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Origin and history

The gorges of the Verdon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of France, are a set of gorges dug by the river Verdon between the Prealpes of Castellane and Digne. Long 25 km and deep up to 700 m, they form a narrow valley with spectacular landscapes, attracting visitors for their panoramas, sports (climbing, hiking) and protected ecosystem within the Verdon Regional Natural Park.

The site extends between the departments of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var, marking a natural border. Its steep relief is home to rare species such as the Doradille du Verdon (fougère) or the Raiponce de Villars (campanulace). The river, taking its source near the d'Allos pass, passed through several cluses before pouring into the Durance, after having fed five hydroelectric dams built between 1929 and 1975.

The gorges were later discovered by travellers: the first printed descriptions date back to 1782 and 1804, but their reputation grew thanks to Elisha Reclus (1879) and the tourist guides of the Belle Époque. Édouard-Alfred Martel organized the first integral descent of the gorges, popularizing the term canyon. Tourism developed in the 1920s-1930s with the development of roads (such as the sublime Corniche), viewpoints (Point Sublime) and trails, under the impetus of the Touring Club de France.

The site became a major climbing site in the 1980s, with more than 2,500 open lanes, mediated by documentaries such as Overdon (1980) and Opéra vertical (1982). Today, some ways are prohibited to protect reintroduced vultures. The gorges also offer activities such as canoeing, paragliding or trailing Var Verdon Canyon, while being classified as a protected natural site since 1990.

Historically, the valley was inhabited by the Gaulish people of Vergunni. The 20th century hydraulic projects, such as the St. Croix dam (1973), transformed the landscape by drowning villages (Les Salles-sur-Verdon) and historic bridges. The Verdon Regional Natural Park, created to preserve this heritage, offers road routes (D952, D71) and walking routes, including the famous Martel Trail.

The remarkable points include the Imbut, a narrow passage where the Verdon disappears underground, and the Styx du Verdon, a mini-canyon evoking Greek mythology. The geology of the site, shaped by marine deposits (Trias, Jurassic) and alpine l The gorges remain a symbol of Provencal natural and tourist heritage.

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