GOING DOWN THE VERDON
The Verdon - Aiguines - Les Salles sur Verdon - Bauduen
Baudinard sur Verdon - Artignosc sur Verdon
St Julien le Montagnier - Vinon sur Verdon
Cards IGN TOP 25 : 3343 OT - 3443 OT - 3442 OT
The Verdon
Verdon is a tributary of Durance . Since its source , in the massif of Allos's collar , it crosses 175 Km
through magnificent landscapes and tumultuous gorges . A part of this trip forms a natural border between
the Var and the Alpes de Haute Provence , it is there that we draw this stroll .
The big Canyon : Above Trigance and until Aiguines , the river realized on 21 km a fantastic work of
erosion , a notch the depth of which varies from 250 to 700 metres , in the middle of a casket of greenery .
Several possibilities of visit , by the road (D71 or road of crests) , by marked out paths among which in the
heart of the canyon , in the course of the water for the warned kayakistes .
The lake of Ste Croix : This reserve of water forms a lake , in the multiple activities , which bathes
Les Salles and Bauduen .
The low Gorges : In the lower part of a lake , they are accessible since Baudinard , Artignosc ,
Montmeyan or St Julien .
The confluent : Verdon joins Durance after Vinon .
The natural reserve of Verdon : Between the Var and the Alpes de Haute Provence , this park , of 180000
hectares , frames the river of the lake of Castillon in the confluent with the Durance . It shelters in varied landscapes ,
fauna and flora at once Alpine and Mediterranean , embellished by typical villages and with exceptionnal sites .
Aiguines
Inhabitants : 207 - Postal code : 83 630
Tourist information office : 04.94.70.21.64- www.aiguines.com - E-mail@
West door of big canyon , Aiguines is built in 820 metres in height and overhangs the lake of St Croix .
Dominated by the chapel St Pierre and the vestiges of its ancient watchtower , the village is an excellant point
of departure for the strolls( GR4 and 99 - Verdon left bank by the cliff of Cavaliers or the path Vidal ) .
If you wish simply a stroll in car , take D71 by Illoire's collar by following the "corniche sublime" , the
"Etroit des Cavaliers" , the tunnel Fayet up to the bridge on the canyon of Artuby .
But before , do not hesitate to take advantage of the village. In summer a museum traces you the history and
the technical of the turner on wood . Next to the parachial church , is the castle (Private) ; It is of style Renaissance ,
it is a vast building surrounded with towers in the varnished tiles ; Built in the XVIII° century , on the ruins of the
primitive castle some walls of which remain , it was the object of several later modifications .
Les Salles sur Verdon
Inhabitants : 154 - Postal code : 83 630
Tourist information office : 04.94.70.21.84
www.sallessurverdon.com - E-mail@
Being bathed turquoise blue water of the 2200 hectares of the lake of Ste Croix , the past of Les Salles is bound
to the tragic history of this reserved of water . It is in winter 1973-74 , that the dam was put in waters , after
a delicate construction at once for technical reasons , but especially for human reasons because it was necessary
to transfer the ancient village , today swallowed up .
An exposition trace the chronology of the events and a memorial makes be born again the site of the ancient village .
The new village , modern and aerated , welcomes you on this big site which offers us the natural reserve of Verdon .
Numerous activities are proposed to you , aquatic sports , strolls in an intact nature and an ideal climate
in 500 metres in height .
Bauduen
Inhabitants : 240 - Postal code : 83 630
Tourist information office : 04.94.84.39.02
Bauduen saved from some waters , the village would have been able to be swallowed up , if the level of the lake
had been brought again from 496 to 477 metres . And which happiness to have saved this site . Leaned against
in its cliff , on an ancient Roman way , Bauduen in the narrow streets and in the paved stairs ,preserved the
vestiges of its history.
The cliff in overhang carried the castle , of this time and of ramparts there are two doors ( The new gate and
the door of the setting sun) and some ruins of castle . The Romanic church of the XII° century , dominates the
village , it was handled again in the XVI° and XVII° centuries . Alleys follow the level curved of the hill and
are connected by passages , they lead us to the town centre , where is the tower Saracen which is neighbouring
to a mill with oil of the XVIII° century .
