Notre-Dame du Roc Chapel (site classé)

In the year 812, Castellane was totally destroyed by Saracen invasions. The survivors took refuge on the Roc, an impregnable stronghold and guaranteed safe-haven. The rock stands at an altitude of 903m and a height of 180m, and has a surface area 640m². The current Chapel, a place of frequent pilgrimage, covered with ex-votos and demolished several times throughout history, dates from 1703.

To visit Notre Dame du Roc, go up St. Michel Boulevard, (past the Tourist Information Centre) and take the first road on the right. Walk along the old town’s ramparts where you will have a great view of the Pentagonal Tower. Continue along the path until the chapel. To get down, 2/3 of the way along the path you will reach a fork. Take the fork on the left which will lead you down to the Church Square.

Length of the walk: 45mn.

Petra Castellana Ruins

Before long the stronghold could no longer contain the hundreds of families who sought refuge there. Boniface de Castellane therefore ordered a town to be built below to shelter the families, of which the embrasures in the ramparts are still visible towards the North, and in the middle of the ruins, the remains of the church St. André du Roc can be seen.

St Victor's Church (classée monument historique)

The exodus to Castellane as we know it today started around 1000 AD.

The church dates from the end of the 12th century. Its architecture, rare and rather peculiar, bares witness to the transition between the Roman and Gothic periods and the archways give one of the first examples of Gothic architecture in the Country. To visit St Victor’s Church, ask for the key in the Tourist Information Centre.

Pentagonale Tower and the old Ramparts

(5 côtés, classée Monument Historique) et les vieux remparts

To defend the new town, in 1360 ramparts were built in the shape of an egg, starting from the Pentagonal Tower, and going down to the Place de la Grave (nowadays the Marcel Sauvaire Square) and returning back up by the clock tower to the West, complete with openings through which stones and boiling water could be dropped on the enemy. It is forbidden to visit the tower for safety reasons.

The Fountain of the Lions

You will find this strange shaped fountain which dates from the 17 Century in the Mitan road, but do not look for lions as it takes it name from the innkeepers of the same square!

The Roc Bridge (site classé)

At the bottom of the Roc stands the bridge over the Verdon. Remarked for its bold architecture it dates back to 1404. From one side to the other it measures 36meters long and 3.90meters wide.

The Annonciade Gate

In the Church Square, the Annonciade gate was one of the rampart gates-the other one is the clock tower, next to the tourist Office. In XVI Century the religious wars brought terror to France, the Baron of Allemagne and the Duke of Lesdiguières had their eye on the little site but one villager, Judith Andrau, poured boiling water from the top of this gate onto the Captain who was leading the operation.

Castellane was once more freed from her aggressors. Since then, Castellane celebrates the courage of their heroine on every last Saturday in January during the “Fête du Pétardier”.