Plunging into the depths of Verdon

Originally

The Verdon Gorges on one side, the reservoir of Lake Sainte-Croix on the other. In a sweeping view, the largest canyon in Europe and the third-largest artificial lake in France, adorned with its everlasting blue reflections, converge into an extraordinary site. Here, the untouched marvels of nature seamlessly blend with the craftsmanship of humankind.

Over the centuries

Hunters, beekeepers, shepherds... individuals deeply attuned to nature roamed the Gorges long before their formal discovery in the early 20th century (1905). Since then, the idea of flooding the Salle Valley has lingered in people's minds: Clémenceau in 1908 and later, between the wars, the Schneider company, envisioned a dam project that eventually materialised in 1973.

Nowadays

Vital asset for the local community, the Verdon Regional Nature Park is a thriving hub for biodiversity. Hosting a diverse array of flora the size of one third of France, the park is also a powerhouse, producing nearly 600 million kWh annually through its five dams - a feat comparable to the annual energy consumption of the city of Aix-en-Provence. This highlights the immeasurable yet fragile value of the "blue gold."

Did you know?

• The pedalo**.**.. from June to September, pedalos and other various sail and electric motor boats are permitted, while the use of petrol-powered motorboats is prohibited.

• "The Tiger on a Donkey's Back"... When Prime Minister Georges Clémenceau set out on a trek along the entire stretch of the Verdon River in 1908, from Fontaine-l'Évêque to Lake Allos, as part of a strategic dam construction plan.

• The Roman road, from Fréjus to Riez, passed near the ancient Bauduenjium, where tombs and ceramic shards are still visible, particularly at Bauduen’s Town Hall.

• An astonishing fishing experience... among large pikes, carps, common perches, and zander.

• The only village submerged underwater was... Les Salles-sur-Verdon, flooded by the reservoir in late 1968. Now, although no more olive trees line the new village’s shores, the latter also no longer dwells in the fog, shedding the nickname "lei neblats" (the misty ones) that once cloaked its residents.

• A maximum depth of 93 metres... spanning 11 kilometres in length and 5 kilometres in width at its utmost extent (totaling 22 km2 in area), containing 760 million cubic metres of water.

• A 19th-century sundial, displaying Louis XIV’s motto ('Nec Pluribus Impar'), stands alongside an astronomical observatory and a Playmobil museum in Bauduen. Meanwhile Saint-Croix is home to two church bells dating back to 1561 and 1619.

• "The Stranger by the Lake"... director Alain Guiraudie’s masterpiece and standard-bearer for the queer community, was filmed in 2012 on the shores of Lake Sainte-Croix.

• An immersive descent with Nouria Newman… world champion kayaker known for her expertise navigating the Grand Canyon of Asia in the Himalayas.