La Palud-sur-Verdon – Château et village

La Palud-sur-Verdon

Between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Palud-sur-Verdon is one of three villages in the Gorges du Verdon: Rougon, La Palud-sur-Verdon and Aiguines.

Located in the heart of Europe’s largest canyon, a renowned spot for outdoor activities and a must for rock-climbers, it’s also the starting point for hikes in the Gorges du Verdon, whether viewed from the air or from the river.
Voies d'escalade Parc naturel régional du Verdon Les trésors Les Vautours Fauve Agenda Carte Activités Restaurants Shops and services in La Palud-sur-Verdon Hébergements
Le sentier Blanc-Martel
Vue panoramique a partir de la route des crêtes

The must-haves

just a stone’s throw from the spectacular Gorges du Verdon

Want a panoramic view of Europe’s largest canyon ? We recommend taking the famous Route des Crêtes. Whether you’re traveling by car, motorcycle, RV, or e-bike, you’ll be in for a real treat!

Hike the 23 km route, taking time to contemplate the scenery and watch the vultures from every vantage point.

Sortie découverte des vautours Comment m'y rendre
La falaise de l’Escalès

In the footsteps of the greatest...

over 1,500 climbing routes

As early as 1968, the Grand Canyon du Verdon opened up to rock climbing. The Escalès cliff, accessible via the Route des Crêtes, offers the opportunity to climb multi-pitch routes over 200 meters long on some of the world’s most beautiful limestone. From the overlooks, rappelling minimizes the approach hike.

It was in the 80s, thanks to Patrick Edlinger and many other renowned climbers, that the Gorges du Verdon became the world’s star climbing spot.

Today, it’s a must-see spot that attracts climbing champions such as Seb Bouin, who recently set a world record.

Climbing in the Gorges du Verdon

Climbers come here, and they keep coming back… Some stay here their whole lives, because these cliffs have a certain fascination—with their variations in color and texture, and that incredible sensation of height.

So, are you up for it?

Did you know?

Located in the heart of the Verdon Regional Nature Park, the village has been part ofthe “Grand Site des Gorges du Verdon” initiative since its inception, which aims to protect this area.

Originally proposed by the Ministry of Ecology, the initiative enables local communities to implement a management approach for major designated sites.

Verdon Regional Nature Park
l’Ecomusée des Gorges du Verdon
Verdon vue de haut

Hidden treasures

The Plein Voir Trail as its name suggests, offers breathtaking views of the Verdon Gorges and Lake Sainte-Croix.

The Water Hike, canyoning, and via cordata are all activities that will let you explore the canyon from a unique perspective…since certain parts of the gorges are accessible only by river or via the cliffs.

Whitewater Activities in the Verdon Vias ferrata, cordata and souterrata

In the center of the village, the 18th-century castle is home to theVerdon Gorges Ecomuseum. Here, you’ll discover the incredible richness of the canyon’s environment, its abundant flora and distinctive fauna, not to mention the village’s history.

Château de La Palud-sur-Verdon

The griffon vulture

Reintroduced to the Gorges du Verdon between 1999 and 2004, with only a few pairs, the griffon vulture has adapted well, and today there are over 600 vultures in the gorges. Nesting on cliffs, flying with wings outstretched and using warm or cold air currents to move around, this environment is ideal for the griffon vulture: it’s its habitat.

The best spots for observing this giant of the air are the route des crêtes (the first lookouts) and the village of
Rougon
.

Découvrir les vautours

3 good reasons to discover La Palud-sur-Verdon

Visit the Gorges du Verdon

From the village, you’re just a few metres from the most spectacular cliffs in the Grand Canyon!

Admire the breathtaking scenery

From 480 to 1,930 meters above sea level, discover a mosaic of unique, unspoilt landscapes.

Taste the art of Provencal living

The village of La Palud-sur-Verdon is a nugget. It’s a pleasantly relaxed place to live. Soak up its rich history, know-how and Provencal traditions.

<span id="agenda">Currently at La Palud-sur-Verdon</span>

Tout l’agenda du Verdon
La Palud-sur-Verdon
Activities in La Palud-sur-Verdon
La Palud-sur-Verdon
Restaurants in La Palud-sur-Verdon
La Palud-sur-Verdon
Shops and services in La Palud-sur-Verdon
La Palud-sur-Verdon
Accommodations in La Palud-sur-Verdon

<span id="carte"> La Palud-sur-Verdon and surroundings</span>