Colmars

Towns and Villages - by Provence Beyond

Villages > Colmars

Nearby:  | 8 km | Allos Lake 15 km | Barcelonnette 44 km | Barreme 41 km | 5 km | Digne-les-Bains 71 km | Meailles 30 km | Mercantour National Park | Nice 120 km | Saint Andre-les-Alpes 28 km |

Below: | Two Protecting Forts | Park Playground | History | O.T. | Dates | Transportation | Sports | Hiking | Lodging Hotels |

Inside the walled village you won't be disappointed. The narrow streets and old houses are completely in character with the Medieval atmosphere. Although some of the commerce has "gone outside the walls", as one disapproving resident expressed it, the center still contains the post office, Office du Tourisme, bakery, cafés, restaurants and a few other shops. There's also a lovely fountain from 1803 in one square.

Colmars is located where the rushing Lance river joins the Verdon. The surrounding mountains are thickly forested with pine and larch (mélèze), streams, lakes and waterfalls. The region, including the nearby Parc National du Mercantour, has a great variety of alpine flora and fauna, and exceptional butterflies.

Two Protecting Forts

The Fort de Savoie sits on a hill above the village, guarding the bridge and protecting from attack down the valley. From the village's Porte de Savoie, a walled stone walkway goes up the hill to the fort.

The Fort de France sits on a small hill just bellow the village, with a dominating view down the valley (and now over the top of the Gendarmerie) and guarding the lowerbridge. Square and plain, the Fort de France has more canon slits than arrow slits, and a walled roadway leading up the hillside from the town to the fort.

Park Playground

A lovely big grassy park is located outside the walls, with swings, teeter-totters, slides and merry-go-round for the kiddies, and space for relaxing and picnicking. One interesting ride is a giant "hamster wheel", where your kids (or you) can run in place like a two-legged gerbil.

History

Name
First record, 1040 de Collo Martio. The name came from the Romans, for a hill dedicated to the god Mars.

Celto-Ligurian: An original primitive village was located on a hill top before being moved to its current location beside the Verdon river, a swift mountain stream at this point.

Medieval: In 1388, Colmars became a border town when Allos and Barcelonnette were acquired by Savoy. It was protected then by a wall, but in 1390, Raymond de Turenne took the town and razed it. In 1583, Catier (an "adventurer") captured Colmars and held it for ransom.

During the Wars of Religion there was a certain amount of conflict with La Ligue: the town was sacked more than once, and burnt in 1672.

In 1693, Colmars was fortified by Vauban. It was maintained as a fortified town until 1921, and much of the fortifications are beautifully intact today.

Office de Tourisme

Tel: 04 92 83 41 92; Fax: 04 92 83 52 31

Mairie
Tel: 0492 83 43 21

Dates

Market day: Tuesday, Friday
Foire: 22 Sept
Fête de la St. Jean: 24 June
International folklore festival: last week July

Transportation

Road

If you're heading north from Colmars, over the mountains toward Barcelonnette, this is the last place to get gas/petrol.

Sports

Ratery 1700

tel: (33) 492 83 40 92, offers ski de fond, VTT and equitation.

Swimming Pool (Piscine Municipale)

Open every day during the summer,until 11 Sept; 10h-18h

Hiking

Maps:

IGN (1/25,000) #3540 O "Allos"

IGN (1/25,000) #3540 ET "Haute Vallée du Var, Gorges de Daluis, Mercantour"

Didier Richard (1/50,000) #1 "Alpes de Provence"

There are many hiking trails through the forested mountains all around the town, including one trail that goes east to Ratery (1714 m) and then northeast over the Col de l'Encombrette (2527 m) to the lovely Lac d'Allos (2230 m).

Lodging - Hotels

Gite dEtape

open all year; tel: (33) 492 83 42 25

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