Barcelonnette, the chief town of the Ubaye valley, is situated at an altitude of 1,135 metres and possesses both typical southern French and mountain charm. Place Manuel sits in the heart of the historic centre bordered by pretty, colourful façades. Dominated by the 15th-century Cardinalis tower, this hub of local activity also features a number of outdoor cafés and restaurants. A network of pedestrian streets lined with shops surrounds the square.

Fans of unusual architecture should make a point of admiring the Mexican villas on Avenue de la Libération. Of Italian, Tyrolean and Baroque inspiration, these luxury residences, most of which are listed historic monuments, were built between 1880 and 1930 by Barcelonnets who had made their fortune in Mexico. One of them, Villa La Sapinière, is open to the public and houses the Musée de la Vallée, a museum devoted to the history and traditions of the Ubaye valley, as well as the Mercantour National Park visitor centre (Maison du Parc).

A very animated Latino-Mexican Festival takes over Barcelonnette for around 10 days every August and features a packed programme of concerts, processions and mariachis.

Pra-Loup, a ski resort in the Southern Alps, in the Uvernet-Fours area not far from Barcelonnette, offers a wide range of activities. Linked to the resort of La Foux d'Allos via the Espace Lumière ski area with its 230 kilometres of pistes, the resort offers downhill skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating. In summer, hiking, mountain biking, golf, fishing, mountain volleyball and tennis are available.

Situated in the Southern Alps on the Route des Grandes Alpes (Great Alps Route) at an altitude of 2,247 metres, Allos mountain pass, open from May to October, links the Ubaye and Verdon valleys. It treats cyclists, bikers and car drivers to a superb panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.

Located in the Blanche valley 1,260 metres above sea level, the welcoming little town of Seyne is a designated "Cité de Caractère" (fortified town of character) and "Station Verte" (nature-orientated holiday resort) enjoying a pleasant, unspoiled natural environment.

Overlooked by Fort Vauban and a medieval watchtower, the historic district makes a picturesque scene. With its typical streets, half-timbered houses, dated doorways, ramparts and Romanesque church, it is a lovely place to wander around.

Famous for its tradition of mule breeding, Seyne honours this sturdy and patient animal every year in a mule competition held during the town's annual festival on the second Saturday in August. In addition to this animated event, a horse and cattle fair takes place every second Saturday in October.

The second largest artificial lake in Europe at 3,000 hectares, Serre-Ponçon lake is a wonderful expanse of water surrounded by mountainous scenery. Like a sea in the mountains! Numerous activities on both water and land are available there. In the village resort of Savines-le-Lac, an approved Station Classée (resort paying particular attention to tourism facilities), you can relax on the beach (lifeguarded in July and August) and enjoy a host of leisure pursuits like swimming, sailing and fishing, as well as hiking, mountain-biking, horse-riding and climbing.

To take advantage of Serre-Ponçon's fantastic viewpoints, walkers should follow the network of footpaths that run around the vast stretch of turquoise water.

Built over the Durance river, the impressive Serre-Ponçon dam – 123 metres high and 650 metres wide at its base – is the biggest earth dam in Europe!

Worth visiting: the Muséoscope du Lac museum located at the Serre-Ponçon panoramic viewpoint at Rousset, which immerses visitors in the history of how this huge dam was built.

In the hills above the hilltop village of Théus lies a natural site that's strange to say the least: the Ballroom of the Capped Young Ladies (Salle de Bal des Demoiselles Coiffées). This mysterious place consisting of around 100 fairy chimneys (column-like rock formations with caps) forms an amazing group of mineral sculptures!

Nestled between Provence and Mercantour, the Ubaye valley, whose chief town is the welcoming Barcelonnette, is a popular destination for outdoor activities. Wild and unspoiled, this area of glacial origin, dominated by mountains of over 3,000 metres, is a delight for fans of hiking, skiing and canoeing. In the Upper Ubaye area, nature lovers absolutely must make the wonderful hike to the beautiful Neufs Couleurs lake situated 2,841 metres above sea level.

The Ubaye valley will also delight fans of heritage buildings, with the beautiful Romanesque church of Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, the impressive little Châtelet bridge suspended over narrow gorges, the hilltop fort of Tournoux and Abriès mill in Jausiers.

Built in the 12th century by the hermit monks of the Order of Chalais and occupied today by a religious community, Notre-Dame de Boscodon abbey is located near the village of Crots a few kilometres from Serre-Ponçon lake. In an exceptional natural setting at the edge of Boscodon forest, it consists of a delightful Romanesque church and stone abbey buildings. The whole group is roofed in larch shingle, which adds to the charm of the place.

