If you are planning a trip to Provence, you should pay a visit to the European version of “Grand Canyon” – the Gorges Du Verdon. Whilst not as massive as the Grand Canyon in the United States, the French version has its own scenic charm.
Driving is highly recommended, and you could stop by various small towns en route to the Canyon. We had read about the steep, narrow and winding rim road prior and made sure we drove slowly and carefully throughout the trip (probably much to the chagrin of impatient French drivers haha).
We drive from the North Rim via Moustiers Saint Marie, which the first of the quaint mountain town that we encounter, with a few more to go on during this road trip.
After a short walk around Moustiers Sainte Marie, we drove on and reached Lac Sainte Croix.
The Lac Sainte Croix was of the most beautiful shade of turquoise green! This is a man-made lake that was built following the construction of a dam at the gorges to protect the inhabitant around the villages.
We stopped for the night at Aiguines and stayed at a B&B there. Aiguines is another quaint canyon town and it was there where we had the opportunity to admire a beautiful sunset.
The next morning, we continued our road trip towards Pont de L’Artuby, a beautiful suspension bridge where people do bungee jumping!
Pit stop at Castellane. Town areas are great for a rest, a brisk walk and a quick bite at the cafes.
We next drove towards the Point Sublime, which was supposed have a superb vantage point of the Canyon. Along the way, we made several pitstops, including the Sentier Martel Trail, that brought us up close and personal with the Verdon River.
The trip took about an entire day – which we broke it apart across 2 days. By afternoon of the second day, we drove out of Verdon and headed towards Grasse and Nice. If you are planning a trip to the South of France, do consider a detour to Verdon to admire the amazing mountainous landscape and the beautiful Grand Canyon of Europe.
