page_title: Verdon Gorge
section_title: Tourism
hierarchical_section_title: Verdon Gorge / Tourism
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Le Pont de Chaulière. Photo prise le 16 juin 2004 à 14h26
context_page_description: The Verdon Gorge is a river canyon located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. It is about 25 km long and up to 700 metres deep. It was formed by the Verdon River, which is named for its startling turquoise-green colour, one of the location's distinguishing characteristics. The most impressive part lies between the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where the river has cut a ravine to a depth of 700 meters through the limestone mass. At the end of the canyon, the Verdon flows into the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, named the Lac de Sainte-Croix.
  As it is close to the French Riviera, the gorge is very popular with tourists, who can drive around its rim, rent kayaks to travel on the river or hike. The limestone walls, which are several hundreds of metres high, attract many rock climbers. It is considered an outstanding destination for multi-pitch climbing. The variety of 1,500 routes encompass cracks, pillars and seemingly endless walls, with a range in distance from 20 metres to over 400 metres. The climbing is generally of a technical nature.
context_section_description: The Verdon Gorge is renowned as one of the most beautiful canyons in Europe, and attracts numerous tourists, especially during the summer period. The river's striking turquoise colour is associated with glacial sources and the minerals of rock flour suspended in the water.
  It is easily accessible on its right bank from the north (via route D952 from Castellane to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie), and on its left bank from the south (via routes D71, D90 and D955 from Aiguines to Castellane).
  The southern route offers views of the Col d'Illoire, the summits of Plein Voir, le Pavillon (1624 m), la cime de Barbin (1560 m) and le Mourre de Chanier (1930 m), and the Saint-Croix reservoir. The "Sentier de l'Imbut" hike begins from this side of the gorge. Where the road passes through the Tunnel du Fayet, openings have been cut into the tunnel to afford a view to travelers. The road crosses the Artuby River over a bridge known as Pont de l'Artuby or Pont de Chaulière; soon after, at the relais de Balcon, the Artuby flows into the Verdon. This area is also known as the Mescla, meaning "mixture" in the Provençal dialect.
  The D90 in the direction of Trigance passes over a bridge spanning the Jabron River (another tributary of the Verdon) and the Pont des Soleils. Just below Rougon is Couloir Samson (Samson's Corridor), the entrance to the part of the fluvial landscape designated as "gorge."  From there one can hike along the Verdon and take the "Sentier Martel."  La Palud-sur-Verdon, a village with museum and tourist bureau, is nearby; the "route des Crêtes" (Crest Route, linking various panoramic viewpoints) proceeds from here. The Sentier Martel also is accessible from this route, beginning at the French Alpine Club or "châlet de La Maline."  This path covers more than 100 km of not always easy routes.
caption: The pont de Chaulière over the river Artuby
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