10 Natural Wonders in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Le Pré de Madame Carle is a beautiful fertile plain nestling at the bottom of the Vallouise valley. It is the departure point for lots of mountain treks and is the most visited site in the Écrins National Park. Because of its altitude (about 1,900 m above sea level) the wildlife is unusual.

Marmots here are not scared of walkers and during hikes you'll often see chamois, ibex and sheep grazing on the slopes of Pelvoux, Pavéous and Dormillouse mountains. Above your head the golden eagles watch over the climbers on the Barre, the Dôme de Neige or the Agneaux mountains.

Ristolas - Mont-Viso nature reserve (réserve naturelle nationale de Ristolas - Mont-Viso), t 3,841 meters above sea level, has 2,300 hectares of spectacular plant and wild life. This is particularly true in the very isolated valley of Haut-Guil which has numerous unusual native species including Lanza's alpine salamander, isatis alpina (le pastel des Alpes) and the Arvet Touvet butterwort.

There are so many different habitats to explore on your hikes, larch forest, alpine meadows, lakes, wetlands and scree to name but a few, and all with their own mountain plants and flowers. You'll probably also see chamois and ibex as they are perfectly adapted to these high altitudes. Here you can hike (no dogs allowed), mountain bike and cross-country ski, making sure you do your bit to keep this exceptional countryside unspoiled.

The Ammonite Slab (la Dalle aux Ammonites), just north of Digne-les-Bains in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, contains more than 1,500 fossilized examples of these 200 million year old underwater creatures. This world famous 350 m² slab was discovered in the 19th century but its full extent only became known during the second half of the 20th century.

Although there are some other invertebrates on the slab the ammonites make up 90% of the fossils with the largest of them as big as 70 cm in diameter. In other words, an absolute must-see if you are at all interested in fossils but also likely to please most people; especially as it doesn't cost anything.

The Daluis canyon (les gorges de Daluis) is a spectacular 900 meter long canyon dug by the River Var through rocks the color of wine, from where it get the nickname "The Colorado of Nice". The red schist walls date back to the end of the primary era. On a walk from Berthéou bridge (le pont de Berthéou) to Point Sublime you can see the River Var as it flows through the canyon, 300 meters below.

A bit farther on you can see the Guardian of the Canyon (la gardienne des gorge) a large block of scarlet stone that resembles a woman's face. And finally, whether you're a thrill seeker or simply curious, don't forget to have a look at the Pont de la Mariée, which is a very popular bungee jumping spot.

The Provençal Colorado (le Colorado Provençal) is an exceptional site on former ochre quarries between the Luberon mountains to the south and the Vaucluse to the north. This site in the Apt region combines nature with the history of ochre working. It has a huge palette of colors from bright yellow to orange and Bordeaux red, and even has veins of blue and green.

In some zones there are as many as 25 different shades. As you walk through this spectacular Luberon site you'll see incredibly deep former quarries, fairy like chimneys of stone, weird valleys and the River Dôa, whose waters turn gold during periods of heavy rain.

Rougon, a peaceful village overlooking the Verdon canyon (Grand Canyon du Verdon), has an excellent view of the surrounding mountains as well as the famous canyon. The lively streets have fountains, Renaissance houses and lots of artisan workshops, all watched over by the remains of the medieval castle above.

As you look up to admire the bell tower of the 16th century Church of Our Lady of the Rock (l'église Notre-Dame de la Roche) you may see one of the magnificent griffon vultures fly overhead. These enormous birds, with a wing span of 2.5 m, were reintroduced to the Rougon cliffs in the 1990s. There are several hiking routes leaving from the village if you want to get to know the local plant and wild life better.

The Vigueirat wetlands (les Marais de Vigueirat) in the Camargue are 1,200 hectares of protected natural park with more than 2,000 species of plant and animal life. As you explore you'll see the local breeds of Camargue cattle and horses but also lots of different birds like heron and ducks. The Starling Trail (les sentiers de l'étourneau) is a group of paths on stilts that snake through the marshes.

You can walk down them whatever the season, or if you prefer you can ride or take a horse-drawn cart. Each path has a different theme and a booklet that goes with it. If you want to find out more, there is also a 5 km hike during which you can stop in various hides to observe the wildlife around you. You can also explore in kayaks or paddles. In short, lots of ways to discover the best way we humans can protect the environment around us.

Sainte-Victoire mountain (la montagne Sainte Victoire) is the symbol of Provence and its paths and views are a great way to get to know the area better. The mountain has two very different faces.

On the south, facing the Arc basin, the sides are steep and rocky but the north face is gentle and often green, sheltering lots of pretty villages, like Beaurecueil, Puyloubier, Pourrières and Vauvenargues. So this mountain offers lots of different things to see and lots of ways to see them: hiking, mountain biking, by automobile, climbing or even paragliding.

The Monts d'Azur wildlife reserve (réserve animalière des Monts d'Azur) offers you the chance of meeting some unusual animals in their natural habitat. It's the first park in Europe designed especially to reintroduce native species dating from the neolithic period. In total there are several hundred different species in this park's 700 hectares. Some are still shy of humans but others live in full view of visitors, without paying them any attention.

So whether you decide to explore on your own or take a guided safari, you'll see European bison, Przewalski horses, red deer and other hoofed mammals, as well as birds and perhaps even a lynx if you're lucky. From the births in spring to the summer calm, and the rutting of the deer in autumn to winter survival tips, there's something different to see every season.

The underwater walks (les sentiers sous-marins) are just for you if you've always wanted to know more about what goes on under the Mediterranean. Between Nice and Marseille there are 13 different walks that allow you to explore the life of the coast alone, with your family or with friends. They're accessible to everyone, even if you can't swim, since you explore from the shore, following a path that is signposted with lifebuoys that have handrails.

Once you've been equipped with a snorkel, flippers and a wetsuit you can read the underwater panels that explain the local ecosystem and tell you about the plant and wildlife on the sea bed. A very different way to find out about the coast and its spectacular underwater life.