Sisteron
Sisteron is a commune in France, in the département of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Its population in (1999) was 6,964 and in the région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is situated on the banks of the River Durance just after the confluences of the rivers Buech and Sasse. It is sometimes called the 'Porte de la Provence' (The Gateway to Provence) because it is in a narrow gap between two long mountain ridges (Baume/Gache and The Lure). The inhabitants are called the 'Sisteronnais'.
Location
Latitude = 44° 11' 28" North, longitude=05° 56' 50" East
Altitude = 485 metres
Area = 5025 hectares
It is 135 km from Marseille, also 135 km from Grenoble and 180 km from Nice.
History
Sisteron has been inhabited for 4000 years. The Romans used the route through Sisteron as can be shown by a Latin inscription in the rocks near the road to Authon. It escaped the barbarian invasions after the fall of Rome, but was ravaged by the Saracens. It was first fortified by the Counts of Forcalquier in the 11th century and later was the northern boundary of the domain of the Counts of Provence. In 1483 in the reign of Louis XI, Sisteron re-joined the kingdom of France. Around this time there were seven plagues that killed two thirds of the population. Between 1562 and 1594 the town and its citadelle was fought over by Protestants and Catholics including two seiges. During this time the walls of the town were built. The plague returned in 1630, and typhus in 1744, killing many of the town's population..
During the French Revolution the town remained Royalist. Consequently when Napoleon arrived on his march north after his escape from Elba in 1815, the town ignored him and let him through. On 15 August 1944 British and American aircraft attacked the town, killing 100 people and destroying many buildings.
Tourism
The town has several important buildings including the citadelle and 12th century cathedral. Many tourists also visit the town because of its climate (300 days of sunshine each year), quaint narrow streets, the beautiful surrounding countryside, its lido and the airfields at Vaumeilh and Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban which are both major centres for the sport of gliding. There is an annual festival with many events throughout the summer months. There is a market every Wednesday. A long distance walk, the GR 6 (Grande Randonnée) passes east-west through Sisteron.
Transport
Sisteron is served by the A51 autoroute, which now by-passes the town, eliminating it as a notorious 'bottle-neck' for traffic. There is also a railway station on the line from Marseille to Briançon.
Other information
The poet Paul Arène (1843-1896) was born in the town.