Gorges du Verdon, a natural phenomenon in France
Gorges du Verdon, the Grand Canyon of France, is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Europe. The clear turquoise waters surrounded by high limestone cliffs give this canyon in France its special, unforgettable appearance.
The Gorges du Verdon are a wonderful place to kayak and cool off in the cool mountain water.
Or you can lie down on one of the beaches and just enjoy all the people passing by in the kayak, pedal boat or watching kids jump off the rocks into the water.
The Gorges du Verdon is a wonderful place to spend your day during your holiday in France and an absolute must-see when traveling through the South of France.
Read all our travel tips about the Gorges du Verdon in our travel guide about this impressive destination in France.
Gorges du Verdon, a natural phenomenon
Gorges du Verdon is definitely a natural wonder.
Millions of years ago, this gorge was completely under water. But slowly but surely this gap became visible due to the shifting of the plates. And now it is one of the largest gorges in Europe.
The most beautiful thing about the Gorges du Verdon, besides the high rocks that surround this gorge, is the turquoise water. You can see the color of the water from miles away, it almost gives light, that's how clear the color of the water is. This turquoise water, which is caused by the minerals in this water, makes the Gorges du Verdon even more impressive.
At the foot of the Gorges du Verdon
The starting point of the gorge, of the Gorges du Verdon, is Lac du Saint Croix. From this lake you can explore the Gorges du Verdon by kayak or pedal boat. But the lake itself is also beautiful to explore from the water or to take a refreshing dip. Did you know that Lac du Saint Croix is ​​not a natural lake?
Although the Gorges du Verdon was created completely naturally, Lac du Saint Croix was created by humans.
The lake is a wonderful place to enjoy the surroundings, but the real highlight is the Gorges du Verdon itself. When you sail through this narrow gorge, you feel really small along the high rocks that surround the gorge. At the highest point, these rocks are no less than 700 meters high.
The Gorges du Verdon, an unforgettable route
The route to the Gorges du Verdon France is absolutely unforgettable. It is a long winding road of about 100 kilometers that shows you a new spectacular view over the 25 kilometer azure blue gorge with every new bend. So keep in mind that you really need a day to drive this French route, because every few kilometers you will want to stop to take more pictures. So make sure you have enough space on your camera or phone, because everything is beautiful to photograph in this special nature reserve.
Pont du Galates, the most famous viewpoint over the Gorges du Verdon
When you drive the route around the Gorges du Verdon, there are a lot of viewpoints. But out of all these viewpoints, Pont du Galates is the most famous Gorges du Verdon viewpoint.
Pont du Galates is a bridge that separates Lac du Saint Croix and Gorges du Verdon. From this bridge you have the most beautiful view over the point where Lac du Saint Croix merges into the Gorges du Verdon. On one side of this bridge you can see the impressive gorge, while on the other side you can see the turquoise lake Lac de Saint Croix.
What to do in the Gorges du Verdon?
You can discover the Gorges du Verdon in different ways and there are more than enough activities to do. Both the people who want a relaxed day out and the adventurers are in their place in the Gorges de Verdon.
Explore the Gorges du Verdon by pedal boat or kayak
The most popular activity in the Gorges du Verdon is by far renting a pedal boat or kayak to explore the Gorges du Verdon. Because no matter how beautiful the views from above are over this gorge, this gorge becomes really impressive when you sail through the gorge itself and look up. Every corner gives you a different view and there are small beaches everywhere to relax. You can swim everywhere in the Gorges du Verdon, although the water quite fresh all year round.
Gorges du Verdon, renting a pedal boat
At Lac de Saint Croix you will find several places where you can rent kayaks and pedal boats. You cannot reserve them in advance. Also consider the weather. On a less windy day, they close the Gorges du Verdon and the rental companies are also usually closed. We paid 20 euros for an hour for a pedal boat.
Gorges du Verdon, an active holiday destination
The Gorges du Verdon is a wonderful place to relax and just relax by the water. But if you are looking for a little more adventure, you can also enjoy yourself at the Gorges du Verdon.
Gorges du Verdon hikes
In the Gorges du Verdon there are more than enough hikes to do with different degrees of difficulty. What you can be sure of with all these walks is that you can enjoy spectacular views of this special nature reserve during all these Gorges du Verdon hikes.
Popular hikes in the Gorges du Verdon
The two most popular hikes in the Gorges du Verdon are Sentier Martel and Sentier de l'Imbut. These two hikes descend into the canyon of the Gorges du Verdon. These French hiking routes are certainly not among the easiest hiking routes and can certainly be a bit spicy for children.
Two easier Gorges du Verdon walks are for example Col de Lèques and Grès d'Annot. Especially the walk Grès d'Annot gives you an amazing view over the entire valley.
Doesn't the Gorges du Verdon sound adventurous enough for you?
Can it all be a little more adventurous for you? You can also book a day of canyoning in the Gorges du Verdon. You can book this activity with various travel organizations and it takes a whole day. Via the walls of the French Grand Canyon you will descend into the gorge.
Gorges du Verdon is also a true paradise for climbers, because there are more than 1,000 climbs that you can do here.
The surroundings of the Gorges du Verdon
After an active morning in the Gorges du Verdon, you will probably also want something to eat.
In the vicinity of the Gorges du Verdon are several beautiful French mountain villages where there are enough restaurants to satisfy your hunger.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, one of the most beautiful villages in France
One of these villages is Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. With the cobbled streets and cute houses, this village is rightly one of the most beautiful villages in France. You will find this village about 40 minutes drive from the Gorges du Verdon.
For the best viewpoint in this village you have to climb the stairs to the top of the hill. On this hill is an old church with beautiful views over the mountains all around.
Aguines, the perfect village for a nice lunch
Aguines is another one of these small villages in this beautiful nature reserve. Aguines is a little bit less pittoresque dan the village mentioned above, but it is still a good destination for a nice lunch. In Aguines you can find multiple little bars and restaurant were you can have a drink or a nice dinner. This village is a little bit closer to the Gorges du Verdon, about 30 minutes by car.
Where is the Gorges du Verdon?
The Gorges du Verdon is located in southeastern France in the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var.
When you are on holiday on the Côte d'Azur, it is an 80 to 100 kilometer drive to the Gorges du Verdon. But Gorges du Verdon is also easy to drive from the Ardèche for a day trip. And we would certainly advise you to do so, because you will regret not visiting this famous gorge in France.
How to get to Gorges du Verdon ?
The Gorges du Verdon is easiest to reach with your own transport, but there are also some travel companies where you can book a tour to this famous nature park in the South of France.
To enter the Gorges du Verdon, you have to drive to the village of Castellane. Castellane is the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon. From here you drive through the mountains to the 25 kilometer long gorge, the Gorges du Verdon.
The route itself is about 100 kilometers away. You can't really continue on this road because there is a lot of other traffic. This route is also a popular route among cyclists and motorcyclists.
What to take to the Gorges du Verdon?
A camera is the most important to take to the Gorges du Verdon, because you will want to take pictures everywhere. But also remember to take a bathing suit, a beach towel, sun screen and water shoes.
Gorges du Verdon, a must-see in France
We have already visited the Gorges du Verdon several times. When we visited this gorge in France as a child, this gorge already made an impression. And as an adult, it was no less impressive. The Gorges du Verdon with its clear turquoise color are definitely a beautiful natural phenomenon.
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