Basses Gorges du Verdon, Canyon and Natura 2000 protected area in Quinson and Esparron-de-Verdon, France.
Basses Gorges du Verdon is a limestone canyon that stretches between two lakes, enclosed by towering walls that rise hundreds of meters on either side. The river runs through the narrow gorge with clear blue-green water visible below the cliffs.
A water canal was constructed through the gorge in the 19th century to deliver water to distant cities downstream. This engineering project shaped human activity in the valley for more than a century before the waterway fell out of use.
The Sainte-Maxime Chapel sits high above the gorge, a destination for local pilgrims who walked here to pray over the centuries. It remains a place where visitors can pause and reflect on the connection between the landscape and faith.
The hiking trail runs along a narrow path carved into the rock face with safety railings protecting most of the route. Wear sturdy shoes and watch for loose stones on steeper sections.
Parts of the gorge remain closed to visitors at certain times to protect bat colonies that inhabit the caves. Wild goats roam the rocky terrain above, visible from the lower hiking trails.
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