded trails or for any other reasons beyond our control, we may be required to exceptionally modify this program. During the stay, your guide remains the only one judge of this program which he can modify at any time to reasons that could harm the security of the group and the good progress of the stay.