Dept 04 Rank #42 / 96
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
PACA · Nearest city: Gap → Marseille (~1h30-2h)
⚠ High variance
Gorges du Verdon (Grand Canyon of Europe), Valensole lavender, dark sky park
Why this score · reflects your priorities
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence dazzles with exceptional sunshine, dramatic Alpine landscape and dry comfortable air — but it sits remote from the rail network with cold winters. Les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence éblouissent par un ensoleillement exceptionnel, des paysages alpins spectaculaires et un air sec et agréable — mais le département reste à l'écart du réseau ferroviaire, avec des hivers froids.
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Communes
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Climate
Sunshine
2,796h/yr
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
#1 sunniest of 96
Sunny days
257/yr
days >50% sunlit
#1 most sunny days of 96
Rain days
76/yr
Trend 2015-2025: about 0.5 more rain days each year.
p10 of 96
Annual rainfall
680mm/yr
total volume
p46 of 96
Heavy rain
8/yr
≥ 20 mm/day
p79 of 96
Torrential
1/yr
≥ 50 mm/day
p92 of 96
Hot days >30°
46/yr
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
p92 of 96
Winter mildness
2/10
-0.7 °C avg Jan low
Trend 2015-2025: January warming 0.4 °C per year.
#5 harshest winter of 96
Wind
2.4m/s
annual mean
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
p15 of 96
Muggy days
1/yr
TG≥22°C & HU≥70%
Trend 2015-2025: roughly flat.
p4 of 96
Avg max temperature · °C
7
J
9
F
13
M
16
A
20
M
25
J
28
J
28
A
23
S
17
O
11
N
8
D
2050 outlook TRACC +2.7°C · vs 1976-2005
Hot days ≥35°C ~+4 days · +5 so far
Tropical nights ~+8 nights · 0 so far
Frost days ~-34 days · -4 so far
Dry-soil days ~+33 days
Landscape
Landscape score
9/10
p98 of 96
Max elevation
3,192m
p92 of 96
Forest cover
79.2%
p94 of 96
Characteristics
⛰ Mountains☀ Sunny🏞 Dramatic landscape📸 Tourism hotspot
Gorges du Verdon (Grand Canyon of Europe), Valensole lavender, dark sky park
Identity
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is the birthplace of Pierre Gassendi (naturaliste).
Notable figures born here
Pierre Gassendi — naturalisteJean Giono — écrivainPaul Reynaud — journalisteMarguerite de ProvencePierre Charles Silvestre de Villeneuve — officier de marineAlain Boghossian — footballeurJean Itard — médecinJean de Matha — prêtre catholiqueHafsia Herzi — réalisateurPaul Arène — écrivain
Terroir & appellations
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence lies within protected appellation areas, including Pierrevert, Huile d'olive de Haute-Provence, Banon.
PierrevertHuile d'olive de Haute-ProvenceBanonHuile essentielle de lavande de Haute-ProvenceHuile d'olive de ProvencePommes des Alpes de Haute DuranceAlpes-de-Haute-ProvenceFarine de petit épeautre de haute ProvencePetit épeautre de haute ProvenceMelon de CavaillonVolailles de la DrômeThym de Provence
Distinctions
Plus Beaux Détours de France (2)
- Alexandra David-Néel
- Jean Giono
- Jardin de l'ancienne abbaye de Valsaintes
- Jardins du château de Sauvan
- Jardins du prieuré de Salagon
Station classée de tourisme (21)
Risks
Safety score
7/10
Flood risk
High
% communes flood-exposed (GASPAR union)
p70 of 96
Fire risk
Very high
Copernicus FWI · fire-weather index
p90 of 96
Seismic exposure
Very high
% in a seismic zone (most of France is)
p80 of 96
Major risks present
⚛ Nuclear nearby Share of the department's communes listing each risk category
Earthquake Very high 100% p80 of 96
Ground movement Very high 100% p90 of 96
Subsidence & cavities Very high 100% p93 of 96
Flooding Very high 88.4% p81 of 96
Wildfire Very high 87.4% p84 of 96
Hazardous-materials transport Moderate 48% p48 of 96
Dam failure Low 26.8% p84 of 96
Avalanche Very low 18.2% #5 most exposed of 96
+3 more
Industrial hazard Very low 7.1% p73 of 96
Radon Very low 1.5% p63 of 96
Nuclear Very low 0.5% p66 of 96
Transport
Transport
3/10
4.5 h to Paris · TGV + closeness
TGV access
No
TGV via connecting city
Highways
1
A51
Work locally
43.6%
work in own commune
Nearest hubs
🏙 Nearest city
Gap → Marseille (~1h30-2h)
✈ Airport
Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) · ~93 km
🚄 To Paris via TGV
No direct TGV
🛣 Highways
A51
Services
Healthcare
6/10
APL 3.6
p53 of 96
Schools
5/10
Brevet 85%
p29 of 96
Fiber coverage
97%
p62 of 96
Intl schools
2schools
International programmes available
p47 of 96
People
Population
174,289
p9 of 96
Density
25/km²
Rural
-69% vs median 81
32 387
Pop trend
+0.4%/yr
+0.2 pts vs median · p61
Median income
$24,800
standard of living · $/yr
p28 of 96
Poverty rate
17.1%
below 60% of median living standard
p82 of 96
Unemployment
11.8%
active population out of work
p72 of 96
Tourism
1 bed per 8 residents
p93 of 96 · 23,233 beds
Age distribution · % of population
0-14
17%
15-24
12%
25-39
13%
40-54
14%
55-69
19%
70+
25%
Office professionals
13.2%
cadres · engineers, managers, professionals
p43 of 96
Remote work
5.5%
télétravail · works without commuting
p83 of 96
Socio-professional mix · % of occupied workers
Office
Managers & professionals
13.2%
At-home trades
Farmers
3%
Artisans & shopkeepers
10.9%
On-site · services, health, teaching, manual
Intermediate professions incl. nurses, teachers
26.9%
Clerical & service staff
26.7%
Manual workers
19.4%
Real estate
Median
$2,450/m²
$1,140 $4,060
House $2,700 Apt $2,280
0%/yr 2023–25
Median surface
—m²
Taxe foncière
50.95%
typical commune rate · TFPB
p84 of 96
Price distribution across communes · $/m²
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