Verdon River at Castellane

A River Through a Provençal Village

The Verdon River sweeps in a wide bend through the heart of Castellane, its emerald-green waters fed by the snowmelt of the surrounding Alps. Stone houses and riverside terraces line the banks, giving the scene its unmistakable southern-French character.

Le Roc and Notre-Dame du Roc

Rising almost vertically above the village is Le Roc, a 184-metre limestone pinnacle crowned by the chapel of Notre-Dame du Roc. The cliff is a beloved landmark and a panoramic vantage point reached by a winding pilgrimage path.

Gateway to the Verdon Gorge

Castellane is the celebrated gateway to the Verdon Gorge, one of Europe's deepest canyons. The river here draws kayakers, canoeists and rafters who set off downstream toward the turquoise reaches of the gorge.

A Historic Mountain Town

With Roman origins and a medieval centre of narrow lanes and old fountains, Castellane guards the route between the Alps and the Côte d'Azur. Its ramparts and the ruins of an ancient château recall its long strategic past.