Défilé de Donzère, Canyon in Drôme, France.
Défilé de Donzère is a canyon along the Rhône River with limestone cliffs rising between 40 and 110 meters, stretched across several kilometers. The rock walls were carved by the river's erosive action and create a dramatic landscape with steep faces on both sides.
Archaeological digs in the canyon's caves show that humans settled there during the Bronze Age and lived there continuously. These early settlement patterns show how important the location was as a place to live over a long time.
This site marks where Mediterranean plant life meets northern European species, with kermes oak trees reaching their northernmost limit in France. Visitors can observe this blend of flora directly while walking the riverside paths.
The starting point at Place du Champ de Mars offers parking and access to marked hiking trails along the riverbank. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, when temperatures are comfortable and the paths are less crowded.
This location marks the narrowest point of the Rhône in France, where the river becomes just 500 meters wide at the Saint-Nicolas Island entrance. This extreme squeeze shows the power of erosion working over millions of years.
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