Trigance: 72km (45 miles) S of Digne-les-Baines, 20km (12 miles) W of Castellane, 43km (27 miles) NW of Draguignan, 85km (53 miles) E of Manosque; La-Palud-sur-Verdon: 64km (40 miles) S of Digne-les-Bains, 25km (16 miles) W of Castellane, 60km (37 miles) NW of Draguignan, 66km (41 miles) E of Manosque
Over the centuries, the Verdon River, a tributary of the Durance, has cut Europe's biggest canyon into the surrounding limestone plateau. The canyon runs from pont de Soleils to Lac Ste-Croix, a distance of 21km (13 miles) east to west. The upper section of the gorge, to the east, is between 210 and 1,605m (700-5,350 ft.) wide; the lower section narrows to between 6 and 105m (20-350 ft.). The gorge's depth varies from 263m (875 ft.) at one point to 750m (2,500 ft.).
Vertiginous roads wind along both rims of the canyon, giving you the opportunity to pull over at any of several scenic belvederes. Among the best of these is the Balcon de la Mescla, the first stop traveling west from Trigance on the canyon's south side, where the sheer cliffs drop 270m (900 ft.) to the river. A short distance away is Falaise de Cavaliers (Horseman's Cliff), dropping 323m (1,075 ft.) and signaling the beginning of the Corniche Sublime, where the gorge plunges to 428m (1,425 ft.) along a stretch running west to Aiguines. In between these scenic stops, you can actually drive across the canyon on the dramatic pont de l'Artuby, a single-arched, 120m-long (400-ft.) span, 638m (2,125 ft.) above the river.
Ancient villages cling to rocky outcroppings along the two rim roads. At Aiguines, a private castle flanked by four turrets dominates the skyline. On Route 19, 9km (5 1?2 miles) north of the canyon on its western end, sits Moustiers-Ste-Marie, a medieval village of potters who sell their wares -- but beware, prices here are celestial, especially in July and August, when tourist dollars are easy to come by.
