best Provence itinerary to see Verdon Gorge
 

Hello all,

My husband is set on spending a day seeing the Gorges du Verdon (and any surrounding equivalent gorge beauties) this June (10-18th). We have a car and are confident driving difficult European road/mountain passes. all our current accommodation bookings are changeable.

Our current itinerary starts in Piemonte in Italy- then we will drive via Cuneo (slightly inland NW italy) OR coastal route into france (this single night not booked yet- still pondering this 'stop-over' location)- then 3 nights in St Remy de Provence followed by 4 nights in Gordes to explore the Provence region focussing on luberon- then we must drive to Lyon for a work conference starting 18th june.

The Verdon gorge is quite a distance from Gordes. Can someone suggest how we could do the gorges in a day trip itinerary OR if better, how we could change accommodation locations to better suit exploring the gorges. advice on driving routes also welcome. We would also welcome advice on other gorges/natural beauty in the area worthy of a visit.

Thank you in advance

Stop for an overnight in Castellane and visit the Gorges du Verdon and Moutiers Sainte Marie on your way to the Gordes.

I suggest that you explore the Luberon region thoroughly, and decide on the last day if you want to do a day-trip to the Verdon Gorge. If this was my trip, I would consider heading to the Valensole Plateau to see if the Lavendin is in bloom (highly likely). If so, drive around the fields & take pictures. If you then feel like visiting a gorge - head to the nearby Verdon Gorge & perhaps Moustiers.

This is another current thread about the Verdon Gorge.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-along-way.cfm

Stu Dudley

Hi; I didn't open Stu's thread, but my only input is, make sure you are on the right side of the gorge.

I think we were on the north side driving and I hardly saw

anything.

Someone will give you the straight scoop.

Indeed Iris is right.

My ever present michelin green guide tells me what loop to do from where to where.

In Cuneo if you can go and have food at Locanda la Volpe.
I didn't understand one word of the menu (not even sure there is a written one) just said I wanted to eat, nodded with conviction and had a great dinner.
I also love to stay at hotel Plazzao Lovera. Very old, nice, nice people, confortable. There is another good hotel (at least one !) on te place but I prefer Lovera, more 'quaint'. (quainter ?)

But ok, Cuneo is one of my favourite cities in Italy, I don't want to influence you !

The road from Cuneo to Nice has spectacular views. You go through valleys - some stretches are just plain ugly as there used to be an electricity plant and several manufactures, but some places are breathtaking. Imo more than the coastal road, which is however quite nice.

The south side of the Gorges is apparently easier to drive than the north side, but pull-outs are few.

thank you so much for all the excellent suggestions and advice, in particular the driving direction advice. looking forward to Cuneo also.