Mountain Honey
Miel Prestige sans Transhumance
My story
My passion for bees is first and foremost a family story. It originated in 1947, when my grandfather was the first to install beehives in Saint-Barthélémy, in the Laverq. At that time, he was the only beekeeper in the area and had already understood the full richness of this exceptional natural environment.
For some time now, I have been practicing amateur beekeeping with about ten hives, driven by family passion but also thanks to the guidance and training of a passionate amateur beekeeper who passed on her know-how and experience to me.
This year marks my first season as a professional beekeeper, following the purchase of an organic apiary from a local beekeeper who wished to sell her business. The apiary now has approximately 80 hives located in a completely protected environment in Saint-Barthélémy, bordering the Natura 2000 park.
Bordered by two streams and boasting remarkable biodiversity, this natural site offers bees an exceptional environment, far from any disturbances or traffic. The apiary is completely isolated and accessible only by a specialized quad bike.
Being very sensitive to environmental issues, I have undertaken a project to acquire an electric quad bike in order to limit as much as possible the ecological impact and pollution around the apiary.
This approach is fully in line with my desire to develop sustainable beekeeping, respectful of the mountains and biodiversity.
Beekeeping remains a secondary activity, carried out alongside my duties as mayor, which occupy most of my time. But above all, it represents a family passion and a deep attachment to our region.
The beehive is also an adventure that I share with my wife and son, who
They already accompany me daily in this activity. And I hope that, later, my daughters will also come to support us in order to continue this beautiful family story that began almost 80 years ago.
Beekeeping that respects the natural rhythm
The philosophy of the apiary is based on a simple principle: to fully respect the natural rhythm of the bees.
No transhumance is practiced. The colonies remain in the same place year-round to preserve their balance and comfort. This stability promotes their well-being and directly contributes to the quality of the honey produced.
Winter also plays a vital role in the life of the colonies. The bees...
They naturally cluster around the queen to maintain a stable temperature in the hive. During this period, they live off the honey reserves deliberately left for them so they can get through the winter in the best possible conditions.
This period of inactivity is crucial for the colony's rest and balance . Their excellent health and natural reserves allow them to easily spend the winter in the mountains.
This respect for the natural cycle of bees helps to produce a clear honey, rich in aromas, with extraordinary benefits and deeply marked by the terroir.
In the same spirit of tradition and quality, a portion of the honey selected from the apiary is still extracted manually at harvest time in order to preserve as much as possible all its benefits and natural qualities.
This respectful approach helps to preserve strong and healthy colonies.
QUALITY AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY COMMITTED
Several recognition and certification processes are currently underway:
• The renewal of the Organic Agriculture label in my name, following the
purchase of the certified organic apiary.
• The preparation of a file to obtain the High Quality label
Environmental, which I hope to obtain soon.
• The application for the 100% Southern Values label is currently under review.
These commitments reflect a strong desire: to offer authentic, locally produced honey.
with total respect for the bees, nature and the alpine terroir.
KEY FIGURES
• 1947: birth of a family passion in the Laverq
• 2026: First year of professional activity
• 80 beehives today in the apiary
A FAMILY PASSION TURNED TOWARDS
THE FUTURE
Through this activity, the objective remains the same as in 1947: to preserve the bees,
to showcase an exceptional terroir and produce authentic honey with total respect for
nature and beekeeping traditions.
TWO EXCEPTIONAL HONEY RANGES
MOUNTAIN HONEY
DU LAVERQ
PRESTIGE RANGE MOUNTAIN HONEY
(HAND-WRITED EXCERPT)
Originating from a family history founded in 1947 in the Laverq valley, this honey from
Montagne is produced in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, on a natural plot
located on the border of the Natura 2000 park.
The bees live in the same place all year round, without any transhumance, in a
A preserved environment rich in biodiversity and bordered by two streams.
stability allows us to fully respect their natural rhythm and promotes production
of high quality.
During the winter, the colonies remain in the mountains and maintain significant reserves.
honey to help them naturally get through this period that is essential to their balance.
This traditional know-how gives rise to a honey rich in aromas, with beneficial properties
remarkable natural features and deeply marked by the terroir of Laverq.
This exceptional range comes from a rigorous selection process carried out directly on
the apiary among the colonies producing the highest quality honeys.
Harvested in the unspoiled Laverq valley, in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, this
Honey benefits from a unique natural environment and respectful beekeeping practices.
without any transhumance.
Its unique characteristic lies in its traditional extraction method: this honey is still
extracted entirely by hand at the time of harvest in order to preserve as much as possible
all its benefits, aromas and natural qualities.
This meticulous artisanal work results in a rare and authentic honey, a reflection of a
family know-how passed down since 1947 and a deep respect for the natural rhythm of
bees.
In order to fully showcase the exceptional quality of this mountain honey,
In-depth analyses will be carried out by a specialized laboratory. These studies
will soon allow for the preparation of a detailed report on the virtues and qualities
remarkable natural characteristics of this honey, which comes from a completely unspoiled environment.
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The Secret Life of Bees
The bee is an insect belonging to the order Hymenoptera, like wasps and ants. It can live almost anywhere in the world, except in regions with very cold winters. There are approximately 20,000 different species, the most well-known being Apis mellifera, or the honeybee. This bee can be raised to produce honey by a beekeeper or live in the wild. Bees live in colonies within the hive.