Perhaps on the occasion of a road trip in Provence or tour around the French Riviera, you want to make the mythical ridge route in the Gorges du Verdon ?
To discover the Grand Canyon du Verdon and its Gorges all as beautiful as they are impressive, the ridge route is the best option to do in half a day.
Route des Crêtes Verdon - How far?
The ridge route along the Verdon represents 23 km. It starts from the village of La Palud sur Verdon and follows a circuit along the ridges of the Grand Canyon. This circuit forms a loop which brings you back to La Palud sur Verdon.
Route des Crêtes Verdon - How long?
The time to cover the route des Crêtes des Gorges du Verdon is variable. This depends on your means of transport and your pace of visit. Indeed, the Route des Crêtes can be traveled by car, motorbike and even by bicycle.
Personally, for my car tour, I put 2 p.m. taking all my time to stop at the lookouts and take some nice pictures. But I know some do it in just 1 hours. It also depends on what time you are leaving and how many people are on the road. Suffice to say that the traffic is difficult in the afternoons in the middle of August!
Route des Crêtes Verdon - Where to go?
The start of the Route des Crêtes circuit is at the exit of the village of La Palud sur Verdon towards Rougon by turning right to join the Departmental D23.
It is important to do this circuit in this direction (clockwise) because there is a portion of the Route des Crêtes which is one-way ...
Route des Crêtes by car - Itinerary
The route des Crêtes has a dozen belvederes which allow you to admire the most impressive cliffs and which offer the most beautiful views of the Gorges du Verdon.
The route and the main stages of the ridge route follow the most beautiful viewpoints of the circuit:
- Le Trescaire belvedere, one of the most impressive because it is located 400 meters high;
- Le Carelle belvedere, very dizzying;
- Escalès belvedere and its limestone cliffs very popular with climbing enthusiasts;
- Le Dent d'Aire belvedere, from where you can observe vultures;
- Pas de la Bau belvedere at an altitude of 1285 m;
- Le Tilleul belvedere ;
- Le Mechelen Chalet, starting point of the Martel trail hike ;
- Belvedere of Maugué ;
- Le Imbut belvedere ;
- Le Gaston Armanet belvedere.
If you have time, I recommend that you make a small detour to the Sublime Point. Indeed, this belvedere is not exactly on the route des Crêtes but is worth the detour. In fact, it is located just 10 km from La Palud sur Verdon and can easily be integrated into the circuit.
Route des Crêtes by car - Map
Here is the Google Map that you can put in GPS mode by clicking on "More options" inside the map.
Car route plan
On the map below, you will have all the lookouts accessible from the Route des Crêtes:
The Verdon crest route in video
Better than words, here is a short report on the beauty of the route des crêtes with information on the most beautiful lookouts:
Another route to visit the Gorges du Verdon?
La scenic ridge route allows you to discover the Gorges from the right bank of the Verdon.
But you can also visit the Gorges from the left bank of the Verdon. You will then do the Corniche Sublime road which also offers magnificent panoramas.
And to discover the Gorges du Verdon and the most beautiful sites around, take 4 days to do a road trip around the Gorges du Verdon ?
Gorges du Verdon - Which hotel?
In terms of accommodation, you will have the choice (campsites, hotels, Airbnb) but as the summer tourists come by the thousands, I recommend that you book your accommodation in advance.
For those looking for the comfort of a hotel, I recommend the hotel Le Provence. Ideally located because very close to the route des crêtes, this is a hotel with Provencal colors and in a really nice setting.
See this hotel near the Gorges du Verdon
Weekend ideas in the South of France ?
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