A protected territory straddling the departments of Var and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Verdon Regional Nature Park is full of natural treasures and its architectural heritage will delight lovers of old buildings. The landscapes are very diverse, ranging from limestone plateaux and steep cliffs to lakes and oak and pine forests.
The park offers a series of amazing sites such as the superb Verdon Gorges or the Valensole Plateau, with its lavender fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Not forgetting the lakes of Sainte-Croix and Castillon, places of incomparable beauty where the turquoise blue waters are a magnet for visitors. You can swim, take a pedalo ride, and go kayaking or stand up paddleboarding!
A wide range of animals and plants live in this generous natural environment, particularly eagles, bats, chamois and roe deer. But there are also rare species such as the shrike, griffon vulture and white-clawed crayfish. The lakes and rivers of the park abound with trout and pike, a fisherman's delight.
With such landscapes, this nature-lovers' destination is also a marvellous playground for outdoor activities. White-water sports, rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding... there are so many options! It's worth noting that the Verdon Regional Nature Park contains nearly 1,000 kilometres of marked paths. A boon for hikers!
The park is also dotted with charming villages full of interesting heritage. One of them, Trigance, is perched on a hill and has old houses, picturesque little streets and a medieval castle. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, nestling at the foot of two rocky peaks, is famous for its faience pottery. Near this beautiful village, at the heart of the Valx estate, is the Verdon Park Visitor Centre, where you will find all the information you need to explore the area. Castellane is another unmissable village. Dating from the Middle Ages, the remains of the ramparts and Chapel of Our Lady of the Rock, perched on top of an imposing cliff, always impress visitors. Castellane is also the starting point for a number of hikes. As for Bauduen, with its narrow streets and old stone houses, it has the privilege of offering a beautiful view of Lake Sainte-Croix!
