This incredibly striking beauty is
Verdon Gorge, one of the finest natural attractions in all of France and part of the hilly, or Alpine, portion of the region of
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Beyond the perfect beaches and glamorous seaside towns of the Riviera and the lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards of Provence you will find a landscape that is a little wilder, more rugged, less pastoral but no less stunning. Head north of Nice or East from Avignon and you're going to quickly move from fields to hilly landscapes to the limestone massifs of the Alpine foothills, where rivers flowing down from the peaks of the Alps have carved deep and impressive valleys into the land over millions of years.
Cue the Verdon Gorge, created by the Verdon running from its source near the Italian border south to
Castellane and then west to meet with the Durance, near
Manosque. Between these two towns of Castellane and Manosque, we find the most exceptionally picturesque creation of the Verdon, a deep canyon that is considered the second largest in the world after America's iconic Grand Canyon and which attracts thousands of visitors annually who come to enjoy various leisure pursuits and to simply enjoy the view. If you have found a
vacation rental in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and are a nature-lover enjoying the wonderful scenery of the region, be sure to pull yourself away from the softer, picture-perfect landscapes of lavender fields and beaches and come discover the more dramatic and breath-taking panoramas of this part of
France.