The lake, trails and local history give Saint-Julien-Du-Verdon three distinct highlights for a stay. The time estimates are especially helpful when planning: two options take about an hour, while the hike to Belvédère du Pidanoux takes around three hours. This makes it easy to choose in advance between a shorter loop and a longer hike.
The Lac de Castillon and activities on the water
Lac de Castillon is an artificial reservoir created in 1948 during the construction of the dam. It is about 10 km long and around 100 m deep. On the shore near Saint-Julien-du-Verdon, there are supervised swimming areas. Visitors can swim, sail, canoe and pedal boat, paddle, and fish there. The Base nautique du Touron is located in Touron Bay on the lake shore.
Hikes with different time frames
Two options each take about an hour, but offer different highlights. Les Champons is considered a family-friendly hike and offers views of Saint-Julien-du-Verdon and Touron Bay. The Parcours patrimonial, by contrast, is an easy 0.83 km walking loop. It is open daily year-round and free to access. This gives you a choice between a scenic hike and a historical walk with a similar time commitment.
The hike to Belvédère du Pidanoux is the longer alternative. It starts and ends in the village square, is 7.6 km long and takes about three hours. From the viewpoint, you can look out over Lac de Castillon and Saint-Julien-du-Verdon. The route lies within the protected natural area of the Parc naturel régional du Verdon and is included in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departmental hiking plan. For comparison, each of the two shorter options takes around an hour, while the hike to the viewpoint takes about three hours.
Local history: churches and plum cultivation
The Parcours patrimonial includes a traditionally restored plum-drying shed from the second half of the 19th century. It is considered the last testament to the importance of local plum cultivation. This reference to the area’s agricultural heritage adds another dimension to the village’s architectural history.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame was once the village church; its current form dates from the 17th century. A cemetery is located nearby. The present-day Église Saint-Roch was built at the end of the 19th century on the site of a sanctuary dedicated to Saint Roch. The history of the small priory goes back even further: monks from Lérins Abbey built it in the 5th century on the summit of what is now the village.
The communal bread oven also has a specific construction date: it dates from 1905 and is used again each year at Pentecost, for the patron saint’s feast and for other festive occasions. While the church buildings span different centuries, the oven’s use is linked to recurring local celebrations.
Discover more destinations: Turriers, Curel, Redortiers, Saint-Martin-les-Eaux, Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, Pierrerue, Reillanne, Saint-Martin-De-Brômes.
For the broader travel guide: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
