Castellane is a town in the Provencal Alps, famous for the medieval chapel of Our Lady standing on a rock. The house where Napoleon stayed on his return from Elba is also located here.
The town has ancient roots and was called the town of salt traders in Roman times. The important commercial route of Via Aurelia ran through here. Roman milestones remain, which can be seen in the museum.
Situated in the picturesque canyon of the Verdon River, in the Verdon Regional Park, Castellane is now a quiet and peaceful town with much preserved medieval architecture. The greatest attraction of Castellane is the chapel of Notre-Dame du Roc, located on a high rock, probably from the 10th century, but standing on the site of an earlier one. At the foot of the rock, a stone bridge allows you to get to the other side of the river. There are also remains of the city's fortifications in the form of two Gothic defensive towers.
The center of Castellane has the charm of a Provencal town. There are many restaurants and cafes around the main square. Nearby, on one of the main streets, is the house where Napoleon stayed in 1815 during his escape from Elba. Today it houses a museum of folk art and culture.
The picturesque area around Castellane is a great place for active tourism, especially hiking. Two dammed reservoirs on the river Verdon and the river itself with its rapid current make it possible to go canoeing and rafting.
