Gene & Mohini In France: March 2008

The Gorges du Verdon, also called the Grand Canyon du Verdon, about 80km northwest of Grasse, is a spectacular canyon that forms a border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var. Up to 700 m deep, the 21-km-long canyon varies in width between 6 and 100 m at the bottom and 200 to 1500 m at its rim.

Although much smaller than Arizona's Grand Canyon, the Gorges du Verdon is deep, compact, wild and beautiful. From Castellane to the village of Rougon, the Verdon river flows clear and swift, and the road follows along the banks. At Rougon, by the Point Sublime, the river plunges into the narrow rock walls and comes out the western end before flowing into Lac de Ste Croix.

We drove from Grasse on Route Napoleon thru the villages of Seranon, Bargeme, Comps-sur-Artuby along the southern rim of the canyon to Aiguines. From here we drove south, saw the village of Bauduen across the lake and then onto Baudinard, where we saw lavender fields for the first time. Drove around the end of the Lac De Ste Croix to Riez and north side of the Lake It had been a long day and we made our way home and saw the moon coming up over Grasse. to Moustier St. Marie, a very picturesque village with a church built up in the gorge. Then we drove around the North Rim of the gorge to Point Sublime, onto Castellane, reaching here just before dark but did see Notre Dame du Roc, built on a granite cliff 1000ft up.

Driving along the gorges is like living life on the edge – at an elevation, never ending narrow winding roads, deep gorges, bridges and tunnels, sometimes you do not want to look down, but it has the most spectacular views, beautiful in its own unique way.

Looking toward the ocean from Baume Obscure

Mountains South of Seranon

La Chapelle south of Seranon

Snow covered peak from Villaute-Commune de Seranon

Bargeme Village~most of it in ruins but a few people still live here

Terraces ~ Bargeme Village

Village of Comps-sur-Artuby

Mountains North of Castellane

Our first view of the Gorges from Balcon de La Mescla

Tunnels du Fayet on the South Rim

Gorges from the South Rim

Distant Mountains north of Canyon

Cirque de Vaumale looking west

View from Cirque de Vaumale

Frosted trees at an elevation above Cirque de Vaumale

Looking west toward Lac St Croix

Chateau and church at Aiguines

Lac St. Croix from Aiguines

Village of Bauduen

Clear blue~ Lac St. Croix

Bridge south end of Lac St. Croix

Wow!!!! Lavender fields~ finally saw some!!!! It will go "Lavender" in May-June

Notre Dame de Baudinard

Lac St. Croix looking north From Notre Dame de Baudinard

Fields and distant mountains northwest towards Riez

Village of Moustier Ste-Marie, north of the Lake ~ zoom in to see the church up in the gorge

Sunset from Point Sublime

Gorge narrows and river flows between vertical rock walls

View from Porte de St. Jean

river bottom - clear water - View from Porte de St. Jean

Narrow roads leaving the gorges

Notre Dame du Roc ~ in Castellane - 1000ft elevation ~have to look real close

(Trip on 22 March, 2008)

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a French seaside palazzo constructed between 1905 and 1912 at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (east of Nice) on the French Riviera by Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild. Constructed on the narrowest point, it has beautiful ocean views on both sides and has nine wonderful gardens.

Through the art dealers and experts she befriended, Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild sought out artworks all over the world, transforming the Villa at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat into a collector’s paradise. Between sea and sky, overlooking the bay of Villefranche, the nine heavenly gardens are adorned with patios, fountains, ponds, flowered and shaded paths.