Découverte sensorielle de l'Art en Montagne – 5 jours
Program
Experiencing an artistic and sensory discovery in the heart of the largest open-air museum of contemporary art is the extraordinary experience offered during this star-shaped stay. Full board in a charming hotel. Other dates possible on request.
Go and encounter works of art installed in the mountains and cross territories with a human past rich in life and work. The works give a purpose to the hikes, but do not dominate the environment. Thanks to a sensitive approach centered on the sensory and the art of breathing, your mountain guide will suggest that you go beyond simple observation to follow in the footsteps of two great walking artists (A. Goldsworthy and Herman de Vries). who see in nature a sacred place where man fully finds his place, as long as he knows how to feel!
On the dates of your choice.
Day 1: Digne les Bains – Thermal Baths Art Refuge
10 a.m.: welcome by your mountain guide at
the tourist office of Digne les Bains (or at the Villa Gaïa
if everyone is there…).
10:30 a.m.: departure in individual vehicles (picnic in the bag not included in the price of the stay) towards the Digne thermal baths for a first easy hike (250 m of elevation gain and 3 hours of walking) towards the “refuge d 'The Art of Thermal Baths', gateway to the monumental work 'Refuge d'Art' by international Land Art artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
We will then continue at the pace of a conscious walk towards the St. Pancrace chapel and its panorama from the Alps to the Valensole plateau.
On the descent we will be able to discover, still in a sensory mode, the famous “Robines”, clay-limestone marls so widespread in Haute Provence. 16 p.m.: check-in at Villa Gaïa (if you haven't already?!) and peaceful evening in the company of our hosts, Anne-Françoise and Georges-Eric, who founded their family hotel business 30 years ago.
At 18:30 p.m., offer a sophrology session focused on active recovery after exercise.
Day 2: The Bès valley with the “Sacred Wood” of Herman de Vries (no capital letters!) and its geological monuments: “The Vélodrome” and the “Facibelle blade”
9:30 a.m.: departure from Villa Gaïa in individual vehicles (carpooling) for the Bès valley, the nerve center of the UNESCO GEOPARC of Haute Provence.
10 a.m.: departure from the Bès footbridge for a hike of medium difficulty (450 m. elevation gain and 4 hours of walking) with triple richness: on an artistic level with the “sacred wood of red rock” where Herman de Vries deposited its most imposing work, on a geological level with the two formations mentioned above and on a spiritual level with an Orthodox chapel invested by Sister Catherine of Catholic obedience….
After crossing the Facibelle blade and climbing the “Vélodrome” to the breathing rhythms of conscious walking, we will descend into the “sacred wood” with its immense larch and spruce trees to meet the “red rock sanctuary”. Designed by the naturalist artist Herman de Vries, this work which combines the encounter between nature and the memory of ancestral life of humans in the times of the Basses Alpes is breathtaking. Both mysterious and imposing, this work invites us to silence and the contemplation of a nature which inexorably regains its rights.
17 p.m.: return to Villa Gaïa after a break at the “ammonite slab”, a unique geological landmark in the world bringing together 1500 ammonites over an area of 300 m2.
Day 3: return to the Bès valley with the ruined village of old Esclangon and a new encounter with the works of Herman de Vries and Andy Goldsworthy.
9:30 a.m.: departure from Villa Gaïa in individual vehicles (carpooling) for the Bès valley (good intensity hike with 750 m of elevation gain and 5 hours of walking).
10 a.m.: leaving the “Vélodrome” car park, climb with the rhythms of conscious walking in the footsteps of the artist A. Goldsworthy who visited the place in the early 2000s. We will discover a path filled with the work that we will admire a little higher. Indeed, it was in rainy weather that the artist discovered that the earth he trod on, during his first ascent to the ruined village, was the ideal material for the sculpture which would subsequently become one of the emblems of the Dignois country. ….
After this short ascent and the visit to the Art refuge, we will continue to the belvedere which offers a panoramic view very popular with geologists since it opens onto the “Vélodrome” and the “lame de Facibelle”, without forgetting “le Blayeul” , a nearby summit which culminates at 2180 m. and which separates the waters of the Bléone and the Bès.
On the way back from the belvedere, we will visit the ruined village and the works of Herman de Vries discreetly scattered among the ruins.
13 p.m.: after the picnic, we will go back down towards the hamlet of Esclangon (the new one) and turn off towards the Col de l'Escuichère (400 m difference in altitude +) to admire the work of A. Goldsworthy which bears the same name.
