Colmars

Not to be confused with Colmar, a Commune in Haut-Rhin.

Colmars (French pronunciation: [kɔlmaʁ]; Occitan: Cormarç) or Colmars-les-Alpes (French pronunciation: [kɔlmaʁ lez‿alp]) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.

Colmars
Commune
An overall view of the village of Colmars
Coat of arms
Location of Colmars
Colmars Show map of France Colmars Show map of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Coordinates: 44°10′55″N 6°37′38″E
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Arrondissement	Castellane
Canton	Castellane
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Magali Surle-Girieud[1]
Area 1	81.82 km2 (31.59 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	548
• Density	6.7/km2 (17/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	04061 /04370
Elevation	1,178–2,742 m (3,865–8,996 ft) (avg. 1,250 m or 4,100 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The official name of the commune, according to the geographical code of the INSEE, is "Colmars",^[3] but it is always referred locally as "Colmars-les-Alpes", even though it is not recognised in legal situations. The signs on entering the village read "Colmars-les-Alpes".

Geography

The village is situated at the confluence of the rivers Verdon and Lance, at an altitude of 1250 metres. The site of the village is a site inscrit, a site of special natural, scientific or historical interest.

Hamlets

There are two other hamlets in the commune: Clignon-Haut and Clignon-Bas.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	360	—
1975	311	−2.07%
1982	314	+0.14%
1990	367	+1.97%
1999	378	+0.33%
2009	385	+0.18%
2014	398	+0.67%
2020	479	+3.14%
Source: INSEE[4]

The inhabitants are called Colmarsiens.

Geography

Mountains and peaks

There are numerous high points in the commune. The main ones are:

• Tête de l'Encombrette (2682m)
• Autapie (2426m)
• Roche Cline
• Valpane

History

The name of the village comes from a hill dedicated to Mars by the Romans ("Collo Marto"). The village was originally situated further up a hill, but the site was judged to be too cramped and not possible to expand any further, so it was abandoned. It was destroyed by Raymond de Turenne in 1390.

Modern era

In the French Wars of Religion, the site was the target of several attacks:

• Paulon de Mauvans, a Protestant captain, pillaged the village in 1560;
• Cartier, a captain operating on behalf of de Mauvans, took and ransomed the village in 1583;
• The French Catholic League sacked the village a few years later.

Gallery

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See also

• Verdon River
• Col d'Allos
• Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department