A paradise for climbers and hikers alike, the Gorges du Verdon is a major tourist destination. You need to visit at least once in your life. Whether you're on an invigorating or contemplative holiday, with family or friends, the landscapes of the Gorges will leave a lasting impression on you. Here's some information to whet your appetite before booking your holiday in the Gorges du Verdon. Aux Vallons campsite on the banks of Lac de Sainte Croix.
The Verdon Regional Nature Park
The Verdon, a tumultuous little river, rises at the foot of the Sestrière headwaters, near the Col d'Allos, in the Trois Evêchés massif. It has cut a spectacular furrow separating the pre-Alps at Castellane from the pre-Alps at Digne, roughly separating the Alpes de Hautes Provence from the Var department.
This deep, narrow fault divides into three parts: the pre-gorges from Castellane to Pont de Soleils, the middle part de Pont-soleils at a place called l'imbut in the municipality of La Palud-sur-Verdon and finally the canyon which goes all the way to the galetas bridge in Moustiers-Saintes Marie.
Le Grand Canyon du Verdon
The highest canyon in Europe, it really begins after the Tusset bridge offering exhilarating hikes such as the Martel path or l'Imbut. Some sections of these trails are extremely difficult, and should only be undertaken by trained sportsmen and women with the appropriate equipment.
For a more peaceful discovery of the gorges and the Grand Canyonyou can borrow the Corniche SublimeYou can also take the road that winds along the cliffs. And to further appreciate the majesty of the Gorges du Verdon, you can choose to go canoeing, rafting or any of the other white-water sports on offer, or even hire an electric boat from the Verdon Tourist Office. Galetas bridgein the commune ofAiguines.
Guided tour of the Gorges du Verdon
"Here is more than far, it's somewhere else "Jean Giono once said of the Gorges du Verdon. The canyon is 50 km reaching in places 700 metres deepThe valley, bordered by imposing white cliffs, offers unique landscapes. Vertiginous slopes where shrubs and plants cling, pierced by deep cavities, the balsams... The whole forming an enchanting picture of greys, whites and greens against the turquoise blue background of the water from the Verdon.
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The natural and remarkable sights of the gorges
- the Styx du Verdon, a mini canyon within a canyon
- l'imbut, a passage where a chaotic mass of rocks makes the river disappear. The starting point for this exceptional site is on the RD 71 cavaliers cliff in the commune of Aiguines. The Auberge des Cavaliers is a good place to find the path.
There are two road routes through the gorges:
Left bank, from Aiguines to Castellane (D71, D90 AND D995)
Right bank, from Castellane to Moutiers-Sainte-Marie (D 952)
Hiking in the Gorges
The history of tourism in the Gorges du Verdon
Although the gorges were once inhabited by the Gallic Verguni tribe, it was only very recently that the Verdon gorges began to attract visitors. They were mapped by the Cassini brothers as early as 1770, but were only accessible by mule track, and for a long time were rarely visited.
It is thanks to the appearance and distribution of tourist guides and walks that they began to attract a public with a taste for romanticism. After Martel opened the way in 1905 under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture, the first daredevils took to the canyon.
Tourism around the canyon is developing slowly, but the infrastructure to welcome visitors is still scarce and the paths are rough and dangerous. The train only goes as far as Saint-André-les-Alpes which means you have to hire a car to admire the gorges...
In 1906, the Touring Club de France set up a path leading down into the gorges. It was the start of a promotional campaign that would grow from year to year, introducing the public to this natural treasure and, in just a few decades, becoming the region's leading destination.
Book your camping pitch on the hill with a view of Lac de Sainte Croix or opt for the a mobile home for a wonderful holiday in the Verdon.
