Alpes de Haute Provence (formerly the Lower Alps) are the back country of Provence, Provence a wilder, a Provence local, a rural diversified transition between the Mediterranean climate of the Alps. Digne-les-Bains is the Prefecture, Manosque his city the most active. There are several areas: the Haute Provence, including the western end of the massif of the Luberon, the Lure mountain and Valensole plateau, with the cities of Forcalquier, Manosque, Sisteron, the villages of character Banon, Simiane la Rotonde, Cruis, Mane and Dauphin. Le Verdon, lakes and magnificent gorges, one of the natural wonders of France, with the villages of Castellane, Riez, Moustiers Sainte-Marie. To the west, the Mercantour Park extends in part on the Alpes de Haute Provence, near the villages of Allos, Colmars-les-Alpes and Barcelonnette