The traveler who arrives at the Col de Maure from Digne-les-Bains suddenly sees in front of him the smiling Valley of the Pays de Seyne, the Valley of the Blanche. Leaning against the Robine hill, here is Seyne, crowned by its Fort Vauban and its “Great Tower”.
Description
At an altitude of 1260 m, Seyne is a town of character that seduces visitors with its rich architectural heritage and exceptional natural environment. It is a popular holiday resort in both winter and summer.
The town, crowned by its fort and its "great tower", reveals its narrow streets and small squares, with authentic village houses, some of which are half-timbered, ancient doors and numerous elements of medieval architecture. Its Notre-Dame de Nazareth church (13th century) is a remarkable example of Romanesque art in the Southern Alps.
The history of Seyne and the region goes back to Antiquity and probably well before. Formerly the capital of the Edenates tribe, Seyne was conquered by the Romans and then developed during the Middle Ages. During the Wars of Religion, it became one of the safe havens granted to Protestants. A border town until 1713, it was fortified by Vauban.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Seyne became a leading mule-breeding center. The mule house, in the heart of a farm estate, reveals the importance of this animal over the centuries in the mountains.