A Guide to the Best Things to do in Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire

Last Updated on 15th October 2024 by Charlotte Nadeau

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One of the most charming little towns that I happened to discover quite by accident on my most recent trip to Provence is the delightful settlement of Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire. Located on the fringes of the Regional Luberon Park and home to plenty of historic façades, here’s your ultimate guide to the best things to do in Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire, as well as travel tips to know before visiting.

Saint-Michel l’Observatoire is a ‘village perché,’ which means perched village and is typical of the French countryside. As its name would suggest, the perched village is typically nested on the side of a hillside and were often fortified, constructed just below a chateau. The villages also usually feature a lavoir (public wash basin), small chapel or church, and numerous narrow streets.

Where is Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire?

The charming Provençal town is to be found in upper/ high Provence, which is the more mountainous area of the PreAlps and Alps in the North of the French department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

Midway between the equally charming settlements of Forcalquier and Reillane, St Michel l’Observatoire is often said to be the most beautiful village of all of those surrounding Forcalquier. Nearby towns and villages of note include Revest-des-Brousses and Banon.

Like many of the medieval villages in the area, St Michel is set at quite a height on a hill and, depending on where you are in the settlement, you can expect to be anywhere from between 386 metres and 767 metres above sea level at any given moment, meaning that there’s a breathtaking viewpoint to be seen from around almost every corner in town.

Though there are a handful of buses between Avignon and Digne-les-Bains, these are often few and far between and so the only practical way to reach Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire is by car. The route to reach the Provence village is winding and often narrow and so, if you get car sick easily, be sure to prepare accordingly.

Things to do in Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire

Wander around the town

Truth be told, the real charm of Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire lies in its postcard perfect photogenic nature and so a stroll around the historical centre of many medieval façades is the best thing to do in the settlement of just over 1200 residents.

Set against the backdrop of the prealps, the entirety of the village is home to pastel hued shuttered homes, typical stone Provençal architecture, and some gorgeous vistas of the surrounding countryside. Though in times gone by the village would have been of immense strategic importance to the church, today it’s best explored over the course of a couple of hours en route to somewhere else.

Place de la Fontaine

One of the easiest places to reach by car in the village is Place de la Fontaine. Many of the higher up (and most historical) roads and lanes of Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire can only be accessed via foot, which is fairly common across the board when it comes to medieval Provence towns that have been constructed atop of hilltops.

The house façades surrounding Place de la Fontaine largely date back to the 17th-century. And while this may sound old, these houses are much newer than those found further up the hill! There is also free parking directly next to the fountain, though it’s fairly limited and you can only park there for fifteen minutes.

Follow the tourist route (Chemin des Étoiles)

If you’re looking for a guided stroll around the village, then you can easily follow the suggested tourist route, which is known locally as ‘Le Chemin des Étoiles’ (road of the stars). The route is moderately paced (so you’ll want to wear good footwear and note that there are a number of fairly steep inclines and steps) and takes around half an hour to complete.

You can pick up an itinerary as well as other maps for the local area at the tourist office, which is located just off Place de la Fontaine. When the tourism office is open depends entirely on the season and the time of week you’re planning to visit. Hours for the Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire tourism office can be found here.

Saint Pierre Church

There are actually a couple of churches in the village, which are in turn referred to as the lower and upper church. Saint Pierre Church can be found on the same level as Place de la Fontaine and dates back to between the 14th and 15th-centuries.

As is common with Provençal villages, though it’s a Roman Catholic Church, the ecclesiastical buildings interior is rather plain and simple. During my visit around midday on a Wednesday in late June, I found that the interior of the church was open to visit.

Saint Michel Church

As you might imagine from a village named ‘Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire’, the crowning jewel (literally and figuratively as the structure is built at the highest point of the village) is the Saint Michel Church, which can only be accessed on foot and dates all the way back to the 12th-century.

Also known locally as the upper church (l’église haute in French), the building was first constructed to serve as a priory for the Saint André Abbey in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and was first attested in writing in 1118.

Since 1801, the official name for the chapel has been Saint Pierre du Concordat. During my visit, I found that the doors of the Saint Michel church were locked and so the church could only be enjoyed via its exterior façade.

Discover the view from the top of town

As previously mentioned, there is actual little by way of attractions when it comes to things to do in Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire and instead the beauty of exploring this hidden gem of Provence lies in its views over the Forcalquier area and many historic façade.

But if there’s one thing that’s absolutely unmissable during any visit to Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire, it’s the sweeping views which can be admired over the surrounding area from directly outside of the upper chapel. From the top, you can see historic windmills, lavender fields (if you happen to be visiting in early summer), and the typical upper Provence shrub land that is so synonymous with the region.

Haute-Provence Observatory

Though not directly within the village itself but instead a short drive away, the Haute-Provence Observatory (known in French as Observatoire de Haute-Provence) was established in 1937 on a Plateau just a short distance away from the village.

The location was chosen thanks to the fact that Provence enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year, meaning that over half of the time there are great skies for star watching. Now comprising of 13 domes, during the summer months there is a regular programme of events under the Eté Astro festival which sees the observatory being opened to visitors who are keen to discover more. Find more details about this here.

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