Not far from the vast Serre-Ponçon lake and close to the village of Crots is the magnificent, 850-hectare Boscodon forest. Offering numerous footpaths and viewpoints, this wonderful fir forest next to Boscodon abbey is a delight for walkers and nature lovers. A botanical trail dotted with information panels introduces visitors to all the different local trees and shrubs.

Nicknamed the little Nice of the Alps because of its particularly mild and sunny climate, the town of Embrun, a former archdiocese and military fortified town, dominates the Durance valley from the top of a cliff.

The Provençal-looking old town boasts a wonderful heritage: a network of narrow streets lined with colourful houses, pretty squares with fountains, arched passageways and walls decorated with sundials.

The must-see Notre-Dame-du-Réal cathedral dating from the 12th and 13th centuries is one of the most important religious monuments in the French Alps. Among its features are a magnificent portal guarded by two statues of lions, a Gothic rose window, a marble high altar, a great organ and a remarkable treasure of ancient sacerdotal garments, manuscripts and pieces of silverware.

Not far from the cathedral stands Brune tower, the former keep of the archbishop's palace dating from the 12th century that now houses a space dedicated to Écrins National Park.

To enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside, visitors should head to the garden of the archbishop's palace (Archevêché) near the cathedral. From the viewpoint indicators there are stunning views over the Durance valley with the peaks of the Embrunais mountains towering above.

Two kilometres from the town centre is Embrun lake where you can enjoy a whole host of water-based activities, including swimming (supervised in July and August), kayaking, sailing and fishing.

Dominating both the roofs of the village and the Durance valley, the Château de Tallard, built in the 14th and 16th centuries, features a mixture of medieval and Renaissance architecture.

As well as a beautiful view of the surroundings, the château boasts a seigniorial dwelling flanked by towers and with mullioned windows, a guardroom and the Flamboyant Gothic Saint-Jean chapel.

In summer, the château organises events and festivities like the medieval days (Journées Médiévales) and a historical sound and light show.

Built at an altitude of 735 metres, Gap is the highest chief département town (préfecture) in France. Its historic centre is the perfect place for a wander, particularly the charming square Place Jean Marcellin and its very lively pedestrian streets. Other places of interest in the old town include the beautiful 18th-century facade of the town hall with its wrought-iron balconies, and Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Arnoux cathedral, a 19th-century Neo-Gothic building with a 70-metre high bell tower porch and a fantastic organ inside.

No to be missed: the Gap departmental museum devoted to archaeology and the history of art, where visitors can admire exhibits like the white and black marble mausoleum of the Duke of Lesdiguières.

A few kilometres from the town centre is the Domaine de Charance estate, the former summer residence of the bishops of Gap and today home to the National Alpine Botanical Conservatory and the Écrins National Park Visitor Centre. As well as these two places dedicated to nature preservation, the estate possesses a formal and a landscaped garden, as well as a 220-hectare park with a lake.

As for events, the town of Gap hosts the International Folk Dance Festival every July.

Located at the gateway to Queyras Regional Nature Park between Vars and Izoard passes, the town of Guillestre possesses a beautiful religious heritage.

The Gothic church of the Assomption built in local stone features a remarkable portal with two columns rising out of statues of recumbent lions and a three-storey bell tower decorated on the outside with a beautiful sundial.

Guillestre has also preserved old houses and vestiges of its surrounding wall in the form of remains of ramparts and four gates.

Fans of local produce must not miss Guillestre market, which takes place every Monday morning.

Overhanging the confluence of the Guil and Durance rivers from the top of a rocky plateau, the fortified town of Mont-Dauphin, built by the famous architect Vauban at the end of the 17th century, is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From its military past as an impregnable citadel, Mont-Dauphin fortress, which is built of pink marble from Guillestre, has preserved a remarkable group of buildings: ramparts and bastions enclosing an arsenal, a powder magazine, army barracks and the choir of Saint-Louis church. The fort also comprises houses, fountains, communal washing places (lavoirs) and gardens to walk in. Along the ramparts, there is a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding mountain landscape.

Not to be missed on a trip to Mont-Dauphin: Rochambeau barracks with its arched staircase and magnificent roof structure, and the Vauban museum located inside the arsenal.

As the administrative centre of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département, a stopping place on the Napoleon Road (Route Napoléon), a spa and health resort and the lavender capital, the town of Digne-les-Bains has plenty to interest visitors! The historic centre, dominated by Saint-Jérôme cathedral, features picturesque pedestrian streets and Saint-Charles hill. It is also home to the must-see Gassendi museum devoted to local history, art and science. Housed in a 16th-century former hospice, it contains collections of 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century painting, as well as contemporary artworks, stuffed animals and physics and optical instruments.

