Gorges du Verdon: turquoise paradise


Today's post is one of my favorites part of the trip. I really wanted to visit this area and also show you the pictures. The third phase of our trip was carried out by the Verdon Gorge, one of the parts of the journey we were more looking forward to visit!

El post de hoy es uno de mis favoritos del viaje. Tenía muchas ganas de conocer esta zona y también de mostraros las fotos. La tercera fase de nuestro viaje estaba protagonizada por las Gargantas del Verdón, una de las partes del viaje que más ilusión nos hacía visitar!

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After our first night in our third accommodation, we were to start the route through the Grand Canyon of Verdon, considered one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe. It is about 25 kilometres long and up to 700 metres deep. The canyon was carved by the Verdon River, named for its astonishing turquoise-green color, a distinctive feature of the area.

Tras nuestra primera noche en nuestro tercer alojamiento, llegaba la ruta por el Gran Cañón del Verdon, considerado como uno de los cañones más hermosos de Europa. Tiene una longitud aproximada de 25 kilómetros y unos 700 metros de profundidad. El cañón fue excavado por el río Verdon, llamado así por su asombroso color turquesa-verde, una característica distintiva de la zona.






Our tour included a visit to several typical mountain villages such as Castellane, Rougon, La Palud sur Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie until reaching our final destination, the Sainte-Croix Lake and visiting there Les Salles-sur-Verdon and Bauduen. On our way back we also visited Aups, a village from which I have no pictures, but that we loved! Definitely the perfect place for dinner after this route.

Nuestra ruta incluía la visita de varios pueblos de montaña típicos como Castellane, Rougon, La Palud sur Verdon y Moustiers-Sainte-Marie hasta llegar a nuestro destino final, el lago de Sainte-Croix y visitar Les Salles-sur-Verdon y Bauduen. De vuelta a casa pasamos por Aups, pueblo del que no tengo ninguna foto, pero que nos encantó! Sin duda el lugar perfecto para cenar después de esta ruta.






Castellane is a very old stone village located 724 meters above sea level. The most characteristic feature is the chapel of Our Lady of the Rock located on top of a rock 184 meters above the city. We didn't climb up there but it surely well worth the view.

Castellane es un pueblo de piedra muy antiguo ubicada a 724 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Lo más característico es su capilla de Nuestra Señora de La Roca situada en lo alto de una roca a 184 metros sobre la ciudad. No subimos hasta allí pero seguramente las vistas bien lo valgan.





Throughout all the way you will find unique places and you won't be able to resist stopping by continuously: in viewpoints such as the Point Sublime or on small beaches with direct access to river Verdon with its incredible turquoise.

A lo largo de todo el camino encontrarás rincones únicos y no podrás resistirte a parar continuamente: en miradores como el Point Sublime o en pequeñas playas de acceso directo al río Verdón con su increíble color turquesa.







Rougon is a very small village beside the Point Sublime, worth a brief stop to admire the view and stretch your legs. There is a crêpe's house at the entrance of the village that seams pretty cool, but we had our usual picnic  with us :)

Rougon es un pueblo muy pequeñito junto al Point Sublime. Merece una breve parada para admirar las vistas y estirar las piernas. Hay una crepería a la entrada del pueblo que estaba muy animada, aunque nosotros llevamos nuestro habitual picnic :)






From here we went to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a town we loved and worth a longer stop. This village, famous for its pottery, was built on platform terraces a hundred metres up the side of a limestone cliff, originating a waterfall in the city center during the spring thaw. After climbing the 262 steps of a stone stairway on the flank of the hill, you reach the chapel that overlooks the village. The views from here are spectacular!

De aquí a Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, pueblo que nos encantó y que merece una parada más larga. Este pueblo, famosos por su cerámica, se encuentra al pie de un acantilado que origina una cascada en pleno centro urbano durante los deshielos de primavera. Destaca la capilla de Notre-Dame-de Beauvoir, enclavada en un escarpe de las rocas al que si accedimos esta vez. Las vistas desde aquí son espectaculares!





But, if there is an identity sign of Moustiers, it's undoubtedly the gold star (displayed also in the crest of the town) that hangs between two mountains several meters above the ground. According to legend, during the Crusades the knight Bozon de Blacas was held prisoner by the Saracens; he vowed to hang a star over his village if he was able to return. No one knows how the star was originally hung there.

Pero si hay un signo identitario de Moustiers este es sin duda la estrella dorada (de hecho está representada en el blasón de la villa) que cuelga entre dos montañas a varias decenas de metros del suelo. Según la leyenda, se trata de una promesa hecha por el Duque de Blacas a su regreso de las cruzadas, donde había sido prisionero de los sarracenos y que habría jurado colgar una estrella sobre su aldea si volvía a ella con vida.







