The discoveries described in Saint-Pons range from a ridge trail to an airfield: one route descends to a mountain stream, while a church preserves Romanesque architectural history and 14th-century paintings. There are also harvest traditions, mountain biking and air sports. These topics offer different ways to plan a stay.
Trails and heritage
The Crête des Cognetons route initially follows the ridge before descending to the Riou Bourdoux and the Tréou forest house. The focus of the Sentier de découverte du Riou Bourdoux, by contrast, is learning: the trail offers insights into the work of the RTM service and the history of the Torrent du Riou Bourdoux. If you are looking for a particular focus between the two routes, here is a concrete difference: one is defined by its described course, the other by its themes of conservation work and the history of the watercourse.
The Église Saint-Pons also brings together several historical periods. Built in the 12th century, it is one of the valley’s oldest Romanesque churches and houses remarkable painted decorations from the 14th century. It was listed as a historic monument in 1912. This timeline makes the church especially interesting for travelers interested in architectural history and later additions of artwork.
Traditions and activities
The FĂŞte de la moisson takes place every August in Saint-Pons. It showcases harvest traditions, crafts and local traditions. The 2026 edition included baking bread in the communal oven, followed by a sale. The program may vary from one edition to another, so check the dates and details if you want to plan your visit around the festival.
Jungle Parc offers three adventure courses with different difficulty levels. Each has 45 stations, as well as a 150-meter-long zip line in a three-hectare forest. The varying difficulty levels distinguish the courses from one another. Jungle Carte au trésor is a different format: this GPS treasure hunt with historical documents takes place at Les Terres Neuves in Saint-Pons and lasts from half a day to a full day, depending on the level. This also helps you take the time required into account when planning. Jungle Parc’s opening hours and facilities, as well as the treasure hunt’s opening hours and participation requirements, may change; check the latest information in advance.
La BĂ©rarde is a mountain bike trail in the highlands of Saint-Pons with a challenging descent. It runs through the highlands of La Frache (Saint-Pons) and along the Torrent de la BĂ©rarde. Both the route described and the character of the descent are therefore relevant when choosing a ride. Check trail conditions and markings before setting out.
Flights at the airfield
Aérodrome de Saint-Pons Barcelonnette is the second-highest airfield in France. Flights by airplane, glider and ULM are available from there. The Centre de vol à voile de l’Ubaye at the airfield offers glider and airplane flights. These types of flight set the offer apart from trails and activities on the ground. As flight options and operators may change, ask in advance about current availability if flying is to be a focus of your stay.
Discover more destinations: Beaujeu, Volonne, Valernes, La Foux-D'allos, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Saint-Jean, La Condamine-Châtelard, Authon.
Return to the broader travel guide: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
