Gorges du Verdon - Europe's Grand Canyon

The Gorges du Verdon in France is sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Europe, and it's not hard to see why. This deep canyon is surrounded by dramatically high mountain ridges, and through it flows a bright green shimmering river. A motorway winds along the steep cliffs, where you can enjoy the fascinating views at a slow pace. The Gorges du Verdon in the Alpes-Du-Haute-Provence in south-eastern France is one of the most beautiful natural areas we have seen in Europe.

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Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

We started our journey in a beautiful and charming village. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where we pulled in with the campervan on the Camping Saint Jean. Then it was time to explore the village, which sits at the foot of a pair of dramatically high mountains. Here the fine stone houses are densely packed, and there are plenty of outdoor cafes and shops selling faience, earthenware covered with tin glaze.

Mysiga gränder i Moustiers Sainte Marie — Gorges du Verdon and now we're talking picturesque!

Moustiers, as the town is also known, is located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in south-eastern France. Located at the western entrance to the Gorges du Verdon, the village is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. We can only agree and who the heck wants to leave this village?

If you continue through the village towards the mountains, you'll soon come to a long and winding staircase, which takes you up to the small church on the mountain. The steep walk is sweaty, but the view is fantastic. At the foot of the mountains you can also look up at a 225 metre long iron chain, with a ten-pointed star dangling in the middle, hanging between two of the peaks.

According to legend, a crusader promised the population that he would hang a star between the mountains if he managed to return, which he apparently did. His name was Bozon de Blacas.

Frankrike Verdon — The emerald green Verdon river

The motorway around the Gorges du Verdon

The road twists and turns at high altitudes, sometimes with steep cliffs alongside and no guardrails. You can drive your motorhome just fine, as everyone slows down to five kilometres per hour when necessary, so there are no problems. No one is in a hurry here - everyone is here to enjoy the views!

Vägar Verdon — How high did you say the motorhome was? A bit of a winding road along the Verdon Gorges

klättring — Hmmm, ehhh... Where are you going?

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Castellane

Located at the eastern end of the Verdon National Park in France, Castellane is a lovely old town with narrow, and sometimes steep, alleys. As with many other old towns, the church is located at the top - in this case on a mountain with a rock face that rises 184 metres above the town!

When we arrived at Castellane, we chose to camp next to a babbling river. We were very comfortable here, but afterwards we realised that we should have stood on the other side of the river, where there were designated sites for motorhomes.

Roc of Notre Dame is the name of the rock, which can also be called "Our Lady of the rock". Castellane has a lot of history, and the caves around the area are closed because they have found settlements from 6000 years ago. They don't know how to deal with these discoveries but we will go back one day.

Peter vilar ut efter körningen i Castellane — A beer in the sun in a very beautiful landscape

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Trigance

When we drove back from Castellane, we drove on the southern side of the river Verdon, and then we stopped, among other things, in the village of Trigance. This is also a charming old village, built around a mountain with a castle on top. Today the castle houses a hotel and restaurant. In the village you can also buy locally produced honey and goat cheese, as in several places in the area. Although the village is very small, there are a few parking spaces for caravans and the possibility of charging electricity and draining waste water.

Saint-Victor de Marseille

The monastery located at the top of Mount Biach. This was an important site for more than 1500 years in the south of France. There are sarcophagi that have been in museums and William of Grimoard was elected Pope under the name of Urbain V. The castle is certainly worth a visit on your route around Europe's Grand Canyon.

Trigance Frankrike — What a cool place! The Gorges du Verdon should be experienced once in a lifetime.

Pont de l'Artuby

After visiting Trigance, we continued along the southern side of the Verdon River, aiming for Aiguines. Even on this side, the road is narrow and the mountain walls are steep. You drive through tunnels, over bridges and here and there you can stop to admire the breathtaking view. At the Pont de l'Artuby bridge, you could even do a bungy jump if you wanted to. Stop at the Balcons de la Mescale and look down 182 metres where the daredevils bungee jump all day.

Bungy — Some have written that this bridge is the tallest in Europe. This is wrong because it is called the Millaubron and is 343 metres high.

Gorges du Verdon - Europas Grand canyon — Tips and advice from the coach! See the Gorges du Verdon for real!

