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The Verdon canyon opening onto the turquoise waters of Lake Sainte-Croix, seen from above

Nature and great sites

The viewpoints of the Verdon

48 viewpoints, two banks, unforgettable panoramas

Explore the viewpoints Plan my route
kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Route des Crêtes on the edge of the Grand Canyon of the VerdonRoute des CrêtesRight bankA loop starting from La Palud-sur-Verdon, with 19 viewpoints above the void.Discover the right bank →The Grand Canyon of the Verdon seen from the Corniche SublimeCorniche SublimeLeft bankThe D71 road, on the Aiguines and Comps-sur-Artuby side, passes the Balcons de la Mescla and the Pont de l’Artuby.Discover the left bank →

Photo: Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 3.0 · René Hourdry, CC BY-SA 4.0

Panoramas not to miss

Four famous viewpoints, on both banks and by the lake.

Choose your panorama

The viewpoints that match what you are looking for.

The cliffs of the Grand Canyon of the Verdon under a blue sky, seen from the Route des Crêtes See all 48 viewpoints →

Both roads on the map

Locate the Route des Crêtes, the Corniche Sublime and each viewpoint.

  • Route des Crêtes (right bank)
  • Corniche Sublime (left bank)
  • Other viewpoints
Open the interactive map →

Explore all 48 viewpoints

Road by road: open a sector to see its viewpoints.

The Point Sublime & the entrance to the gorges

Right bank (north) 4
  • Pont de Tusset
    Adrienredacteur · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Pont de Tusset Rougon

    Reached on foot from the Couloir Samson car park (~1.5 km there and back, GR 49). The bridge dates from the 17th century (an earlier structure is recorded as far back as the 11th century). Also an unsupervised wild swimming spot with clear water — no facilities, best avoided with young children.

  • Ruines du château de Rougon
    Petr1888 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Ruines du château de Rougon Rougon

    A rocky outcrop overlooking the village of Rougon: two platforms separated by a natural fault, with the remains of a keep and three medieval buildings (listed site, Inventaire Général du Patrimoine Culturel).

    Safety — orders of the mayor of Rougon dated 10 August 2026. East face of the castle: access permanently prohibited to anyone without authorisation (unstable rocks, risk of falling stones, rugged terrain; order no. 746). The ruins are reached by the western route (order no. 748): the passages are steep and potentially dangerous; wear suitable hiking shoes (sandals, flip-flops and town shoes are strongly discouraged); young children must remain under an adult’s constant supervision; people prone to vertigo or with reduced mobility are asked not to take this route. Everyone goes at their own risk. Official source

  • Belvédere de Rancoumas La Palud-sur-Verdon

    View over the loop of the Verdon.

  • Point Sublime Rougon

    The balcony at the entrance to the Grand Canyon, above the Couloir Samson where the Verdon rushes in between the rock walls. An emblematic viewpoint, on the Rougon side.

The Route des Crêtes (D23/D952)

Right bank (north) — the La Palud-sur-Verdon loop 19

The Corniche Sublime (D71)

Left bank (south) — Aiguines, Comps-sur-Artuby 11

The Galetas & Lake Sainte-Croix

Western mouth of the canyon 1
  • Belvédère de Galetas
    kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Belvédère de Galetas Aiguines / Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

    Above the mouth of the canyon where it opens into Lake Sainte-Croix — the famous Pont du Galetas and its turquoise pedalos.

The Lower Gorges at Baudinard

Downstream, towards Sainte-Croix 5
  • Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 1
    Patrick Gaudin · CC BY 2.0
    Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 1 Baudinard-sur-Verdon

    View over the Lower Gorges / Lake Sainte-Croix.

  • Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 2 — The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint
    The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint · Patrick Gaudin · CC BY 2.0
    Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 2 Baudinard-sur-Verdon

    View over the Lower Gorges / Lake Sainte-Croix.

  • Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 3 — The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint
    The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint · Harald Hetzner · CC0
    Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 3 Baudinard-sur-Verdon

    View over the Lower Gorges / Lake Sainte-Croix.

  • Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 4 — The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint
    The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint · Patrick Gaudin · CC BY 2.0
    Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 4 Baudinard-sur-Verdon

    View over the Lower Gorges / Lake Sainte-Croix.

  • Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 5 — The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint
    The gorge seen from the river, near this viewpoint · Patrick Gaudin · CC BY 2.0
    Belvédère Gorge Baudinard 5 Baudinard-sur-Verdon

    View over the Lower Gorges / Lake Sainte-Croix.

