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Are you planning a trip to Provence? Gorges du Verdon is a must-see destination together with Moustiers-Sainte-Marie!
Provence is a beautiful region in the south of France with many unique villages and nature. However, one area that is arguably the rarest natural phenomenon in the region is Gorges du Verdon. The water here is as blue and clear as it looks in every photo you will see. In addition, one of the most beautiful villages in Provence lies right by here, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Together, these two places make for a magical day trip in Provence!
Although you can visit the gorge all year round, the best time is from late April – October for the best weather. July and August tend to get incredibly busy here, so if you want to enjoy the gorge from the water, make sure to arrive early during the peak months.
To get the most out of your visit, I have included everything you need to know about visiting Gorges du Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. This includes how to get there, things to do, the best viewpoints, and more!
This post is all about Gorges du Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the prettiest area in Provence!
Everything You Should Know About Gorges Du Verdon and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
What is Gorges du Verdon
The Gorges du Verdon canyon is the largest and deepest canyon in Europe. The gorge stretches for roughly 25 km and is well known for its beauty, as well as a haven for rock climbers. The whole area was under the sea around 250 million years ago. The movement of the tectonic plates caused the sea floor to rise, thus forming the gorge, as well as the alps. The limestone rocks were formed over millions of years by compressed sea floor, sea shells, and corals. After the ice age, the melting of the glaciers wore away at the limestone rocks, thus causing the valleys and formations we have today.
One of the reasons this place is well known is for its turquoise blue water that looks amazing when the sun is out. This almost unreal color is caused by tiny rock particles called glacial flour. When it mixes with microscopic algae, the water transforms into the beautiful shade of blue we see.
Best Time to Visit and How to Arrive
The best time to visit this gem is undoubtedly in the spring and summer months. Anytime from mid to late April until the beginning of October should give you warm enough weather to enjoy the gorge. Do aim to come on a sunny day, as that’s when the water becomes that famous blue. I was there in late April and while it was a bit chilly, we had some sunshine and everything in the area was open.
The easiest way to get here is by driving. I highly recommend renting a car in Provence in general as most locations are not very accessible by public transport. Personally, we rented through Sunny Cars (not sponsored) as they had the best deals. They find the cheapest rental deals, as well as offer full insurance, I am so happy we rented through them.
Put your navigation app (I use waze) to Parking Pont du Galetas. This is my recommended parking spot as first of all it’s free, and second of all, it’s right by the beginning of the canyon.
If you cannot get here by car, unfortunately, it is extremely difficult and expensive to arrive by public transport. Although this, there are guided tours on platforms such as GetYourGuide that will take you on a day trip here. Typically these tours leave from Nice, however, I believe there are some from Aix-en-Provence as well. While a guided day trip may not be ideal as you might arrive at a crowded time, or not have as much time as you would like, it is still a good option. Some tours even combine the Gorge du Verdon with the lavender fields which is a great way to see the two. Below you can find the top-rated guided tours to Gorges du Verdon!
Click here for accommodations near Gorges du VerdonThings To Do At Gorges Du Verdon
1. Rent a Kayak, Paddle Boat, or Motor Boat
The best thing to do when visiting the Gorges du Verdon is to rent some type of boat to explore the canyon from the water. There are several options for rentals right by the beginning of the canyon. One is by the parking lot I mentioned above, called MYC Plage. We came early in the season and the only open rental we found was Base de l’Etoile. It’s just across the bridge so it is still very easy to locate if you park by the Pont du Galetas. There they offer kayaks, paddle boats, and motorboats. We rented a motorboat because we arrived in between some rain, and wanted to be able to come back quickly if needed. I recommend checking this rental out as it is open from very early in the season. Here is a link to their website, where you can find opening times and prices.
2. Swimming
You are allowed to swim in the gorge and there is even a public beach here! The public beach is located right by the parking lot and is called Plage du Galetas. The beach here is rocky, so bring some water shoes if you have any. In addition, you can also jump off your rental boat while paddling around. If you visit during the peak season this might not be possible due to traffic in the canyon, so try to avoid July and August.
3. Hiking
This area is full of hikes for those who want to get a little sweaty and explore this wonder further. We, unfortunately, didn’t have time for this so I can’t recommend any trails. However, there are many trails to choose from with different difficulty levels, so you are definitely spoilt for choice!
4. Have a Picnic
When you have such beautiful views, you just have to enjoy them for as long as possible! There aren’t any restaurants in the area, so make sure to bring some food with you. Find a quiet spot along the large lake and enjoy the scenery. Please make sure not to leave your rubbish behind!
The Best Viewpoints Over Gorges Du Verdon
There are 2 amazing viewpoints giving you a great lookout spot over the canyon. The first is extremely easy to get to and it is simply the Pont du Galetas bridge by the parking lot. This bridge offers a wide and close-up look into the canyon, where you can also see the people swimming and paddling around.
The second viewpoint is a little harder to get to and requires a car. You can find the viewpoint location on google maps, it’s called “point of view of lake Sainte-Croix”, or just click here to find it. Its located on the D952 road and the road itself is quite windy and narrow. There is a small gravel “parking lot” right behind this viewpoint but it only fits around 3-4 cars. Make sure you only stop if there is actually space to park as the road is narrow and you can’t always see if there is a car coming behind you. Otherwise, you can sometimes find random patches of gravel where you can maybe park for a little bit but again, walking along this road is dangerous.
With this said, the viewpoint is breathtaking and has a great panorama of Sainte-Croix lake. In addition, you can get a great view of the canyon with the impressive cliffs.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a beautiful village tucked into the side of the limestone cliffs. It is the closest village to Gorges Du Verdon, a 10-minute drive, and it is the prettiest village I have been to in France. I highly recommend stopping here for a few hours to wander around the picturesque streets and enjoy the quintessential Provence look. Sit for a drink in the main street of Rue de la Bourgade, to enjoy the cliffs in the background.
If you’re not too tired for a small hike while here, make sure to go up to Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir. It’s a small but beautiful church nestled into the rocks and requires visitors to climb 262 stairs. If you don’t want to do it for the church itself, then there is also a terrace overlooking the town. Therefore, I recommend everyone to go up for incredible views over the village and Provence.
Overall, you only need a day to see everything that is a must in the area of Gorges du Verdon. However, if you love rock climbing or hiking, I suggest considering spending a few days by the Gorge. You can find a place to stay overnight in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie or another nearby village. Gorges du Verdon is also camping friendly, so if you are traveling with an RV, you can find a place to park here. This region was my highlight in our Provence road trip and I am sure it will be yours too!
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