Tunnel — Like something out of a James Bond film

The beautiful view of the Gorges du Verdon

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Aiguines

Finally, we arrived at Aiguine, at the end of the valley where the river flows into the Lac de Sainte Croix, which is connected to the Verdon River. Here we took in the Camping de l'Aigle, which sits on a high hill with stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

frankrike aguines — If you don't go here, you're crazy! We write again... Gorges du Verdon!

The campervan pitches are then located just below the reception. It's quite hilly, so it was a bit of a challenge to find a reasonably flat spot, but in the end it went well. Here we enjoyed the sun and had a really good time. WiFi only worked at the reception building, but otherwise we didn't miss anything.

Aiguines i Frankrike — This is what a campsite should look like ... always!

Since the campsite is high up, it is a long walk down. From here we walked partly to the small village of Aiguines and partly to the lake. It was a tough and slightly sweaty, but nice, walk.

aguines — Close your eyes and think old vineyards and gentlefolk and you see this!

aguines frankrike — A world-class experience!

Lac de Sainte croix

After a few days at camping l'Aigle, we moved downhill, closer to the river and lake Lac de Sainte Croix. We took in the campsite The Galetas, which is right next to the lake. From here we had walking distance to the lake and the Verdon river.

River Verdon

We rented a pedal boat, and pedalled into the green-blue river. What a fantastic experience and end to the tour around the Gorge du Verdon in France! If you want, you can read more about the tour with Pedal boat in the Verdon river.

Vattenfall — The mountains are high and in some places the canyon reaches a depth of 700 metres.

Verdon i Frankrike — The green-blue River Verdon, where you can see people paddling, pedalling or fishing.

Where is the Gorges du Verdon located?

The Gorges du Verdon, or the Grand Canyon of Europe, is located in the south-east of France, north-west of Cannes. At one end is the charming mountain village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where we started our journey around the gorge, and at the other end is the medieval village of Castellane.

Viewpoints and hiking trails are everywhere and we were a little bit everywhere like la Palud, Point Sublime, Route des Cretes, Lac de ste Croix and Col d'Illoire.

10 May 2015 10:05

France

freedom best, Motorhome holiday France, nature, unique nature europe, Experiences in Europe

Helena

Administrator

21 Comments

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Kors och Tvärs says:

Cool, so delicious (and a little scary) with the cliffs. I'm a little afraid of heights..... Looked a little crude there, where the cliff goes out over the road, nice that you did not meet and hit the alcove.
The 3rd picture reminds me of a picture we have of the Ardeche river.
Keep up the good work

10 May 2015 - 10:32

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Nils-Åke Hansson says:

How cool. Very interesting reading nice pictures.
Nisse

10 May 2015 - 10:43

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Elisabeth says:

What a wonderful nature and beautiful road! We will keep that area in mind! Have a good time!

10 May 2015 - 11:19

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Monica says:

Yes, it really is WOW. The pictures give me chills. We have never driven there with the motorhome and just that overhanging cliff has made me hesitate. But even with a regular car, it's a special kind of driving. I think there is a special "devil's loop" in the area that we haven't ventured on but you are tough ....?
Agree that it is strange that this is not more known - it is completely unique and absolutely fantastic. Since you are staying here, do not forget the Natural History Museum at the beginning of les Gorges, I have forgotten the name of the village where it is now but have written about it in emails to you before.

It is so much fun to see your beautiful pictures!

10 May 2015 - 11:37

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Åsa says:

Cool! So beautiful and the colour of the water!

10 May 2015 - 11:53

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Steve says:

Breathtaking! I have never heard of this before either.
The blogging world is a constant source of increased wisdom and knowledge.

10 May 2015 - 12:04

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Helena says:

So heavenly beautiful nature! That river, so wonderful water! It must be incredibly wonderful to be out as you are and see so much beauty! 🙂

10 May 2015 - 12:33

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Monica says:

Prehistoric Museum. In Quinson - I realised it.

10 May 2015 - 13:28

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BP says:

Lovely views. Oh very daring of you to drive there with the Freedom. The Gorges du Tarne in the other national park I told you about is a copy of the Gorges du Verdon. I thought the colour of the river was absolutely wonderful - never seen anything so beautiful before.

