Sisteron Attractions

Sisteron lies on the Route Napoléon and to the north of the Montagne de la Lure; it is not far from the confluence of the Buëch with the Durance.

It is believed that the caves in the vicinity were lived in from very early times, but there is no actual proof of this. Augustus subdued the tribes of the Avantici and Vocones which were settled here and built Segustero at an important narrow point of the Durance on the Roman Via Domitia. In the fifth century Sisteron became the seat of the Bishop and remained so until the French Revolution. In the ninth and 10th centuries the Saracens held the town; in 1348 half the population died of the plague. About the middle of the 14th century a beginning was made with the defense works, most of which can still be seen today. In 1481 Sisteron fell to the Kingdom of France, but the Wars of Religion caused great devastation. On his journey from Elba to Paris Napoleon passed through the Defile of Sisteron without much difficulty. In August 1944 the town and citadel were bombed by U.S. planes (over 300 casualties) in order to drive out the German troops.