Specialising in the treatment of respiratory and rheumatic problems, the Thermes de Digne-les-Bains thermal baths north of the town offer spa cures as well as fitness breaks and well-being treatments. The new water fun park, set in the heart of the thermal bathing establishment's extension, includes an indoor pool connected to an outdoor pool, along with a spa. Definitely one for relaxation fans!

Digne-les-Bains also organises the Corso de la Lavande every August, a five-day lavender festival featuring parades of flower-covered floats, a producers' market, shows, concerts, dances and fireworks.

The medieval town of Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur, the historical capital of the Champsaur valley and a stop on the Napoleon Road is situated at an altitude of 1,025 metres and boasts many traces of its past, including the charming square Place Grenette with its covered market and well, its narrow streets and old houses.

Not to missed: the Fête du Terroir country fair on the second Sunday in August when the whole village goes back in time 100 years during a colourful and lively day-long festival.

In the area surrounding Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur, sports fans will find numerous activities to keep them occupied, like rambling, skiing, river sports, climbing, horse-riding and paragliding.

Situated where Provence meets the Alps, in the Digne foothills, the Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence is the biggest geopark in Europe! Covering a protected area of 2,300 km², this open-air museum is crossed by a network of waymarked discovery trails and is home to an impressive amount of fossils. Among its geological gems are a rock shelf covered in giant ammonites, the fossilised skeleton of an Ichthyosaurus (La Robine site) and fossilised bird footprints. It is an incredible journey through 300 million years of history!

Also not to be missed is the unique Musée-Promenade in Digne-les-Bains, a part open-air museum with a large wooded park dotted with contemporary artworks, as well as exhibition rooms where remarkable fossil collections are on display.

From the Middle Ages to the start of the 20th century, Fournel gorges, situated not far from the little town of L'Argentière-la-Bessée, were the location of a large argentiferous lead ore mine. Dedicated to the history of the mine, the silver mine museum (Musée des Mines d'Argent), located at the foot of the cliffs in the former stables of the Saint-Jean château, houses collections of rocks and objects found during archaeological searches carried out in the mining site. A guided tour of the mines, departing from the museum entrance, takes visitors along a secure, 800-m underground circuit.

In the heart of the Champsaur region, in the peaceful hamlet of L'Aubérie in the village of Bénévent-et-Charbillac, stands the adorable and original Saint-Grégoire chapel, or chapel of the Pétètes (pétète means doll in the local language). Built in the middle of the 18th century by Jacques Pascal, a builder-carpenter living in the hamlet, it is unusual because it is decorated with Naive statues representing saints. It is a gem of traditional popular art and is today a listed historic monument.

Located in the heart of Queyras Regional Nature Park in the village of Château-Ville-Vieille, Château Queyras fortress dominates a remarkable natural site: the medieval building overhangs a wild and narrow Guil gorge from the top of a rocky spur. From the river's edge below, the view up over the location is particularly striking!

The castle was built in the Middle Ages to protect the valley and its inhabitants from barbaric invasions and altered by Vauban at the end of the 17th century to improve its resistance to attacks.

Covering an area of 65,000 hectares, Queyras Regional Nature Park is home to a great deal of flora and fauna. It is a unique area for chamois, marmots, hares and partridges, as well as for hiking fans!

In addition to its unspoiled natural scenery that alternates between forests, gorges and mountain lakes, it is home to typical villages like the listed Saint-Véran, the striking hilltop fortress of Château Queyras, and an important rural heritage consisting of chapels, wayside crosses, sundials and fountains. You won't be short of things to do!

Worth visiting: the Park Visitor Centre in Arvieux and Nature House in Ristolas, both focused on the preservation of nature in this wonderful area.

Food fans will love the local honey and delicious cheeses.

Nestling in the heart of Écrins National Park in an incredibly beautiful natural setting, the charming village of Vallouise has preserved its traditional architecture, which includes typical houses with wooden balconies and picturesque fountains. Decorated with frescoes, the 15th-century Saint-Étienne church is home to a Pietà in polychrome wood and a Baroque altarpiece. The chapel of the Pénitents, located in the same square as the church, features pretty wall paintings.

Snow sports fans can devote themselves to their favourite activity at the winter sports resort of Puy-Saint-Vincent, 5 km from Vallouise.

