Gorges du Verdon is a balcony road in France
Gorges du Verdon is a narrow canyon located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the most French balcony roads.
Where are the Gorges du Verdon?
The gorges are located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, in the southeastern part of the country, in the heart of Provence, between the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Nestled within the Verdon Natural Regional Park, the gorges form a border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var.
What are the Gorges du Verdon?
It’s a river canyon with turquoise waters that is often considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful. At 21 kilometres long and about 725 meters deep (twice the height of the Eiffel Tower), it’s nicknamed the ‘Grand Canyon of Europe’. It’s said to be the deepest gorge in France.
Can you drive through Gorges du Verdon?
The loop road carved out of the cliff high above the green river, running through the gorges, also known as the Grand Canyon du Verdon, is totally paved. It’s called D23 (also known as Route des Crêtes). It’s qualified as one of the most beautiful roads of Europe. The drive is 22.2 km (13.79 miles) long. Part of it is one-way only.
Is the road through Gorges du Verdon difficult?
It’s a hair-raising drive with a sheer vertical drop of more than 2,300 feet, in many places too narrow for two-way traffic, with craggy rock overhangs, blind curves and hairpin turns, and thrillingly, no guardrail. Locals assure that accidents are rare on this road, but it is not for the faint-hearted. Be warned, though, because this drive is not for the weak-hearted. The guardrails, or guard walls so to say, are only about a foot high, and the drops are dizzyingly high. The road features dazzling heights, steep drops, fast and slow curves and viewpoints to impress everyone. So much so that you need to be aware of car drivers focusing more on pointing their cameras out of the window instead of on the road.
How long does it take to drive the Gorges du Verdon?
To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 45 and 60 minutes. Many places along the gorges have stopping places where you can enjoy the views. It’s a journey with wonderful viewpoints and gaping crevices that plunge 700 meters deep. Quite frankly, it's worth every nail-biting moment.
When is the best time to drive through the Gorges du Verdon?
If you can, avoid the summer months of late June, July, and August when the caravans move like snails in a long queue of vehicles. Generally speaking, it's recommended to set out very early in the morning in summer to avoid excessive heat and traffic and to take the anti-clockwise route if driving on hairpin bends and narrow roads is something that concerns you, as you will be hugging the cliff for much of the route.
Is Verdon Gorge worth visiting?
This is a remarkable road trip with frequent parking spots for taking in the views. The drive offers nonstop epic views of the south side of the rift and the blue Verdon river. If you are lucky enough, you can spot the vultures flying high in the skies in this area. Along the road, you will pass through, across, and, at times, under some towering rock formations. The Verdon takes its name from the green of its water, caused by glacial deposits near its source.