Saint-Vincent-Les-Forts: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

The village of Saint-Vincent-les-Forts overlooks Lac de Serre-Ponçon. The Tour à hourds viewpoint offers views over the lake. Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Saint-Vincent-les-Forts will find the most important information about the area here.

Culture and History

Fort Saint-Vincent was built by Vauban in 1697 to protect the southern Alpine borders. Fort Joubert, including its tower with machicolations, was classified as a historic monument by decree of 18 July 1994. The Tour Vauban is a small round tower with machicolations, built 300 metres north of the fort in 1696 to extend surveillance of the fortified structure.

The Église Saint-Vincent dates from the 16th century and has a flat-vaulted barrel vault in the nave as well as an offset double apse. The military Batterie du Châtelard was built between 1883 and 1885. Fort Saint-Vincent is now privately owned and opens exceptionally during the European Heritage Days.

Trails and Activities

The “Du Lac au Village” circular trail is 8.9 km long, has an elevation gain of 500 m and takes 3 hours 30 minutes. It begins at Saint-Vincent-les-Forts beach, leads to the village of Saint-Vincent-les-Forts and returns via the hamlet of Lautaret.

The hiking trail to the Tour Vauban is suitable for all hikers, is 2.7 km long, has an elevation gain of 120 m and takes about one hour. Another hiking trail to the Batterie du Châtelard begins in Clot du Dou. After an ascent of 500 to 600 m, you reach the Batterie du Châtelard site; the military installations are about 100 m away on the right side of the path.

Numerous cycling, hiking and mountain biking routes start from Saint-Vincent-les-Forts. The Vertical Ubaye via ferrata runs along an equipped rock face with ladders, footbridges, a Nepalese bridge and zip lines and is also suitable for beginners.

Landscape and Nature

From the headland near the Batterie du Châtelard, there are views across the valley and of the Morgon. Golden eagles nest in the rocks near the Batterie du Châtelard.

Water and Shoreline

The Port de Saint-Vincent-les-Forts is located on the Ubaye arm of Lac de Serre-Ponçon and provides access to Saint-Vincent-les-Forts beach. In summer, Ubaye Plage has a lifeguard station and supervised swimming in a designated area from July to August.

Ubaye Plage offers a shaded lawn, natural-wood parasols, a children’s playground and a volleyball court.

Flight and Travel

The Saint-Vincent-les-Forts paragliding site makes it possible to land at the launch point after the flight. Tandem paragliding flights are offered from the historic village of Saint-Vincent-les-Forts.

The scenic road to Saint-Vincent-les-Forts follows a varied route with hairpin bends and curves; before arriving, it is possible to stop at Lac du Lauzet.

Other places: Reillanne, Mane, La Brillanne, Volonne, Le Brusquet, La Foux, Beynes, Valbelle.

To the overview of the wider travel region: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.