BANON, ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE

'Banon' is a commune in the ''département'' of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the south-east of France. It has a population of around 900 (1999), with its inhabitants known as ''Banonais''.
The village is situated on the Albion plateau, between the Mont Ventoux and the Lure Mountain. Surrounded by hills with fields of lavender and cereal, the town has become famous for the pungent goat's cheese banon that is bought wrapped in chestnut leaves.