One of the best known attractions of this département is the gorges du Verdon, an impressive river canyon. And there are many other geological features worth visiting, such as the gorges de Trévans near Mézel and the passses of Taulanne and Chabrières. This beautiful region is also very popular with parascenders, hang-gliders, microlighters, canoeists, rafters and windsurfers. Just about every small town and village is worth visiting for its ancient buildings. Forcalquier's cathedral, the fort at Sisteron, the fortified town of Manosque and the citadel of Entrevaux are just a small selection of the département's must-sees.
The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence boast enviable weather conditions: more than 300 days of sunshine per year, with pleasant temperatures year-round and pure, dry air. The spring and autumn seasons bring delicious mushrooms and fungi: morels, ceps, oronges, petits gris, sanguins, as well as the prized truffles. The area is also famous for its goat's cheeses, such as Banon, and for nougat.
