Towards the paths of art

We'll meet at Villa Gaia, near Digne-les-Bain, at 2pm. After settling in, we'll set off on our first (short) hike to discover an astonishing work by herman de vries: le sommet des philosophes. Transfer by vehicle: 20 min. one way, 20 min. return.

Head for the Bès valley, not far from the village of Esclangon. We climb a path through forests of black pine and oak, then come to a rocky ridge overlooking the valley. We then enter the "sacred wood", an inspired forest so named by herman de vries, home to several traces and its red rock sanctuary. We then come to a tiny Orthodox hermitage, an ideal spot for a picnic. On the way down, we pass the foot of the thin Facibelle blade, a vertiginous geological formation reaching for the sky.

This time, we'll approach the other bank of the Bès. The walk becomes a fascinating time machine: we tread the reddish bed of an ancient tropical lagoon, 20 million years old, and the bottom of a river fossilized 30 million years ago. In the distance, a 250-million-year-old formation has climbed the mountain!

After returning our rooms to the Villa Gaia, we'll set off to discover one of Andy Goldsworthy's last works: the Refuge d'art de la ferme Belon, in Draix, where we'll have a picnic. The hike takes us through a breathtaking landscape, along canyons carved out of black marlstone. Afternoon: visit to the Musée Gassendi, the beating heart of the Art en montagne collection. This fascinating cabinet of curiosities is packed with a thousand treasures: Andy Goldsworthy's River of Earth, Joan Fontcuberta's strange Hydropithecae, Herman de Vries' herbarium in the form of a work of art, or the cabinet of stones that challenges established categories...

In the event of poor weather forecasts, group fatigue, poor trails or other reasons beyond our control, we may have to modify this program on an exceptional basis. During the trip, your tour leader is the sole judge of the program, which may be modified at any time for reasons that could affect the safety of the group and the smooth running of the trip.

By train to Aix-TGV station (3h from Paris). Then by direct bus to the Digne-les-Bains bus station (Bus Zou! Express n°66, to be taken directly from the station - 2h15 journey time); with your own vehicle: 2h from Marseille; 2h45 from Grenoble.

Every evening we'll be staying at La villa Gaia, a *** hotel with a large garden planted with trees, in double rooms (two beds per room). Bright, comfortable and voluntarily non-televised rooms, each with private bath or shower and toilet. Single room option: to be booked when registering. Full-board accommodation (picnic lunch). Wifi and free parking.

The hikes are easy (level 2 out of 5). You'll need good walking shoes and hiking poles. During the hike, you'll just need to carry a small bag with water bottle, picnic and your gear for the day. Days in the Alpes de Haute Provence are generally warm and sunny in spring. However, in the event of rain or bad weather, temperatures can drop rapidly. Bring rainwear and a pullover, as well as a hat, sunglasses and sun cream.