To set towards full the south , Bauduen takes advantage of the mediterranean climate with warm days , to
take advantage of the lake and its activities , and the fresh evenings to take out in the noises of the nature .
Baudinard sur Verdon
Inhabitants : 67 - Postal code : 83 630
Tourist information office : 04.94.70.18.61
It is by Baudinard's gorges that one reaches Ste Croix's dam and low gorges of Verdon , 13 Km long . Of
the village of the marked out pathes allow to discover the local flora ( Botanical path ) , the dam ( Path of the
low gorges)and the chapel ND in 710 metres in height which offers a magnificent panorama ( Pathe of the
snout of the hill ) . In the village the church St Michel Archange was restored in the XII° century and in 1921 .
Ona small rocky in
the north raise themselves the vestiges of the castle of Sabran and the feudal dungeon . In Vaumougne's road ,
the abbey of Valmogne ( Been classified ) is very beutiful Romanic prioress
( Portico of Provençal style and very beautiful apsis ) .
The grot of the church , in the decorated walls , shows of an activity of the site up to the age of the iron
( Interdict access ) and some tracks along Verdon has attested of a human presence from the Neolithic .
Artignosc sur Verdon
The village , formerly installed on the plateau , was repopulated at the end by the XVI° century after the plague
and the civil wars . It settled down finally , on a small eminence , around the prioress , the chapel of which
became the very beautiful parochial church St Pierre of Romanic style .
The village contitues an interesting architectural group registered in a undulating landscape . One can there
observe ruins and porticoes of the XIII° century . Beautiful restored houses surround the city hall which is
installed in the castle of De Thoron (XIV° and XVII° centuries) . behind the castle is the ancient baker's oven ,
which preserves still typical elements .
Not far from the village , on Verdon , the dam of Quinson created a small lake which offers numerous nautical
activities and which allowed the tourist development of the municipality . Numerous strolls are also proposed to
you (GR99) and a particular activity the " jeu de paume", which is practised on the pediment of the church .
St Julien le Montagnier
Inhabitants : 1149 - Postal code : 83 560
Tourist information office : 04.94.77.20.95
Municipality typic by the natural reserve of Verdon , St Julien groups together several hamlets from which
the centre , perched on a green hill , shelters the medieval village .
The old village , perched above the plain , was abandonned from the XIX° century for St Pierre's hamlet . It
possesses another part of its ramparts , in the south and on the west . At the end of the "rue du portail" , is the
door of the Knight Templars ( XIII° century ) , drilled by murderesses . Houses of the XIV° , XVI° and
XVII° century are visible in this street , in the "Rue Haute" and the "Grande Rue" .
The church of Ste Trinité is of Romanic style , it dates the XIII° century , it possesses "absidioles" of the
XI° century , and a square bell tower was surmounted by the "Campanile" of the XVIII° century . The inside
shelters " A beam of glory " ( Rare in the Var ) , christmas crib figures of the XVIII° century and other treasures .
Also to discover during your strolls on the municipality , chapels , oratories and windmill .
Vinon sur Verdon
The municipality is situated extremely northwest of the Var , at the intersection of 4 departments . It is crossed
by the last kilometres of Verdon , which became more quiet , before throwing itself into Durance .
On the right bank , one found vestiges of a villa Gallo-Roman which dates Vinon's origin . Left bank , the old
village occupies a rocky hook which crowns a small church .
In the village , you can relax on a vast place shaded by plane trees planted in the XVIII° century . Take
advantage there to visit the old village with its old alleys and its typical Provençal houses , of the XVII° and
XVIII° centuries. The church St Sauveur dates the XV° century , the tower of the clock of the
XVIII° century and the bridge on Verdon of 1786 .
To the convent ND de Boursques are the vestiges of a chapel of the XII° century .
You can also take advantage of numerous activities of leisure , among which an important centre of flying
veil on the airfield .
