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Published: June 15th 2011
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Today we enjoyed a much anticipated drive from Manosque to Grasse via the Gorges du Verdon. Working out which way to tackle the Gorges and deciding both sides of the deep canyon must be included, we came up with a grand Gorges Loop Plan that the guidebook said would take 5-6 hours. We started out early in the hope of also spotting some fields of lavender in flower, but it seemed we are a week or so early for the real blaze of colour that the postcards show. Still, there is sure to be lavender in Italy in a week or so when we are driving there.
Back to the Gorges! After driving through hill country our first sighting of the brilliant blue green Lac de Ste-Croix and then the Verdon River emerging from the mouth of the Gorge into the lake was stunning. We stopped at the bridge which crosses the river at this point and watched people boating up river into the Gorge. Words that describe the scene adequately are hard to find, it was simply beautiful. From this point we set off up and up and up to drive the Corniche Sublime, the left bank of the Gorge.
We lived the dream of driving a narrow road on the edge of a precipice with views of the rugged limestone cliffs plunging on both sides of the Gorge to the river far below, plus had the fun of sharing the road with many other drivers as well as motorcyclists practising slalom technique - and let’s not forget the valiant cyclists doing it the hard way. On the other side of the Gorge we could see the scar of the same kind of road appearing and disappearing. What a ride.
Lunch was a welcome break before we set out to complete the loop by driving back through the Gorge on the right bank. Again we kept rounding corners to yet another breathtaking view of wild rocky places and the need for the official photographer to lean out and catch the moment. By now you will be thinking this is a drive we enjoyed! If you get a chance, the Gorges of Verdon are not to be missed.
Having completed the loop, we decided a pleasant break would be to pop into the nearby hillside village of Moustiers-Ste-Marie for a look around. It was a holiday Monday, so the streets were
thronged with people enjoying the local artisans’ fair. The macaroon stall was where we ended up and after tasting the products, came away with a little pack to enjoy later. A charming village with a church high above the town and further up still, a star hung across between two peaks.
Now, we only had to finish the drive to Grasse before the driver could hang up his driving gloves for the day. We were certainly in the high country, as the road to Grasse wound its way up and over mountains, through valleys and even traversed another gorge! Looking towards the coast we saw range after range of mountains, blue in the distance. Then over the last one and into Grasse we came, with great memories of our epic day’s drive.
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