Known as the "Pearl of Upper Provence", the town of Sisteron is located on the Napoleon Road (Route Napoléon) on the banks of the Durance river opposite Baume rock and is dominated by its imposing hilltop citadel. The historic centre of this Provençal medieval fortified town is very picturesque and contains much built heritage of interest to walkers, including the Romanesque Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers cathedral, fortification towers, narrow streets lined with old houses and little squares decorated with charming fountains. The interesting Musée Terre et Temps (Earth and Time Museum), housed in the former Visitandines chapel near the cathedral, explores the history of time telling and measuring the passing of time in nature through a magnificent collection of rare and unusual objects. This museum is also the departure point for the Route du Temps, a fantastic waymarked time trail across the Haute-Provence geological reserve.

Towering above the Durance valley on top of a rocky spur is the citadel of Sisteron. Built in the 11th century and remodelled in the 13th, 16th and 19th centuries, it enjoys a strategic location between the Alps and the Mediterranean. This listed historic monument and former stronghold of the Counts of Provence today houses a museum devoted to Napoleon and an exhibition of horse-drawn carriages. Sisteron citadel also offers a superb view of Baume rock, the town rooftops, the river banks and surrounding mountains.

From mid-July to mid-August, the Nuits de la Citadelle festival offers a programme of culture, music, theatre and dance against the imposing backdrop of the fortress ramparts. Also not to be missed is Sisteron's Fête de l'Agneau (lamb festival), held every Ascension weekend.

Straddling the Isère and Hautes-Alpes départements, Écrins National Park covers a central mountainous area of 91,800 hectares ranging in altitude from 800 to 4,102 metres. A favourite destination for nature lovers, this vast unspoiled territory is home to a very rich flora and fauna, including chamois, ibex, golden eagles, foxes, squirrels and marmots, and plants like edelweiss, blue thistle, genépi and gentian. The Écrins mountains are also a paradise for hikers, with no fewer than 740 km of waymarked footpaths, as well as for climbers: it's considered the second mountaineering site in France.

Not to be missed: the Park Visitor Centre (Maison du Parc) located in the Domaine de Charance estate on the outskirts of the town of Gap in the Hautes-Alpes, as well as the Maison du Parc in Le Bourg-d'Oisans, in the Isère, have a large amount of information about the mountains available for visitors and puts on regular exhibitions.

Dominating the village of Orcières and Champsaur valley, the winter sports resort of Orcières-Merlette (Orcières 1850) offers great sports facilities: a glass sports centre housing a swimming pool, ice rink, fitness room and bowling alley, and a ski area that is popular with downhill and cross-country skiers.

Perching at an altitude of 2,042 m in the heart of Queyras Regional Nature Park, the mountain village of Saint-Véran, designated one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, is also the highest village in Europe. Enjoying a unique natural setting, this magnificent village has preserved a remarkable built heritage from its past that bears witness to the rural life of old.

Picturesque chalets with fustes (the fuste is the upper part of a chalet with walls made of stacked-up tree trunks, where harvested forage was dried and stored over winter), a listed church and old houses topped with larch shingle or lauze roofs characterise the different hamlets of Saint-Véran. Walking around you will also discover charming wooden fountains, chapels, sundials, wayside crosses, communal ovens and an old fire engine.

Worth visiting: La Vieille Maison Traditionnelle (traditional old house) and Soum museum, located in the oldest house in Saint-Véran.

In winter, the village of Saint-Véran turns into a pleasant winter sports resort, ideal for a family holiday.

Located 1,250 metres above sea level on the banks of the turbulent Verdon river, the medieval fortified village of Colmars is full of picturesque charm. Old Colmars is surrounded by ramparts and reached through one of three fortified gateways. It is a lovely place for a wander with streets lined with tall houses, Saint-Martin church, Provençal Gothic chapels, pretty fountains and a rampart walk.

Outside the walls, two late 17th-century forts watch over the village. One of them, the Fort de Savoie, is open to visitors in July and August.

In the second weekend of August, Colmars holds a particularly lively medieval festival that takes residents and tourists on a journey back to the time of the knights!

Situated in the Southern Alps, at the foot of Allos pass in Mercantour National Park, the Allos valley is home to the picturesque village of Allos as well as two ski resorts that have been awarded the "Ski France" and "Famille Plus" labels: Seignus (Val d'Allos 1500) and La Foux d'Allos (Val d'Allos 1800). These two ski resorts form part of the Espace Lumière, a vast ski area linked to the resort of Pra-Loup that offers skiers and snowboarders 230 kilometres of downhill runs! The Allos valley also has a range of other winter activities available, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating.

The area is also popular for outdoor activities in the summer, when hiking, mountain biking, canyoning, horse riding, tennis and fishing take over. Lovers of alpine scenery absolutely must make the one-hour uphill walk to the wonderful Allos lake, Europe's largest natural high-altitude lake, situated at 2,228 metres above sea level.