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In the heart of the Verdon regional nature park, limestone of exceptional quality, over 1,500 routes in countless sectors, long routes and school cliffs. In short, a must in the life of any self-respecting climber. And new routes that make you want to come back again and again…
La Palud-sur-Verdon or Rougon are the base camp for climbing in the Gorges du Verdon, and most sites are no more than 10 minutes away, on the right bank of the Gorges du Verdon.
Climbing topos are on sale at the tourist information offices in
Castellane
and
La Palud-sur-Verdon
don’t leave without them.
➜ Tip: Take a detour via the
the left bank of the Gorges du Verdon
. Even if the tracks are less extensive, they’re not lacking in charm.
Few places have marked the history of a sporting activity like the Gorges du Verdon. At the end of the 60s, climbing began and the first routes were opened. The Verdon became a meeting place for mountaineers from Marseille and Nice. Pioneers include François Guillot, Patrick Cordier and Bernard Gorgeon.
Climbing is evolving from a summit to be conquered to an experience to be lived. Patrick Edlinger catapulted her to the forefront with “La vie au bout des doigts”. The Overdon and Vertical Opera documentaries give media coverage to the Gorges du Verdon site. The myth is born.
“The abysses of the Verdon … were summarily known only to the boxwood cutters of La Palud and Aiguines who, with the help of ropes attached to the cliffs, fetch stumps or roots of this shrub to make boules games”. Edouard Martel – 1928 . Discover this ancestral tradition at the Musée des Tourneurs sur Bois in Aiguines .
50 years old, 350 m: Demande is the longest and first route opened in the Escalès. Many others will follow, l’Offre, Pichenibule, Ulk, la Ula, Tom et je Ris… The twenty kilometers of gorges offer several hundred routes from 100 to 350 m high.
Many of them are accessed by abseiling from the top, which limits the number of approach steps. The climbing is technical and challenging, and the feeling of emptiness is omnipresent – so it’s best to manage your emotions! The Verdon will leave you with unforgettable memories. Routes up to 8c.
➜ “Climbing is a bodily expression like dance. Except that the choreography is dictated by the holds, it’s the Vertical Opera” Patrick Edlinger – La vie au bout des doigts by Jean-Paul Janssen.
Are you a first-timer and dreaming of the grand canyon of the Verdon? Discover the sensation of vertigo under your feet? Try out this special technique at the queen of cliffs, the Escalès. You descend by moulinette from the summit before climbing 20 or 30 m suspended 300 m from the ground. And maybe rub shoulders with vultures…panoramic views and thrills guaranteed!
The Verdon also has single-length routes – yes, it does! Col d’Ayen, Félines, L’école buissonnière, Petit Eycharme, Chasteuil… beautiful little cliffs for you to try outtame the rock and push back your limits.
If you’re already a climber, you can improve your skills and dare to try a harder route. Or simply enjoy immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the Verdon without being a fan of the big routes…
It’s impossible to climb the Verdon without admiring these giants of the air, the vultures, and envying their lightness. Their breeding season coincides with the climbing season, and some routes pass close to their nests.
To preserve the tranquillity of this endangered species and that of other birds of prey, each year the Parc du Verdon shows you the routes to avoid.
The Gorges du Verdon are among the most beautiful climbing routes in the world.
Gas in Europe’s tallest cliffs!
Limestone of unforgettable beauty and quality in a grandiose natural setting.