17:30 p.m.: return to Villa Gaïa
18:30 p.m.: proposal for a meditative sophrology session.
Day 4: Village of Thoard and its two Art refuges: “Ste Madeleine” and “La Forest”
8:30 a.m.: departure from Villa Gaïa for an intense day dedicated to Refuge d’Art (without “s”), a major work by Andy Goldsworthy. 6 hours of hiking and 600 m.+. By carpool, we will head towards the Duyes valley, a geological formation in Pudding de Valensole, to reach Thoard, a pretty perched village.
From there, we will quickly reach the “Chapelle Ste Madeleine”, the second art refuge created by the artist and perched on a rock with a 360-degree view of the valley and the hills of St Joseph. After this short loop, we will take the vehicles again to go to the Col de Mounis, departure of the path leading to “La Forest”, certainly the most mysterious of the Art refuges built in the heart of an abandoned village which dominates the magnificent river du Vanson.
18 p.m.: return to Villa Gaïa.
Day 5: Village of Draix and “Bellon” art refuge, visit to the Gassendi museum.
9:30 a.m.: carpooling towards Draix, a very small village which is home to the “Bellon farm”, the largest of the Art refuges. Easy 2h30 hike with 220 m+.
Here is a short text from the artist when he imagined this work: “the ground floor has few windows and a low ceiling. The darkness will be pierced by intense rays of light. This is the ideal atmosphere for building white stone arches: they will appear like architectural ghosts and their number must be sufficient to communicate to the room an impression of movement and circulation…. ".
12:30 p.m.: picnic on site before heading towards the Gassendi museum and its permanent exhibitions dedicated to the two artists we met and whose visit will end the stay.
- SHIFT :
You will use your own vehicle to reach the hiking departure points. We will organize carpooling to optimize the number of vehicles on the move.
Individual equipment: usual clothing and hiking equipment
For exemple :
– Small backpack (20 liters minimum) for carrying the day’s belongings
– Bottle (1 liter minimum)
– Waterproof jacket, cap, hat…
– Sunglasses, Sunscreen
– Hiking poles recommended
– Low or high walking shoes of your choice, depending on your habit (locally quite stony paths)
On the dates of your choice.
Day 1: Digne les Bains – Thermal Baths Art Refuge
10 a.m.: welcome by your mountain guide at
the tourist office of Digne les Bains (or at the Villa Gaïa
if everyone is there…).
10:30 a.m.: departure in individual vehicles (picnic in the bag not included in the price of the stay) towards the Digne thermal baths for a first easy hike (250 m of elevation gain and 3 hours of walking) towards the “refuge d 'The Art of Thermal Baths', gateway to the monumental work 'Refuge d'Art' by international Land Art artist, Andy Goldsworthy.
We will then continue at the pace of a conscious walk towards the St. Pancrace chapel and its panorama from the Alps to the Valensole plateau.
On the descent we will be able to discover, still in a sensory mode, the famous “Robines”, clay-limestone marls so widespread in Haute Provence. 16 p.m.: check-in at Villa Gaïa (if you haven't already?!) and peaceful evening in the company of our hosts, Anne-Françoise and Georges-Eric, who founded their family hotel business 30 years ago.
At 18:30 p.m., offer a sophrology session focused on active recovery after exercise.
Day 2: The Bès valley with the “Sacred Wood” of Herman de Vries (no capital letters!) and its geological monuments: “The Vélodrome” and the “Facibelle blade”
9:30 a.m.: departure from Villa Gaïa in individual vehicles (carpooling) for the Bès valley, the nerve center of the UNESCO GEOPARC of Haute Provence.
10 a.m.: departure from the Bès footbridge for a hike of medium difficulty (450 m. elevation gain and 4 hours of walking) with triple richness: on an artistic level with the “sacred wood of red rock” where Herman de Vries deposited its most imposing work, on a geological level with the two formations mentioned above and on a spiritual level with an Orthodox chapel invested by Sister Catherine of Catholic obedience….
After crossing the Facibelle blade and climbing the “Vélodrome” to the breathing rhythms of conscious walking, we will descend into the “sacred wood” with its immense larch and spruce trees to meet the “red rock sanctuary”. Designed by the naturalist artist Herman de Vries, this work which combines the encounter between nature and the memory of ancestral life of humans in the times of the Basses Alpes is breathtaking. Both mysterious and imposing, this work invites us to silence and the contemplation of a nature which inexorably regains its rights.