10 May 2015 - 14:33

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Comment by post author

admin says:

I'm also a bit afraid of heights, but mostly it went well anyway. We had some luck with the meetings, and it was nice!

Nils-Åke, when you are travelling in such a fantastic area, it is also easier to take nice pictures!

Elisabeth, fantastic area to drive in! With a motorhome you have to be a little careful at meetings because it is quite narrow sometimes, but most people (except some motorcyclists) drove very slowly.

Monica, I think you mean Route de Cretes? We went there! Fascinating views and cliffs! In some places we wouldn't have wanted meetings, but we were a bit lucky. And most people drove very slowly right there! Thanks for the tip about the museum!

Åsa, crazy beautiful everywhere!

Steve, isn't the blogging world great? I always learn something new too!

Helena, it's fantastic to travel like this, and France is always surprising!

BP, I'll check out where that Tarne is! There are many places you haven't heard of...

10 May 2015 - 15:19

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Maggan och Ingemar says:

Oh so wonderful!!! We have read about that river and canyon but have never been there. We will make sure to change that now. 🙂 Exciting to follow your path.

10 May 2015 - 16:17

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Maggan and Ingemar, Verdon is indeed an interesting and exciting destination!

10 May 2015 - 16:58

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Lars Permeln says:

What fantastic nature experiences there seem to be in France. Beautiful pictures and what water in the river.

10 May 2015 - 17:27

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Ditte says:

Thank you for letting me come here to Gorges de Verdon again! So fantastic when I was here in the 70's and 80's and just as nice still. Wonderful pictures! And I have such nice memories from here, it was at that time I drove around Europe and also travelled by train.
Understand that it was a bit tricky there to manoeuvre the motorhome in the curves and at meetings.
Good training, all-round training you got too.

10 May 2015 - 18:15

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Lars, there is great nature in France, we have discovered it now!!!!

Ditte, you have really travelled so much and been to so many places!!! Funny that you have nice memories from here, we will also have!

10 May 2015 - 18:40

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JoY says:

It is absolutely beautiful there. Got a meeting with a truck in such a curve with overhang! It was to jump out of the car and get the cars behind to back up so the truck could pass first and then we hahaha.
We stayed overnight and swam at the lake and had a nice full moon night there with strange sounds and gusts of wind coming in from the lake.
Can imagine travelling back, then maybe I'll venture to BungyJump from the bridge on the south side hahaha
Hugs and happy travelling

10 May 2015 - 21:13

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Inga M says:

What an adventure! It must have been exciting to drive at these heights and on such narrow roads. Nothing for us extremely afraid of heights! 😉

11 May 2015 - 6:44

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Comment by post author

admin says:

JoY, I understand that it will be tricky with such meetings! We were lucky and avoided it, but most people drive very slowly so you have to solve it as you describe! BungyJump!? Huh, I stand over it ...
😉

Inga M, I'm actually quite afraid of heights, but this went well. But I do not climb unnecessarily far out, you have a good view anyway!

11 May 2015 - 10:49

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Ladies Abroad says:

God how nice. Immediately on my to-do list for Europe.

11 May 2015 - 14:19

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Staffan Svensson says:

Very cool! we leave on Friday and our goal is this amazing place!

04 July 2016 - 22:45

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Birgitta Strand says:

Is there a weight limit on the motorhome for the Gorges du Verdon?
Regards Birgitta

12 May 2022 - 9:55

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Gorges du Verdon - Europe's Grand Canyon

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

The motorway around the Gorges du Verdon

Castellane

Trigance

Saint-Victor de Marseille

Pont de l'Artuby

Aiguines

Lac de Sainte croix

River Verdon

Where is the Gorges du Verdon located?

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21 Comments

Kors och Tvärs says:

Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Elisabeth says:

Monica says:

Åsa says:

Steve says:

Helena says:

Monica says:

BP says:

admin says:

Maggan och Ingemar says:

admin says:

Lars Permeln says:

Ditte says:

admin says:

JoY says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

Ladies Abroad says:

Staffan Svensson says:

Birgitta Strand says:

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