And from there, we went to have some rest and refreshing us in the beautiful Lac de Sainte-Croix! We decided to access through the village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon. From the beach of the village you can access through a path in the nature, the different creeks that border the lake. You can enjoy a clean, turquoise water in complete tranquility, because these mini-bays allow you to be almost alone in your particular "little beach". On the way back we visited Bauduen, but we found it quite expendable. Only if you're looking for a nice dinner overlooking the see this seamed the right place with its pleasant aroma of grilled fish!

Y, de aquí, a descansar y refrescarnos en el maravilloso lago de Sainte-Croix! Decidimos acceder a través del pueblo Les Salles-sur-Verdon  y fue todo un acierto. Desde la playa del pueblo puedes acceder a través de un camino en la naturaleza, a las diferentes calas que bordean el lago. Podrás disfrutar de una agua limpia y turquesa en total tranquilidad, ya que estas mini-calitas te permiten estar prácticamente solo en tu "playita" particular. A la vuelta pasamos por Bauduen, pero también nos pareció bastante prescindible. Eso si, parecía un pueblo muy agradable para cenar con sus miles de terrazas con vistas al mar y su agradable aroma a pescado a la brasa!








happy Saturday!
feliz sábado!


- end of the Obsession - 

41 comments

  1. wauu now I understand why is this one of your favourite places in France, very very beautiful, and what a photos you made, amazing! - Urska from sliva

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  2. Wow, there's an amazing contrast of colours in your photos!

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  3. Indeed One of the best place of the country :) It's been a veeeeery long time I didn't go there ! Have to concider making a "tour de france" in the near future :)

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    1. Definitely France is a beautiful country with great food :) Thanks for reading!

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  4. As always fantastic photos! Gorges du Verdon is a place in France I would absolutely love to visit. I didn't know it was that large, and 700 meters deep! Thanks for sharing :)
    Maria @ http://momentumtravels.com

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  5. Midori, these are definitely my kinds of places! I love sweeping landscapes and small villages and this region seems to have it all. Moustiers looks perfect, I'm definitely going to keep here in mind the next time I get to visit France. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you! It's really a beautiful place!

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  6. What a truly beautiful place, such stunning views from not just walking around but when you are up high as well. The colours are so lovely, thank you for highlighting this place to me, I had never heard of it before. #feetdotravel

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  7. The place looks amazing! The small streets, the colours of the water, the legend about the knight, the panoramic view, all of it is just beautiful! Great pictures and thanks for showing this place to us! #feetdotravel

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    1. yes! it's beautiful! Thanks for reading!

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  8. wicked photos as always! :) this looks like such a wonderful place! I love southern France.

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  9. Wow, this place looks amazing! I've never heard of it, love to go when I'm back in Europe. Thanks for sharing :)

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  10. So so beautiful - absolutely love the beautiful landscape, canyon, kayakers on the river and the stunning villages! Such a cool place!

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  11. The views are just spectacular. The weather there looks pleasant as well. Pinning this for later!

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  12. Beautiful place I was not familiar with. Some of those canyons remind me of Colorado. Looks like I do some fun hiking there and see great views. The village appears to be laid back and just a nice place to wander and sit at a café for awhile. I can see why you love it so.

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    1. It's really beautiful! Thank you for your comment!

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  13. Beautiful part of France that you have captured in your photography. Great post. #feetdotravel

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  14. I've visited many parts of France but always love the stunning landscapes in the South. The blue sky and old building really are like going back in time. I've been close by but not been to the Grand Canyon of Verdon. Will have to check it out one day.

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    1. Yes! we're also relatively close from Barcelona. We love to cross the south of france by car! Is so beautiful!

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  15. How absolutely stunning! The river, cliffs, architecture and views. I love this!

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  16. I've never heard of this place before but it's beautiful and you did a great job with the photos. I have pinned for the future :)

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  17. I've not heard of this place in France, looks stunning, thanks for showing us. The gorge and that turquoise water looks epic! will bookmark and pin your post. You're photos are gorgeous Midori :-)

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  18. Wow! Absolutely stunning place. I think I could explore this area for months and not get bored with it. I will pin it with the hope of visiting one day.

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  19. Everything looks so gorgeous! That chapel must have the best view of any chapel in the world! The water is such a beautiful shade of color. No wonder it's one of your favorite of the trip!

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    1. thank you! We didn't go to the chapel, but I regret some how...

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  20. What an absolutely stunning place this is! I can't believe I have never even heard of this part of France. The canyon looks awesome and the blue water seems out of this world. Knowing myself I would have tried to climb to the lighthouse though ha!

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    1. hahahha yes, we should have... but we didn't have much time and I wanted so badly to swim in the lake! :(

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  21. Wow! We can see why you were so looking forward to this part of the trip! We are making notes, and definitely adding this to a longer trip through France. Gorgeous photos - love the views in the towns. Thanks for sharing!

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