Discovering the Verdon Gorge

The Verdon Gorge, one of our “must-see” destinations, is sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Europe. It is the deepest gorge in France and is often considered to be the most beautiful canyon in Europe. 

After leaving Castellane, we followed the Verdon River and occasionally caught a glimpse of its bright turquoise color. As we neared our stop for lunch, we noticed that the gorge was becoming much deeper.

Following the Verdon River

We stopped for lunch at Auberge du Point Sublime and invited Cécile to join us. This pleasant, family-run inn is known for its authentic cuisine, and Tim and I enjoyed delicious salads and quiche. The company was even better!

A Delicious Lunch at Auberge du Point Sublime

The restaurant just happened to be located across the street from Point Sublime, one of the most beautiful views into the Verdon Gorge. We walked down to the viewpoint, an actual balcony hanging on the cliff side, and marveled as the Verdon rift opened up in front of us. We could see where the Verdon River begins to flow between the two immense limestone cliffs. Here, the gorge is quite narrow, with the cliffs quite close together, and little light reaches the river.

Although the geology and abundant vegetation are nothing like Arizona’s Grand Canyon, the two do share one thing in common – recurrent droughts have left river levels extremely low. From our vantage point, only small pools of the beautiful turquoise water were visible.

The View from Point Sublime Looking Towards Castellane

The View from Point Sublime Looking Towards the Two Steep Cliffs and the Main Part of the Gorge

Tim and Sarah at Point Sublime

We continued along the road on the north side of the canyon and turned onto the Route des Crêtes, a narrow, winding road that provides access to numerous viewpoints, all perched on top of the highest cliffs of the gorge. These panoramic views were breathtaking, and we were able to watch the soaring vultures and peregrine falcons that are drawn to the air currents here.

Views into the Verdon Gorge

Tim, Sarah, and the Birds along the Verdon Gorge

After winding down through the numerous hairpin turns, we noticed the canyon beginning to soften, and the cliffs becoming more jagged. We then caught sight of Lac de Sainte Croix, the largest lake in the Verdon. Although Cécile was concerned about the water level, we thought the lake was lovely, with its beautiful turquoise color.

Final Views as We Descended Towards Lac de Sainte Croix 

We soon arrived in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the western gateway to the Verdon Gorge. This Provencal village is dramatically situated below two cliffs, and the mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to this beautiful town. An unusual feature is the river that divides the town into two parts. This river flows down from the mountains and ends with a series of picturesque waterfalls in the heart of the village.

Scenes in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

By the time we had walked up the hill and through Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Tim and I were getting very tired. We enjoyed seeing the village, but it had been a long day. We let Cécile know that it was time to head to our destination for the evening, the hotel La Bastide De Moustiers.

We were sad to say good-bye to Cécile, since a new guide would join us tomorrow. Cécile was one of the best guides we’ve ever had, and we learned so much from her. She made it a point to give us a tour in every place we stopped and provided a running commentary while we were in the car. Tim and I loved the time we spent with her, and we had a lot of fun together. We especially enjoyed getting to know her and hearing her story.

Cécile and Our "Chariot" for the Last Three Days - Thanks for Everything!