If you are planning a road trip from the Cote d’Azur into Provence, you must make the Gorges du Verdon a stop on the way. It is a destination for campers, boaters, hikers, and everyone who loves the great outdoors! We hopped into our rental car from Saint-Tropez and headed north 2.5 hours into the hills and mountains. One of my favorite characteristics of France is how diverse the landscapes change within an hour drive. You could start your day on a Mediterranean beach and end your day rock climbing at the Gorges du Verdon!
Where is the Gorges du Verdon?
The Gorges du Verdon is a river canyon in Southeastern France formed by the Verdon river long ago. How long ago? BEFORE the Giant Dinosaurs! During the age of the first dinosaurs, the Triassic Period, the entire region was covered by the sea. This left limestone deposits and corals. As a result of large scale geologic activity (forming The Alps), the seafloor rose during the Jurassic period and the limestone deposits fractured. During the last major Ice Age, rivers and lakes turned into the glaciers that would carve out the landscape as we see it today.
Travel on Napoleon’s Route to Power!
This is the part where history blows my mind! Napoleon stepped ashore just south of Cannes, on Golfe-Juan with 1,000 men in 1815, after evading the British fleet. He had been exiled on Elba for less than a year when he decided to return to France. What was his goal? To force out the restored monarchy under Louis XVIII! For him to reach Paris, he would have to avoid the valley of the Rhône, which was the quickest route. But this route was full of towns loyal to the king. He decided to “take the high road” and trek through rougher paths through the mountains. His route is currently the modern road that you drive on through the Gorges du Verdon, until Napoleon seized Grenoble and then marched onto the capital. The rest was history!
Boating on Turquoise-Green waters
The Parc naturel régional du Verdon encompasses the Gorges du Verdon, Lac de Sainte-Croix, and many more natural features. The lake is one of the biggest reservoirs in France and there are five different hydro-electric dams to control flooding. We only had a couple hours to explore so that we could make it to our final destination before dark. So we decided to stop for a snack and some boating on the artificial lake called Lac de Sainte-Croix! Parking is a little tight but you will find a spot.
You can rent row boats, kayaks, and paddle boats for approximately 15 to 20 euro for an hour. They are not very strict on that timestamp. This was a really fun activity to get out and stretch from the car ride! The paddle boats had a neat spot to lay out and dip your feet into the water- or fully jump in! The water was so refreshing and the boat had a small ladder to easily get back on. There are snack stands and bathrooms, but make sure to bring small change because the bathrooms have a 1 euro fee.
This destination is mostly known for the water’s turquoise-green hue that seems filtered and unreal. The color is real! It is created by tiny rock particles called glacial flour mixed with microscopic algae. This creates the beautiful color that contrasts so magically against the white limestone.
I wish we could stay here longer, but we have to hit the road! This just gives us an excuse to come back for some hiking adventures in the future. If you are staying for at least the day, check out the picturesque villages surrounding the Gorges du Verdon. Many have accommodations if you don’t feel like going to a campground!
Our previous road trip destination: Saint-Tropez
