RoadAtlas
Gorges du Verdon — France — Scenic
Europe

Gorges du Verdon

France

Point-to-point
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Castellane

In short: Gorges du Verdon is a About 130 km plus D23 loop scenic road trip in France, typically driven over 2 days, best in April – October. Highlights: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Lac de Sainte-Croix, La Palud-sur-Verdon.

Distance
About 130 km plus D23 loop
Duration
2 days
Best Season
April – October
IconicModerateScenicEV-friendly

France's answer to the Grand Canyon, a 25 km gash through the limestone hills of Provence where the Verdon River has carved sheer cliffs nearly a kilometre high. The usual route begins in the hilltop town of Moustiers-Ste-Marie, creeps around the gorge rim with roadside viewpoints galore, loops the 23 km Rte des Crêtes with 14 lookouts (keep eyes peeled for eagles and vultures), and ends at Castellane.

Practical notes
Day 1 follows the scenic spine: Moustiers/Lac de Sainte-Croix, La Palud, D23 Route des Crêtes clockwise, Point Sublime and Castellane. The middle D23 section closes from the fourth Friday of November to the fourth Friday of March; check live road status and obey the one-way direction. Larger vehicles face roughly 3.6 m side and 4.3 m centre clearances. Day 2 is one separately booked provider activity with disclosed age, season, weather and equipment rules—or a museum/short-walk fallback, never both.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Moustiers and Lac de Sainte-Croix via clockwise Route des Crêtes to Castellane

Moustiers and Lac de Sainte-Croix · D23 Route des Crêtes clockwise · Brasserie du Petit Lac

Day 2Castellane: one prebooked Verdon activity or interpretation fallback

Named licensed canyoning / water activity · Maison des Gorges du Verdon · Le Mur d’Abeilles

Stops along the route

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie — Departure — Gorges du Verdon — France
Departure
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
One of France's most beautiful villages, wedged in a cliff cleft. A 13th-century chapel, a star on a 227 m chain, and a faience pottery tradition since 1679.
Hotels
La Palud-sur-Verdon — City — Gorges du Verdon — France
City
La Palud-sur-Verdon
The gorge hub at 930 m, departure point for the Route des Crêtes circuit. The canyon 700 m below is invisible from the village; it appears at the first hairpin.
Hotels
Castellane — Arrival — Gorges du Verdon — France
Arrival
Castellane
Provençal market town dominated by a 180 m limestone monolith topped by Notre-Dame du Roc chapel. Wednesday and Saturday markets under the plane trees.
Hotels

Things to Do

Lac de Sainte-Croix — Nature — Gorges du Verdon — France
Nature
Lac de Sainte-Croix
Electric-blue reservoir at the gorge mouth, its colour from glacial minerals. Kayaks dot the water; the D957 bridge gives the definitive Verdon view.
Route des Crêtes — Nature — Gorges du Verdon — France
Nature
Route des Crêtes
A 23 km rim loop with 14 numbered viewpoints. The Belvédère de l'Escalès looks 300 m straight down to the turquoise Verdon threading the gorge floor.
Point Sublime — Landmark — Gorges du Verdon — France
Landmark
Point Sublime
The gorge's finest overlook, a 700 m overhang above the Couloir Samson narrows. A 2 km trail descends to the river; the cliffs look completely vertical from below.
Moustiers and Lac de Sainte-Croix — Village and lake — Gorges du Verdon — France
Village and lake
Moustiers and Lac de Sainte-Croix
Make the lake the morning anchor.
D23 Route des Crêtes clockwise — Scenic road — Gorges du Verdon — France
Scenic road
D23 Route des Crêtes clockwise
Use selected open belvederes in the mandatory direction.
Point Sublime — Canyon viewpoint — Gorges du Verdon — France
Canyon viewpoint
Point Sublime
Stop before the Castellane overnight.
Show 2 more
Named licensed canyoning / water activity — Optional guided module — Gorges du Verdon — France
Optional guided module
Named licensed canyoning / water activity
Book one current provider and record duration, minimum age, equipment and weather cancellation.
Maison des Gorges du Verdon — Non-adventure fallback — Gorges du Verdon — France
Non-adventure fallback
Maison des Gorges du Verdon
Use instead of—not in addition to—the guided module.

Where to Eat

Brasserie du Petit Lac — Provençal — Gorges du Verdon — France
Provençal
Brasserie du Petit Lac
Use one lake-side lunch and verify exact opening.
Le Saint-Michel — Provençal — Gorges du Verdon — France
Provençal
Le Saint-Michel
Reserve one identifiable Castellane dinner.
Le Mur d’Abeilles — Provençal — Gorges du Verdon — France
Provençal
Le Mur d’Abeilles
Verify this Castellane-area meal and current service.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Gorges du Verdon drive?

The Gorges du Verdon covers About 130 km plus D23 loop from start to finish.

How long does the Gorges du Verdon take to drive?

Most travellers spend 2 days on the Gorges du Verdon, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the Gorges du Verdon?

The recommended season for the Gorges du Verdon is April – October.

Where does the Gorges du Verdon start and end?

The Gorges du Verdon runs from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to Castellane.

What are the main stops on the Gorges du Verdon?

The Gorges du Verdon passes through Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Lac de Sainte-Croix, La Palud-sur-Verdon.

How difficult is the Gorges du Verdon to drive?

The Gorges du Verdon is rated moderate and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the Gorges du Verdon in a regular car?

Yes — the Gorges du Verdon is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

Is the Gorges du Verdon EV friendly?

Yes — the Gorges du Verdon has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.

Is the Gorges du Verdon safe to drive?

Day 1 follows the scenic spine: Moustiers/Lac de Sainte-Croix, La Palud, D23 Route des Crêtes clockwise, Point Sublime and Castellane. The middle D23 section closes from the fourth Friday of November to the fourth Friday of March; check live road status and obey the one-way direction. Larger vehicles face roughly 3.6 m side and 4.3 m centre clearances. Day 2 is one separately booked provider activity with disclosed age, season, weather and equipment rules—or a museum/short-walk fallback, never both.

What scenic tier is the Gorges du Verdon?

The Gorges du Verdon is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.