A paradise for climbers and hikers alike, the Gorges du Verdon is a major tourist destination. You’ve got to do it at least once in your life. Whether you’re on an invigorating or contemplative vacation, with family or friends, the landscapes of the Gorges will leave a lasting impression. Here’s some information to whet your appetite before booking your vacation at camping Aux Vallons on the shores of Lac de Sainte Croix.
The Verdon Regional Nature Park
The Verdon, a small, tumultuous river, rises at the foot of the Sestrière head, near the Col d’Allos, in the Trois Evêchés massif. It has cut a spectacular furrow between the pre-Alps at Castellane and the pre-Alps at Digne, roughly separating the Alpes de Hautes Provence from the Var department.
This deep, narrow fault divides into three sections: the pre-gorge from Castellane to Pont de Soleils, the middle section from Pont-soleils to the place known as l’imbut in the commune of La Palud-sur-Verdon, and the canyon to the Galetas bridge at Moustiers-Saintes Marie.
The Verdon Grand Canyon
Europe’s highest canyon, it really begins after the Tusset bridge, offering exhilarating hikes such as the Martel and Imbut trails. 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 leisurely way of exploring the gorges and the Grand Canyon, you can take the Corniche Sublime, a road winding along the cliffs. And to further appreciate the majesty of the Gorges du Verdon, you can choose to descend the river by canoe, raft or any other white-water sport, or even rent an electric boat at the Galetas bridge, in the commune ofAiguines.
Guided tour of the Verdon gorges
« Ici, c’est plus que loin, c’est ailleurs « said Jean Giono of the Gorges du Verdon. The canyon, 50 km long and up to 700 m deep in places, bordered by imposing white cliffs, offers unique landscapes. Vertiginous slopes clinging to shrubs and plants, pierced by deep cavities, the baumes… The whole forming an enchanting tableau of greys, whites and greens against the turquoise-blue backdrop of the Verdon waters.
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The natural and remarkable sights of the gorges
- the Verdon Styx, 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 the cliff of the cavaliers RD 71 in the commune of Aiguines. The Auberge des Cavaliers is a good place to find the trail.
Two road itineraries to explore the gorges:
Left bank, from Aiguines to Castellane (D 71, 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 Gorge 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 seldom visited.
With the advent and spread of guidebooks and hiking trails, the canyons began to attract the public’s interest. After Martel, who 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 slowly developing, but the infrastructure to welcome visitors is still scarce, and the paths are difficult and dangerous. The train only goes as far as Saint-André-les-Alpes, so you have to hire a car to admire the gorges…
In 1906, the Touring Club de France built a trail leading down into the gorge. This marked the start of a promotional campaign that would develop year after year to introduce the public to this natural treasure and, in just a few decades, become the region’s leading destination.
Book your camping pitch on the hill overlooking Lake Sainte Croix or opt for a mobile home for a wonderful vacation in the Verdon.