17 p.m.: return to Villa Gaïa after a break at the “ammonite slab”, a unique geological landmark in the world bringing together 1500 ammonites over an area of 300 m2.
Day 3: return to the Bès valley with the ruined village of old Esclangon and a new encounter with the works of Herman de Vries and Andy Goldsworthy.
9:30 a.m.: departure from Villa Gaïa in individual vehicles (carpooling) for the Bès valley (good intensity hike with 750 m of elevation gain and 5 hours of walking).
10 a.m.: leaving the “Vélodrome” car park, climb with the rhythms of conscious walking in the footsteps of the artist A. Goldsworthy who visited the place in the early 2000s. We will discover a path filled with the work that we will admire a little higher. Indeed, it was in rainy weather that the artist discovered that the earth he trod on, during his first ascent to the ruined village, was the ideal material for the sculpture which would subsequently become one of the emblems of the Dignois country. ….
After this short ascent and the visit to the Art refuge, we will continue to the belvedere which offers a panoramic view very popular with geologists since it opens onto the “Vélodrome” and the “lame de Facibelle”, without forgetting “le Blayeul” , a nearby summit which culminates at 2180 m. and which separates the waters of the Bléone and the Bès.
On the way back from the belvedere, we will visit the ruined village and the works of Herman de Vries discreetly scattered among the ruins.
13 p.m.: after the picnic, we will go back down towards the hamlet of Esclangon (the new one) and turn off towards the Col de l'Escuichère (400 m difference in altitude +) to admire the work of A. Goldsworthy which bears the same name.
17:30 p.m.: return to Villa Gaïa
18:30 p.m.: proposal for a meditative sophrology session.
Day 4: Village of Thoard and its two Art refuges: “Ste Madeleine” and “La Forest”
8:30 a.m.: departure from Villa Gaïa for an intense day dedicated to Refuge d’Art (without “s”), a major work by Andy Goldsworthy. 6 hours of hiking and 600 m.+. By carpool, we will head towards the Duyes valley, a geological formation in Pudding de Valensole, to reach Thoard, a pretty perched village.
From there, we will quickly reach the “Chapelle Ste Madeleine”, the second art refuge created by the artist and perched on a rock with a 360-degree view of the valley and the hills of St Joseph. After this short loop, we will take the vehicles again to go to the Col de Mounis, departure of the path leading to “La Forest”, certainly the most mysterious of the Art refuges built in the heart of an abandoned village which dominates the magnificent river du Vanson.
18 p.m.: return to Villa Gaïa.
Day 5: Village of Draix and “Bellon” art refuge, visit to the Gassendi museum.
9:30 a.m.: carpooling towards Draix, a very small village which is home to the “Bellon farm”, the largest of the Art refuges. Easy 2h30 hike with 220 m+.
Here is a short text from the artist when he imagined this work: “the ground floor has few windows and a low ceiling. The darkness will be pierced by intense rays of light. This is the ideal atmosphere for building white stone arches: they will appear like architectural ghosts and their number must be sufficient to communicate to the room an impression of movement and circulation…. ".
12:30 p.m.: picnic on site before heading towards the Gassendi museum and its permanent exhibitions dedicated to the two artists we met and whose visit will end the stay.
- SHIFT :
You will use your own vehicle to reach the hiking departure points. We will organize carpooling to optimize the number of vehicles on the move.
Individual equipment: usual clothing and hiking equipment
For exemple :
– Small backpack (20 liters minimum) for carrying the day’s belongings
– Bottle (1 liter minimum)
– Waterproof jacket, cap, hat…
– Sunglasses, Sunscreen
– Hiking poles recommended
– Low or high walking shoes of your choice, depending on your habit (locally quite stony paths)
Admission fees
Means of payment accepted
For a group of 5 people minimum
The price includes
– Accommodation and catering (picnic at lunchtime) from dinner on D1 to the picnic on D5. At the charming 3-star hotel, La Villa Gaïa in Digne les Bains; double room for couple and room with two beds or 1 bed for single person. Very careful cuisine based on organic and local products prepared with love by Anne-Françoise.
– Supervision by a qualified mountain guide approved by the Gassendi Museum to visit the works of Art.
– Guided tour of the Gassendi museum
– Supervision by a qualified mountain guide approved by the Gassendi Museum to visit the works of Art.
– Guided tour of the Gassendi museum
The price does not include
Cancellation assistance insurance.
To discover nearby
Bed & Breakfasts
Chambres d’Hôtes Les Noisetiers, Appartement Deluxe “Pic d’Oise”
Book online From 120 € / night
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