Today, (29th) we have driven through the chasms of the Gorges du Verdon, France’s /Europe’s answer to the U.S. Grand Canyon depending on which guide you read. The Verdon river cuts into striated rock up to 700m deep in places – great views of stark limestone faces, slabs of rock angled in all directions and of course way down… the river – a bit of a trickle at present. Highest road point was 1200m. Photos just don’t do the views justice. There are a few little towns along the way, the best being Castellane at one end with a church perched airily on top of rock and Aiguines (lunch stop) nearer the other end with a beautiful 17th century chateau overlooking Lac de Ste-Croix. Each of the 4 turrets are tiled differently. A bit further on is Moustiers-Ste-Marie (at the end of the lake) – on the edge of a ravine – I climbed a steep path up to a 12th century chapel with stunning views out to the Gorges. Slung between the 2 sides of the ravine is a golden star, renewed the year I was born but said to date back to 13th century. You will need to look hard to see the star in the photo! (Mark had a siesta through all this! to recover from negotiating about 100 hair pin bends in the last two days!)
We then passed through lavender country (again not the right flowering time) and onto the A8 and A54 where we picked up speed (110-130km/hr) and paid E$8 in tolls to our stay in the countryside near Arles.
Yesterday – 28th – started with a cultural interlude in Sospel – viewed the magnificent cathedral and then the local festival – marching bands and folk dancing followed by a parade of animals – horses, donkeys, cows with bells and sheep – the street sweeper truck followed along behind!
Off then through the Foret de Turini – beech, maple, sweet chestnut, pines and cliffs! Magnificent scenery and colours – red/orange bushes, all shades of green and tinges of yellow as autumn approaches. Highest road point was 1607m. Followed on though the Valle and Gorges de la Vesubie – more stunning rock formations, colour and shapes. Very dramatic Citadel at Entrevaux – perched on a rocky outcrop with an impressive zig-zag path to the top. Detoured via Castellane with it’s large aquamarine coloured man-made hydro lake before spending the night at St. Andre-les-Alpes.
