Verdon gorge - north or south road?

[MattW]

In September we'll be doing the route Napoleon south, en-route to Corsica.

As we're getting an overnight ferry from Toulon, we're intending to stay somewhere around Castellane or Bargeme and the next day ride the Gorge du Verdon one way, east to west before heading south to Toulon for our ferry.

Never having seen the gorge, is there anything to recommend one side over the other (either the D952 to the north or the D71 to the south)?

thanks
Matt

 

[Lord Snooty]

I've never done the north road but the south is spectacular and when you get to the end overlooking the lake there is a good ice cream stop.

 

[Blackal]

East to west - I would take the south road. (The north road is great too, and the Route de Crete off that road is defo worth the detour (I think the one-way section flows west to east, but can't for the life remember exactly)

If you take the north side, and include the Route de Crete (it takes you along the edge of the gorge) - you have a good chance of seeing some Griffon Vultures which cruise the thermals there.

Al

 

[buellzebub]

If you take the north side, and include the Route de Crete (it takes you along the edge of the gorge) - you have a good chance of seeing some Griffon Vultures which cruise the thermals there.

Al

You have to do it in a clockwise direction. Just got back from Castellane on Sunday evening, it's stunning

 

[snelly]

There is'nt a bad way. The whole area is stunning.

 

[KMD]

There is'nt a bad way. The whole area is stunning.

Agreed, was there first half of July. Just terrific.

 

[Wreford Miles]

We did a loop starting ending at Castellane anti clockwise north road out to the lake south road back... It was lovely

Next time I'll do it the other way, if I could only do one side I might be tempted with the Southside

 

[MattW]

Thanks everyone.
In that case we'll probably stay in or near Bargeme and take the southern road.

Can anyone give me a rough idea of the time to ride this road (just so I can plan the day leading up to our ferry) ?

Cheers
Matt

 

[Wapping]

Of course, what you really want to do is get onto the D23....

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x12cbf9bd072fb97d:0x74cef461a9cce509

 

[oyster]

D71 going slowly cause of the Campervans, we camped next to a stream for two days, fantastic part of the world,enjoy the views, though i found i was to busy
to look riding the bike.

 

[MattW]

I'm hoping some of the traffic will have dissipated by September but we'll just have to see what we get

 

[enabb]

I'm hoping some of the traffic will have dissipated by September but we'll just have to see what we get

I,ll apologise in advance as we,re going in the car in September.....

 

[MattW]

I,ll apologise in advance as we,re going in the car in September.....

Say hello if you see a white / sand GSA with a dark screen

And then get out of my way

 

[paintman]

We have just returned from Castellane, we were in the wobbly box and stopped at
http://www.camp-du-verdon.com/campsite-france-alpes-haute-provence.html about one k from the Center, they had all kinds of accommodation and a site I'm happy to recommend. It would be no bother to ride both sides of the Gorge down to the lake on the north side then back the other side, even better jump on a raft in Castellane and paddle down the Gorge, keeping a eye out for the fantastic vultures who will be riding the thermals above.

Edit the rafting only happens on Tues/Friday's when they let water flow down from the dam.

 

[roamer]

Castellaine is worth a stopover on bike , there is a supermarket filling station north of the village, there are so many great roads around there, and the run down from the norh is rewarding,
From castellaine you are more near the shear edge of the gorge as it gets deeper and wider, with overhanging rocks , heading towards moustieres ste marie, you will have some great photo opportunities and the highest view of saint cross lake,,
Once your down there you can set a route south along the balcons du messe , which takes you down to comps sur artuby,,easily do able to toulon, or go west from moustieres,, see how the time goes, oncoming traffic on right handers is the seasonal issue but it wasn't a big worry in july,
Have a great ride, i will be back there in september and march 2016,
Roamer,

 

[Steptoe]

Rode around the Gorge many times, first time in 1983... Also canoed up/down the gorge on the Verdon river in 1985.
And also slid off with my wife on the back in 1988, she was pregnant at the time with our son Jake ..


That's me in 1983.. I've still got that bike..... I've also still got those purple tie dye swimming trunks

 

[MattW]

Rode around the Gorge many times, first time in 1983... Also canoed up/down the gorge on the Verdon river in 1985.
And also slid off with my wife on the back in 1988, she was pregnant at the time with our son Jake ..


That's me in 1983.. I've still got that bike..... I've also still got those purple tie dye swimming trunks

Ace
I've actually canoed the gorge (but I was about 16 and on an 'adventure holiday' so don't remember too much about it - too busy sneaking beers and chasing girls )

Of course, what you really want to do is get onto the D23....

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x12cbf9bd072fb97d:0x74cef461a9cce509

You're right.
Trouble is, I've got no real feel for how long a lap of the gorge (or indeed the D23) would take. We intend to stay Castellane or Bargeme the night before and we've got an 8pm ferry booked from Toulon. I'll have my other half on the back and she doesn't enjoy 'spirited' riding too much and I'll no doubt be stopping for photos every 10 minutes . I know I could plot it out in basecamp or google maps but they tend to assume that you can do the national speed limit on little nadgery alpine roads...

 

[Bmmike08]

A group of us from the BMW Club spent a week at Camping Verdon in June this year and one day we went right around the gorge North to south - excellent and spectacular views.
I've attached some photos - yes Griffon Vultures as well.

Safe riding,
Mike

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Doable in 3 to 4 hours with decent stops for photos and oooohing and aaaaahing at the stunning views. From Castellane end can pick up route des cretes ,all fantastic riding roads.

 

[Wapping]

This is a pretty good (if a bit gushing) guide to the gorge: http://www.marvellous-provence.com/other-places/sights-and-attractions/gorges-du-verdon

You can definitely ride the gorge in a circuit, north and south sides, in a day and do the fun excursion down the D23, too. It just depends on how often (and for how long) you stop.... But that's always the case going anywhere.

Michelin's Green Guide (abbreviated version) says:

Edouard Martel (1859-1938), the inventor of potholing, was the first to explore these gorges in 1905-06. In the 1920s lookout points were built along the canyon, and in 1947 a cliff road (D 71), known as the Corniche Sublime, was constructed on the south bank. The northern Ridge Road (D 23) was, however, only completed in 1973. Both routes command superb views of this outstanding natural site. Make a point of stopping at the Balcons de la Mescla and at the belvederes of Carelle, Escalès, Tilleul and Point Sublime, between La Palud and Castellane.