On the Road to the Verdon Gorge

This morning we checked out of our hotel and made our final walk through Haut-de-Cagnes to our meeting point with Cécile. We really enjoyed our stay at Chateau Le Cagnard, and the hotel valet insisted on accompanying us with our luggage. The little bit we saw of this hilltop town was very charming, and I’m sorry we never had the time to explore a bit more. Cécile picked us up as scheduled, stopping in the middle of the one lane road to load our luggage.

Scenes from Haut-de-Cagnes

The Main Road in Haut Cagnes-sur-Mer and Our Meeting Place - Here She Comes

Today our agenda called for leaving the Riviera and making our way to Provence. The itinerary included a scenic drive to Castellane, lunch at Auberge du Point Sublime, views into and along the Verdon Gorge, a tour of the village of Moustiers Sainte Marie, check-in to La Bastide De Moustiers, and dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Although there are several routes one can take to Castellane, Cécile selected an incredibly scenic one. The views were stunning, and I’m sorry I didn’t ask to sit in the front seat to better appreciate them. As we started to climb into the mountains, we passed several hill towns, other quaint villages, and dramatic limestone cliffs. We drove along the Gorges du Loup and caught glimpses of this spectacular canyon.

Incredible Views Along the Way

This was not a drive for those who are prone to car sickness, or for those who have a fear of heights, with its steep drop-offs and hairpin curves. In many places, the road was carved into the side of sheer cliffs, with short tunnels cut into the rock, and it was often so narrow that I was amazed two cars could pass. We did have to dodge trucks that wanted to claim the middle of the road, as well as hundreds of bicycles competing in a downhill race. One section of the road was even used for the car chase scene in the James Bond film Goldeneye. Although I love roads like this, I’m glad I wasn’t driving this time. I continued to be impressed with Cécile’s driving skills.

The Road Itself Was Incredible

Dodging Trucks and Bicycles

After about two hours, we reached the town of Castellane, the eastern gateway to the Verdon Gorge. We stopped at the Pont du Roc, a bridge that was for a long time the only strategic point for crossing the Verdon River. Here, we had a great view of the town. Castellane is known for the Chapelle Notre Dame du Roc, which is perched on top of a soaring hill overlooking the town. Tim and I did not walk to the top! Instead, we explored the town and stopped at the Sunday market, where we again shopped vicariously through Cécile. One of the hanging sausages she selected was unlike any I’d ever seen before. The sample I tried, though, was delicious.

Scenes from Castellane

Sunday Market in Castellane

Although Tim and I loved the time we spent on the Riviera, it was nice to leave the cities and traffic behind and enjoy the beauty of the French countryside.