Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Canyon Du Verdon (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/canyon-du-verdon-836116/)

ironandsilk Apr 17th, 2010 11:14 AM

Canyon Du Verdon
 
Has anyone driven through the grand Canyon Du Verdon? Are the roads Steep and difficult?I have driven through mountains before! This sounds scary. Anyone tried it?

StuDudley Apr 17th, 2010 11:28 AM

You can not drive through the Gorge du Verdon like you can through the Gorge du Tarn. You drive around the rim instead. It is easy - EXCEPT for the most scenic section - the Route des Cretes. One-way, steep drop, no retaining rails or walls (at least there wasn't about 5 years ago). we've driven the Amalfi coast many times, and I've lived near the Big Sur coast in Calif all my live (>60 years), and the Route des Cretes is the only road that I've been scared on.

Stu Dudley

cigalechanta Apr 17th, 2010 12:19 PM

I loved it. Worth my being scared but I wasn't the driver, who seemed relaxed about it.

ParisAmsterdam Apr 17th, 2010 12:22 PM

Go to youtube.com and do a search... you'll find lots of videos and can see what it's like for yourself... if you really want to be scared check the footage shot from motorcycles! ;^)

TimS Apr 17th, 2010 01:27 PM

The drive along the south rim of the canyon on the D 71 between Comps-sur-Artuby and Aiguines is beautiful and not at all difficult if you're used to driving on twisty mountain roads.

stldv Apr 18th, 2010 06:21 AM

Both roads are pretty nice and easy to drive. Only on the left bank you have the best views.

StuDudley Apr 18th, 2010 07:37 AM

stldv
Which side is the "left bank" - north or south? The Route des Cretes is on the north side, and my Michelin Guides says that the best views are along this route. Much of the road on the south side does not even go along the rim - it is quite a bit inland.

According to Michelin, there is one 3 star and one 2 star viewpoint on the south side, and four 3 star and four 2 star viewpoints on the north side - almost all on the Routes des Cretes.

Stu Dudley


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:29 PM.