Other viewpoints

8
  • Crète d'Ourbes
    qwesy qwesy · CC BY 3.0
    Crète d'Ourbes
  • Belvédère de Tréguier
    Hohi2009 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Belvédère de Tréguier Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

    A family discovery trail through olive groves and dry-stone terraces from a car park at the top of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, near the Sainte-Anne chapel (~4.5 km there and back, ~140 m of elevation gain, about 2 hours). The last section up to the promontory is steep and not recommended for children.

  • Belvédère de Plein Voir — View taken from the road, below the summit
    View taken from the road, below the summit · Mathieu BROSSAIS · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Belvédère de Plein Voir La Palud-sur-Verdon

    A summit (1,194 m) reached on foot from the Félines car park, via the Col de l'Âne (~8 km there and back). A strenuous hike, not recommended if you suffer from vertigo (exposed passage with a handrail).

  • Plateau de Barbin
    holadeejay (Panoramio) · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Plateau de Barbin La Palud-sur-Verdon

    A stage on the GRP Tour du Verdon / GR4, about 3 km from the Col de Plein Voir towards La Palud-sur-Verdon — a hike of several kilometres from the usual car parks (Félines or La Palud), not a short walk from the road.

  • Belvédère du Pidanoux
  • Belvédère Marie Sumian
  • Belvédère Trompines
  • Sommet du Chastillon Trigance

Access and safety

What you need to know before you set off.

  • Mountain roads

    Narrow, winding roads: drive slowly and only stop in the car parks.

  • Check road conditions

    After heavy rain or in winter, some sections may close. Today’s conditions →

  • One-way

    Part of the Route des Crêtes can only be driven in one direction.

  • Stay careful

    Stay behind the railings: the cliffs drop sheer.

Practical information for the Route des Crêtes

The Route des Crêtes in practice (2026)

Direction of travel

Compulsory one-way between Jas d’Aire and La Maline, clockwise (signposted from La Palud-sur-Verdon).

Opening

From late March to late November. The middle section (Pas de la Baou → Chalet de la Maline) closes in winter, from the 4th Friday of November to the 4th Friday of March, according to Verdon Tourisme.

Vehicle clearances

Tunnels: height limited to 3.6 m on the sides, 4.3 m in the centre. The loop is about 23 km and 14 viewpoints.

Parking

A small free car park at each viewpoint — they fill up fast in the middle of the day in summer. Arrive early.

Route des Crêtes: the one-way section is open every day in season, until the 4th Friday of November. The Corniche Sublime (D71, left bank) has been open again since 20 August 2026 (afternoon), after a closure for rockslides since 18 August 2026 (works completed faster than planned). Col d’Illoire trail not confirmed reopened. — Lacs et Gorges du Verdon Tourisme, 20 August 2026 (afternoon).

The full circuit by car → Shuttles & car parks of the gorges → The Route des Crêtes on foot (hike) →

Frequently asked questions

What is the most beautiful viewpoint over the Gorges du Verdon?

There is no objective ranking: it all depends on what you are looking for. For the entrance to the canyon, the Point Sublime, at Rougon, overlooks the Couloir Samson — it is the most often cited viewpoint. For vertigo, the Balcons de la Mescla, on the Corniche Sublime (left bank), offer an impressive view: the tight loop where the Verdon meets the Artuby. For an overall panorama, the Route des Crêtes strings together 14 viewpoints above the void.

What is the difference between the Route des Crêtes and the Corniche Sublime?

These are the two great panoramic roads of the canyon, on opposite banks. The Route des Crêtes (D23/D952) runs along the right (north) bank, starting from La Palud-sur-Verdon: it is a loop that links the most viewpoints, closest to the void. The Corniche Sublime (D71) runs along the left (south) bank, on the Aiguines and Comps-sur-Artuby side, with the Balcons de la Mescla, the Pont de l’Artuby and the Col d’Illoire.

Does the Route des Crêtes have to be driven in a specific direction?

Yes. The section between Jas d’Aire and La Maline is one-way, clockwise (signposted from La Palud-sur-Verdon). The road is open from late March to late November; the middle section closes in winter (from the 4th Friday of November to the 4th Friday of March, according to Verdon Tourisme). Watch the vehicle clearances in the tunnels (height 3.6 m on the sides, 4.3 m in the centre). Always check the conditions of the day before setting off.

Can you see the gorges without walking?

Yes. The viewpoints of the Route des Crêtes and the Corniche Sublime, as well as the Point Sublime and the Galetas viewpoint, are accessible by car, with short stops. It is the easiest way to discover the Grand Canyon in a single day.

The Grand Canyon of the Verdon The canyon by car The Corniche Sublime The Point Sublime Shuttles & car parks The Route des Crêtes on foot Today’s road conditions The map of the area Sunset over the lake

Check for yourself

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